JANE: First things first, start off with a really good quality seed raising mix
that means it has good moisture holding ability yet it drains really freely and
has got good airflow that means it's not going to compact down so that the roots
find it really easy to grow through that mix and of course you get what you pay
for it's the old adage go for the premium quality.
As for containers, it's really up to you.
You can go for recycled things like old margarine containers
as long as you put some drainage holes in the bottom
you can use these kind of things that are recycled material
old pots, punnets of course even egg cartons are really good
I do like to use these things... this is a compressed peat pot and
it's absolutely hard as anything but if you put that into a glass of water in
ten minutes it swells up to this which is so extraordinary and that is ideal
for planting a seed into
filling your pot with mix might seem quite straightforward
but there is a right and a wrong way to do it
start off with a good healthy scoop
of the seed raising mix
and then tap it down
and then I like to put my fingers around the edge just so that when you water this little
punnet the water's not going to go whooshing down the sides then just
gently level it off and tamp it down with a matchbox or something nice and smooth
you're not making that too compact though because that will hinder the root development.
Water it in and then go and sow
Today I'm going to sow one of the easiest seeds to raise and that's the
oak leaf lettuce and it's a beauty because it's got a red tinge to the leaves
When you're working with seeds that are so small and fine, sprinkle them
on the top of the mix and that's absolutely fine. I do like to tamp them
down so they're actually touching the soil. I then add some vermiculite over
the mix this is super heated expanded clay that lets the light through and it
also helps keep the seeds from drying out while they germinate. Keeping them
moist is critical to their success. This simple method works best for brassicas
annual flowers and even tomatoes. The next seed I'm going to sow is cosmos
it's a delightful little plant for spring and summer. Fern-like foliage, pink
and white flowers they're simple but they're one of the toughest plants and I
just think they're gorgeous in a garden they are also really good at attracting
beneficial insects into the garden.
But seeds that are a bit bigger like these ones are,
bury them a few millimeters under the surface, it just
gives them more chance of germinating than surface sowing
so once you've sprinkled them in just cover them up with a light layer of seed
raising mix tamp them in again so they connect with the mix
and once again, finish off with the vermiculite and water them in.
some seeds have got really hard seed coats so they do need some help in
getting them to germinate. You can use sandpaper to 'nick' the seeds or you can
put the seeds into a mug, pour some hot water over top of them let them sit
overnight and overnight they will have soaked up that water so the seed coat is
much softer and in the morning then you can germinate them quite easily, sow them
and they will take off no worries.
Things like acacias, hardenbergias, hoveas, kennedias...
Lots of the native seeds need this treatment... as do peas and even sweet peas.
When you're sowing seed the general rule of thumb is to bury the seed to
twice its size. Of course bigger seeds go deeper than smaller ones
once you've sown your seeds watering them in is really vital and a spray that
has a fine misting spray is terrific keep them well watered never let them
dry out or else germination will not be successful.
Warmth is the other thing...
if you've got anything to put over the top of them like a plastic storage container
anything that makes a mini glass house is ideal but even a warm
well-lit windowsill is terrific. Within a couple of weeks they will have
sprouted and after their first set of true leaves appear you can then thin
them out to the strongest plant like you do with all seedlings.
The last important step in the process is to harden them off they've been used to living in a
hothouse environment so take out the seedlings and put them in the open
garden just for a couple of weeks so that they acclimatize
Seeds are amazing little things... while many of them look dry and lifeless, if you
give them the right conditions to grow they will be so rewarding