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.
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