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UK

HOW TO
SOW YOUR
SEEDS
A guide to help you start off an abundant
garden
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There is nothing more satisfying than sowing seeds, watching them grow, and then
harvesting and sharing your crops with friends and/or family. The idiom 'You reap
what you sow' doesn't come from nowhere; with this guide we will give some tips on
how you start off your seeds successfully so they will grow into strong healthy plants
that you can harvest and be nourished from. There are as many ways to sow seeds as
there are gardeners in the world; here are just a few methods that we have found
most effective.

GLOSSARY

Cotyledons or seed leaves are the first set of leaves

of the plant. They aren't considered 'true leaves'
as they're still part of the seed or embryo.
True leaves are the leaves that appear after the
seed leaves. They look much more like smaller
versions of the leaves of the mature plant.
A drill is a shallow trench made in the soil to sow
your seeds into
Hardening off means leaving your plants that were
started indoors outside in their pots, containers or
modular trays before they are planted into their
final place to get used to the change of conditions.

METHODS AND MATERIAL

General gardening material needed to prepare a bed:

A fork or spade to dig over your bed or container and to remove weeds.
Compost or well-rotted manure to add slow-release nutrients and improve soil structure
A rake to work the soil/compost to a fine consistency for seed sowing. For smaller spaces a small hand
fork will do
A watering can with a fine rose or hose pipe with a lance or spray gun to ensure gentle watering
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‘DIRECT SOWING’ – SOWING STRAIGHT IN THE GROUND

This is an easy way to propagate many vegetables and flowers; e.g. peas, beans, carrots, radishes,
parsnips, beetroot, lettuce, poppies, calendula, etc.

IIt works best for vegetables that germinate quickly and easily. Generally direct sowing is done between
April and September when the soil is warm. Timing is crucial; don't sow outside into the garden too
early, as your seeds may rot. You'll know the right moment has arrived when other annuals start
appearing in your garden which depends on your region.

Materials:
A trowel, hoe, stick or hands to make a ‘drill’ (shallow trench to sow seeds into). Check sowing
recommendation for depth and distance of drills on the back of your seed packet
Use a bamboo cane or string between two sticks if you want to make straight lines
A watering can with a rose or hose pipe with a spray gun to water the drill

Method:
1. Water the drill and allow excess water to drain (there should not be a puddle)
2. Pour the seeds from the packet into your hand and carefully spread seeds evenly into the drill – check
for seed density on the back of the seed packet
3. Close up the drill and gently firm down the soil to ensure the seeds will have good contact with the s
4. Label the row
5. Once the seedlings have emerged, thin out to appropriate spacing. Keep them weed free and well-
watered.
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SOWING IN SEED TRAYS

This is a great way to propagate many plants in a small space. and for really small seeds (many flower
seeds); e.g. chard, tomatoes, cornflower, tagetes, etc.

Materials:
Seed trays and pots, containers or module trays for potting on. Make sure they all have holes in the
bottom for drainage
Seed compost
A sieve
A flat piece of wood to strike off excess compost from the seed tray and to firm up the compost; you
can also use your hands to do this

Method:
1. Sieve the compost into the seed tray, especially if you're sowing delicate seeds. It is best to overfill
the tray and then use a flat piece of wood (or your hands) to evenly spread and take off the excess
compost. Lift your seed tray and tap it gently onto a hard surface, so that the compost can settle
(especially around the corners). Fill up again just above the rim and use your piece of wood (or hands)
to strike off to rim level. Gently and evenly firm down the compost (5-10mm below the rim) with a
piece of wood, ideally the size of your seed tray or use your flat hand to do this.
2. Sprinkle your seeds thinly onto the compost. Give each seed some space around them (depending on
the size of the seed)
3. Cover your seeds with another layer of (sieved) compost. Some seeds require light to germinate and
won't need covering (e.g. basil or lettuce), others germinate only in the dark; it really depends on the
seed. As a general rule, sow the seeds twice as deep as your seed is big.
4. Label your tray
5. Once the cotyledons have appeared and before true leaves come out, transplant seedlings into larger
containers, this is known as ‘pricking out’. It is a critical moment in a seedling's life as the little plant
is delicate and damage to roots and leaves should be prevented. The seedling should be carefully
eased out of the soil using a thin wooden or plastic implement (experts would use a widger but a
pencil, plant label, little stick will do the job) and lifted gently by their leaves (not by the stem). Make
a hole in your compost, place the seedling with its roots into the hole and gently firm up the compost
around it. If the seedlings are leggy, bury them slightly deeper (up to the pair of leaves) in their new
pot. Look at our youtube video "How to prick out seedlings" to get more detailed instructions.
6. Label, gently water and place in a warm and sunny spot. Once the weather permits and your plants
are large enough to be moved outside, they will need 'hardening off'. Plants might need taking inside
during the night if it will be particularly cold.
7. Plant out your seedlings with recommended spacing into a prepared bed and give them a good
watering
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SOWING IN POTS, CONTAINERS, MODULAR TRAYS

Seeds sown into pots, containers, modular plug trays can be left without pricking out until their roots fill
the compost of your container. It is a way to start off your plants before you can direct sow outside. You
can multi-sow some seeds for example basil, onions, leeks, and beetroots. Cucumbers, courgettes,
squashes, sunflowers as well as peas and beans also benefit from being grown in smallish pots. Consider
biodegradable pots and try out jiffy trays that prevent root disturbance when planting out.

Material:
Small pots (7-9cm in diameter), or module trays. You can also get creative here: the cardboard of an
empty toilet roll is a popular option or milk cartons with the tops cut off make a great container as
well.
Seed compost

Method:
1. Fill your pots, containers, module trays with compost. Make sure the density is firm but not
compacted to ensure ideal water distribution and root growth (see above; you can use a similar
technique as for filling seed trays)
2. Sow your seeds. If your seeds are 'old' and you're not sure how well they're going to germinate, sow
two seeds. If both sprout you can pinch off the smaller/less vigorous one (pinch out rather than
separate, as that may cause too much of a root disturbance for the one you want to keep)
3. Cover lightly with compost. As a general rule, sow the seeds twice as deep as your seed is large.
4. Label
5. Water with a watering can with a fine rose
6. Once the weather permits and your plants are large enough to be moved outside, they will need
hardening off.
7. Plant your seedlings with recommended spacing into a prepared bed and give them a good watering.
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OUR HOT SOWING TIPS AND TRICKS

1. Find alternatives to pots made from plastic. There is a lot of new style growing containers
out there these days. Also, there is an endless amount of used pots, containers, tools,
gardening materials in the world, that aren't in use and often no need to buy things new.
You can rummage in car boot sales, ask friends, family, neighbors or freecycle.org is a
good website where people offer items they do not want anymore. Get creative!
2. Use peat-free growing medias if possible.
3. Never let your compost dry out fully, as it will be really hard to get damp again.
4. If you want to start your tomatoes, peppers and aubergines really early, make sure they are
kept in a nice warm place with a constant temperature (18-20°C), you might want to
consider getting a propagator and an LED grow light.
5. Cover your trays, pots, containers with clear polythene or a sheet of glass to keep the
moisture and warmth in and take it off when seedlings emerge to allow ventilation.
6. If sowing your seeds on hot summer days, cover them with shade netting of some kind
7. Water seeds as needed! Damping off (rotting) of young seedlings can be a problem,
especially water sensitive plants like peppers and chillies.

SOW, GROW, EAT AND ENJOY!

Connect with us online and through social media to find out more and learn
further tips and tricks!

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