Seeds Basic Information

Hints on growing from seed.
These apply to all seeds other than vegetable or other seeds sown directly outdoors in the soil.

    Read the instructions on the packet! OK I know this sounds obvious, but there are two common mistakes why seeds don't do well. First of all they are sown at the wrong temperature and secondly, they are sown at the wrong time of the year. The packet will tell you about both of these.

     Use clean seed trays or pots. Either brand new or that have been washed and cleaned with bleach and then well rinsed. You don't have to do this with every pot you grow a plant in, but I always do it for seeds that may easily succumb to diseases that larger plants can shrug off.

    Use new seed compost. Proper "seed" compost, not  the multi-purpose stuff that you can get everywhere. The difference that it makes is remarkable, it's not just a marketing idea, it really does make a big difference, both in the % germination you will get and also in how well the seedlings develop. I know it costs more, but probably the same or less than some packets of seed and you don't need to completely fill the tray as you'll be pricking the seedlings out before they get very big anyway.

    As a rule of thumb sow seeds at the depth of their own diameter. For large seeds, they can be pushed into the seed compost, for smaller ones, I sprinkle them over the surface and then sprinkle over the seeds with fine sieved seed compost (I rub it slowly between my hands and let it fall).

    Don't sow seeds too thickly, it will make pricking them out more difficult later on and may also encourage fungal diseases to take hold.

    Once sown, water the seeds from below, immerse the pot or tray in a container full of water. I find the wheelbarrow is ideal for this if I've got lots to do as it's wide, shallow and holds a lot of water.

    Never place seeds or young seedlings in direct sunlight. They should be somewhere bright, but not receive direct sun for even a small part of the day. Once they've grown on a little (a week or so), they can be placed in the sun as long as they are varieties that like sun of course.

    Cover newly sown seeds with a pane of glass, or even some clear plastic food wrap. Once the seeds have started to germinate, remove this completely or it may encourage disease. Some seeds will germinate better in the dark, others in the light, again read the packet for instructions.

    Once seeds have germinated, they need to "pricked out", that is taken out of their seed tray and given a bit more space in compost with more nutrients (enter "general purpose" compost stage left). Don't be in too much of a hurry to do this, sometimes it is recommended to move them when they have "two good leaves". It depends on the plants and also how delicate you can be or have the time to be. Don't leave them very long however. Prick out 12 to 15 to a seed tray, this time more deeply filled with compost.

Biennials are plants that grow from seed one year and build themselves up in the first season to flower in the second year before dying. There are some very large and spectacular plants in this group.

Perennials

Perennials are plants that live for a number of years flowering each year. Generally they die down in the winter, sometimes entirely disappearing underground, sometimes leaving a mound of leaves. They usually do well for 4 or 5 years, when to keep them going well they need some kind of rejuvenation. Dig them up and start again from seed or dig them up, split and replant - with some presents for friends, family and neighbours.

Hardy Perennials

Frost-hardy, leave them planted in the soil permanently.

Half-hardy Perennials

Usually put outside for the summer and then brought under protection for the winter, although several are quick growing enough to be treated as half-hardy annuals and discarded come late autumn.

Greenhouse Perennials

More exotic plants that need protection at all times.