Spring is just around the corner! Get a head start on your garden with these seed starting tips for a successful harvest of flowers, salads and vegetables all summer long.
- What to sow seeds in
- What seeds to sow now
- Water requirements for seeds
- After germination steps
- Extra tips for seed sowing
1. What to sow seeds in
Choose your seed starting containers: seed trays, modules, coir pellets, small pots, recycled food containers, cardboard tubes, or even newspaper pots. Sow small seeds thinly in trays and larger seeds individually or in pairs in pots or modules. Use seed compost or a mix of potting compost and perlite. Remember to check the seed packet for specific instructions.
2. What seeds to sow now
Depending on the weather, you can start sowing now! If it's mild, sow broad beans, carrots, radishes, peas, spring onions, beetroot, and various salads outdoors under cloches, or indoors in a greenhouse, cold frame, or on a sunny windowsill. As the weather warms up, you'll be able to sow even more.
3. Water requirements for seeds
When watering seeds, aim for moist compost, not soggy. Overwatering kills seeds, while underwatering prevents germination. Ensure adequate light, good airflow, and the correct temperature (check your seed packet for specifics).
4. After germination steps
When your seeds have germinated and the seedlings are large enough to handle, it's time to thin them out. Remove the weakest seedlings to allow the strongest to thrive. Later, pot them up into individual pots, harden them off gradually, and plant them outside in their final positions once the danger of frost has passed.
5. Extra tips for seed sowing
Make sure you plant your seeds at the right depth! Tiny seeds like lettuce can just be sprinkled on top of the soil with a little compost on top, but bigger seeds like squash need to be pushed down about 2cm. When watering, a spray bottle is best so you don't wash the seeds away. If you have one, a heated propagator can help seeds get started early, and you can even sprout some seeds, like peas, on a damp paper towel before planting them.
Visit our St Albans Garden Centre for everything you need to get your seeds off to a great start: seed-sowing packs, accessories, and compost.
