December 26, 2023 • 12 mins
Ever wondered how to give your garden the best possible start? Join us as we unravel the mysteries of seed sowing, ensuring your efforts in the garden bloom into success. Weighing the advantages and challenges of direct sowing against starting seedlings in containers, we dissect how each method can significantly affect root development, transplant shock, and the overall welfare of your green companions. For the gardeners drawn to nurturing seedlings, we've tailored a segment just for you, brimming with top-tier advice on the delicate art of watering and safeguarding your plant babies from those pesky pests.
But wait, there's more – we're not leaving anyone out! Those of you with a penchant for microgreens and diminutive seeds, we've got your back with an ingenious sowing technique that promises to eliminate the hassle. Furthermore, we'll illuminate the path to picking the perfect planting spot, considering the dance of sunlight and shade, as well as the intricate life cycle of your chosen flora. So, whether you're sporting veteran green thumbs or just sprouting your first seedling in the world of gardening, this episode is your personal almanac to a flourishing garden.
'How I Grow' is produced by The Seed Collection Pty Ltd.
Find out more about us here: www.theseedcollection.com.au
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to how I Grow with the Seed
Collection, and in this episodewe're going to be talking about
how to best sow your seeds.
Every gardener knows thatfeeling of excitement as spring
arrives and it's time to startgrowing this season's plants,
(00:22):
armed with seed packets of yourfavourite varieties.
The temptation is always tojump straight in, but there are
a few decisions you need to makeif you want to enjoy the most
success over the growing season.
The first and most importantchoice is which sowing method
you'll use for each type of seed.
You could sow them directlyinto the open soil, growing them
in one spot throughout theirlives, or, alternatively, you
(00:44):
could sow them into containers,raising seedlings for
transplanting later in life totheir final home.
Choosing which method to use ispartly down to the type of seed
you're using, partly thefacilities and space you have
available and also just a bit ofpersonal preference.
So how do you direct sow yourseeds?
Direct sowing is the moststraightforward method and has
(01:07):
several advantages.
It protects fragile rootsystems and avoids the
disturbance of transplanting.
It's better for growing rootvegetables and other crops which
react badly to their tap rootsbeing constrained.
No hardening off is required,as the plants will grow in their
final location and conditionsfrom the start.
No special equipment is neededeither, just a suitable patch of
(01:27):
earth.
The downside to sowing directis that you're very reliant on
the weather to provide goodgrowing conditions.
A cold snap or torrentialdownpour can decimate emerging
plants in no time.
Also, pests such as slugs,snails and birds tend to be more
of a problem outdoors, findingtender new shoots impossible to
(01:48):
resist.
What about raising seedlings incontainers?
Raising your seedlings incontainers takes a little more
effort and skill, but providesseveral benefits over direct
sowing.
Starting seedlings off indoorsor under glass extends the
growing season in coolerclimates.
Raising them gives you far morecontrol over the growing
environment, from soil type towatering regimen.
(02:10):
It's usually easier to protectagainst pests as well.
In comparison to direct sowing,raising seedlings for later
transplantation makes better useof limited space, allowing the
same outdoor patch to growsuccessive harvests.
However, raising seedlings isn'twithout its problems.
Some plants with delicate rootsystems react badly to being
(02:33):
first constrained and thentransplanted.
Watering can also be morecomplicated in containers.
An unexpectedly hot day canquickly patch for compost and
kill the seedlings.
Lastly, for raising seedlingsyou'll need a little bit more
equipment, including containers,compost and often some type of
protective cover.
(02:53):
So next we're going to talkabout sunlight and shade.
Whether you're starting yourseeds off directly in the soil
or in containers, you'll need tochoose their final position
carefully.
Different plants requiredifferent amounts of sunlight to
flourish.
Trying to grow a sun lovingplant in a shady spot is a
recipe for disappointment, whileplanting natural shade dwellers
(03:15):
in full sun is a waste of primegrowing space.
Try to remember that the amountof sunlight a particular
position gets will changethroughout the day and over the
season.
Take a little time to observehow the light behaves in your
location before deciding whereto plant Plant life cycles.
The life cycle of your plantswill affect their ideal
(03:37):
positioning too.
Plant species come in threemain growing types.
Annual plants grow throughout asingle season before dying off.
Biannual plants complete acycle over two seasons, while
perennial plants last three ormore.
Take this into considerationwhen choosing your seed's final
home.
There's little point in placinga tender biannual in a spot
(04:01):
prone to winter frost, forexample, but this wouldn't
matter for an annual or a hardyperennial.
Lastly, it's a sensible idea togroup seeds from each cycle
type together.
This minimizes the disruptionof digging out dead annuals
which are still surrounded byliving biannuals or perennials.
Once you've chosen your seed'ssowing method and final location
(04:22):
, you can get to work.
Here are the step-by-stepinstructions for both direct
sowing and raising seedlings.
Method for direct sowingFirstly, prepare the ground well
by removing weeds and debrisand breaking up larger clumps of
soil.
