Ok, so I have some seeds. Now what?
Every healthy seed holds life, it is awesome really. They just need a bit of love and the right conditions and off they go.
When you plant and water a seed you are simulating a natural process that has gone on longer than we have been around. It is reassuring to know that the your seeds are as keen to grow as you are to see them growing. It is their purpose in life.
The final ingredients you need are the right soil temperature and growing season. This can get rather scientific if that’s the way you want to go. Or you can simply follow a garden calendar like ours. We show you when to plant your seeds so they will have the right conditions to germinate and have enough time to grow to maturity (ie produce a crop of food).
Next follow these basic steps
1. Prepare the soil or container you are going to grow seeds in
In a Container:
You want some free draining soil. Without going into great detail, that is a whole article in itself, the best thing to do as a beginner is to pop out and buy some seed raising mix (preferably organic) fill the container pressing it down lightly to about 2cm from the top. the wee space at the top allows water to stay in the container and not flow over the edge. Remember a container can be anything from an egg shell to a shoe. if using plastic planters try to find some recycled ones. There are millions out there.
In the Garden:
Choose a place that suits you plant. Is it sun loving or does it like shade. Check the packet and/or out info on our web app.
Remove any weeds and break up any clods to give a fine consistency to the top of the soil. (fine soil wraps around seeds and keeps them nice and moist)
2. Make a hole or divot the right depth for the seed and pop a seed in
Again check the web app or seed packet. Seed spacing varies and depth is generally twice the depth of the seed. In a container seed are planted much closer to each other as they will be divided up and transplanted later. If you drop fine seeds closer than the recommended spacing just let them grow and thin the plants out later (remove the extra ones).
Measure spacing between seeds, make another, hole pop a seed in, measure spacing , make a hole, pop a seed in. repeat till you have planted as many as you want. Super!.
3. Mark the rows or locations so you know where everything is
4. Gently sprinkle some potting mix or fine soil over the seeds
Fill up the holes or trench’s you planted the seed in.
5. Water but don’t over water
Go for a good soak to get the soil nice and wet but dont water so much that the seeds float around in a bog. We have a whole blog on this, check it out.
Regular watering is important as newly germinated seed’s don’t have much in the way of roots to draw moisture from the soil. Drying out at this stage will be problematic. I usually hand water newly planted areas as so I can see what is going on. This dosen’t have to be daily. The need for watering depends heavily on the environment. Was the day hot? raining? Does the soil look dry?
Seed planting done! Superb