Raising your own seedlings.

Quality seed deserves to be sown into a quality seed-raising mix. Look for a commercial mix that is reasonably fine (free from big uncomposted chunks of bark etc), moisture retentive and airy, yet offering good contact with the seed. We recommend Richgro seed and cutting mix.

A diverse range of containers is suitable for raising seedlings. Drainage is vital, so whatever you use must have holes in the base. It’s a case finding what works for you – for example egg cartons, handmade paper pots or recycled plastic pots. Keep in mind all containers have their advantages and disadvantages. Plastic punnets are convenient, water efficient and reusable, but they cause a greater level of transplant shock than biodegradable pots, such as peat pots.

The general rule of thumb for planting seeds is to bury the seed to twice its size. In other words the bigger the seed the deeper they need to be planted. For very tiny seeds you still need to ensure that they are in full contact with the seedling mix.

The amazing thing about seeds is that they contain all the nutrients and DNA code to germinate once they’re exposed to moisture. Seedlings don’t need nutrients to get going, but once they’ve produced their first set of true leaves, they’ll benefit from some light feeding from a liquid fertiliser. Fish emulsion applied once a week using a spray bottle is ideal, but make sure to mix it at half strength to avoid burning tender young roots.

When the first set of true leaves appear you can start to thin out the seedlings – choose the weakest and straggliest to discard.

Once the seedlings are growing you’ll need to continue to water every day (or even twice daily if it is hot). Hand watering with a watering can with a shower nozzle is more time consuming, but it also has the benefit of you being able to observe the plants and rectify any issues early on. It also allows for more even watering, which aids overall vitality. However you may need to set up a reticulated system to ensure consistent watering, especially if you are away during the warmest part of the day or for several days. This can be done quite easily and cheaply so come and see us in store for what would work best for you.

The next step is often overlooked but is vital to ensure that your plants survive the transition from your nursery set up to the garden. This is called ‘hardening off’ and involves gradually exposing the seedlings to increasing amounts of light and wind over the course of a week or two. For the first day or two, get them into bright (but not burning) sun for a few hours in the morning and then return them undercover. Then start leaving them out for half a day, then three quarters and then finally a full couple of days of exposure. Make sure you are still keeping them moist however as they still very vulnerable to heat and moisture stress. Once you have gone through this process of hardening off you can plant them into their final spots in the garden and you should avoid any transplant shock.

The great thing about planting from seed is that you can plant in succession so you get a continuous harvest or display over many months, but best of all it is an extremely inexpensive way to garden. It may take a few attempts before you have total success, but once you get the hang of it you will find it immensely satisfying.

We carry a broad range of vegetable and flower seeds and are always happy to provide any advice you may need to ensure that you get the full pleasure of growing your own plants from seed.