Sowing seeds

1. Firstly, get your seed sowing things together. For small batches of seeds, I use smallish pots and remember, there is no use in sowing 250 cabbages if you only have space for 24! I use a good quality multi-purpose compost, put through a find riddle to remove all of the big lumps, but don't waste these rough tailings, they have a handy use...

2. I put a handful of the riddlings in the bottom of the pot of tray, this helps with the drainage and saves wasting the material.

 

 

 

3. Next, fill the pot or container with the fine compost and carefully level off.

4. It is always best to lightly consolidate the compost, using a tamper like the one in the image or another pot or tray. This removes the excess air and will prevent the compost from 'bubbling up' when watered.

 

 

5. Water your pot or tray next, using a can and fine rose, watering from above. I prefer not to sit the container in a tray of water and let it absorb, as you can never be sure how much it has absorbed, and could end up too wet.

 

6. Then you can begin to sow. With fine seed, you may want to just lightly and thinly scatter them over the surface.

 

 

7. ………..whereas larger seed can be carefully picked up and spaced apart.

 

8. Lightly cover the seed, using the riddle again preferably, holding it above the pot or tray so you can see how much covering is taking place.

 

9. After covering I like to give one last light tamping down. Make sure the container is properly labelled, and place somewhere warm to germinate. Keep pots and trays as close to the light as possible to prevent them becoming drawn and leggy. Stay tuned for the next instalment!