Water moderately, but do notsoak, and optionally dig in some
well-wrotted compost or manure.
(04:43):
Sow seeds at the depth andspacing recommended on their
packet.
Smaller seeds can be spacedmore closely and thinned out
later to leave the strongestplants at the optimum distance.
Larger seeds, such as legumes,should be spaced straight into
their final patterns.
Water the seeds in, but don'tdrench them Over.
(05:05):
Wet soil risks the seedsrotting before germination.
Continue to water regularlyaccording to the weather
conditions, aiming for a moistbut not waterlogged soil at all
times.
Depending on your location,slugs, snails, birds and other
pests may be a problem, so takewhatever protective measures you
need.
And lastly, keep the soilweed-free throughout the growing
(05:27):
season, adding further compostor plant feed as necessary, but
remembering not to overdo it.
Now the method for raisingseedlings.
Firstly, collect together yourpots or other containers and
wash them well, choose sizesappropriate for the seeds and
use the spacing instructions onthe seed packet as a guide.
Try to keep root restriction toa minimum, but there's no need
(05:51):
to dedicate a large pot to eachseed.
You'll be transplanting themwell before they grow to
maturity.
Fill your containers with goodquality seed compost or other
fine-grained soil, leaving acentimetre or two at the top for
easy watering.
Next, plant the seeds to thedepth specified on the packet
and cover well.
Consider using a thin top layerof amiculite or seed-raising
(06:15):
mix to help germination andprotect the emerging seedlings.
Water these containersmoderately and place them in
their starting growing position.
Avoid direct sunlight,especially under glass, as this
can scorch young, tenderseedlings as well as dry in the
soil out surprisingly quickly.
Remember, containers can dryout very quickly.
(06:36):
Once the seedlings havegerminated and they're nearing
their transplanting height,start to introduce them to their
final planting conditions bymoving the containers outside a
few hours a day to harden themoff.
When transplanting theseedlings to their final area,
make sure the soil is finallyraked and weed-free.
Take care when transplanting tominimise root disturbances and
(06:57):
stem damage.
Also, pay attention to theweather.
Plant to avoid extremes of anykind for the first few days
after planting.
If possible, remember tocontinue weeding, watering and
feeding as required, as well askeeping on top of pest control
until the plants mature andstrong.
Lastly, we have choosing wintersow.
(07:18):
Whichever method you're using tosow, it's important to choose
the right time to achieve thebest results.
The seed packet will give agood indication of typical
timings, which you should adaptfor your own climate.
However, there are a few thingsto bear in mind.
Different seeds take longer orshorter time periods to grow,
and some seeds may not be a goodfit for the length of your area
(07:39):
.
Season Raising seedlings undercover can extend the growing
season, but be careful of earlyand late season frosts when
under glass.
Realistically try and match theneeded growing time with your
local climate.
Sowing too early indoors canlead to leggy seedlings if it
stays too cold to transplantthem outside.
Don't be in too much of a hurryto get sowing.
(08:01):
Seeds planted a little latewill soon catch up when summer
arrives, whereas leggy plants,they rarely flourish later.
For food crops which grow ratherquickly, it makes sense to
plant your seeds in successionRather than sowing a whole
packet at once and then facing aglut.
Sow a smaller amount of seedevery week or two so that growth
and cropping is staggeredthroughout the season.
(08:23):
This also allows you the timeto make the most out of your
harvest.
Growing your own plants fromseed is an exciting and
satisfying journey, but manysmall details can make the
difference to your success.
Planning is vital Before sowing.
Decide on how to give yourseedlings the best start in life
, and you'll be rewarded withhealthy, abundant results.
(08:44):
Music.
Now I'd like to move in toanswering some of the most
common questions and challengesthat we hear about from our
customers.
One of the most common thingswe get asked in regards to
sowing seeds is how many seedsto plant per cell, tray or hole
(09:07):
in the garden, and the answerdepends a little bit on the
germination rate and size of theseed.
For small seeds, it can be sownusing a scatter method.
You can sprinkle a sparsequantity over the soil surface.
For larger seeds, we recommendyou sow 1 to 3 per cell or hole
in the garden.
This way, you can thin them out, selecting just the strongest
one later if needed.
(09:27):
Music.
We find lots of gardeners askingus how often they should water
their seedlings.
Well, there's no definitiveanswer to this question, but it
is important to keep the soilconsistently moist and never
soggy.
If you put your index fingerinto the soil.
It should come out with alittle bit of soil stuck to it
due to the moisture, but thereshouldn't be water sitting in
(09:48):
the soil or forming a muddyslurry.
Overwatering will rot yourseeds.
Using a spray bottle to mistthe soil surface is a great way
to water, especially for verysmall seeds that might be washed
away when using a hose orwatering can Moving on from
water.
One of the other commonquestions we are asked is why
(10:08):
didn't my seeds germinate when Iplanted them in the right
temperatures?
Well, sowing instructions ofteninclude a temperature range.
We find that it can be easy forhobby or everyday gardeners to
confuse this with the weatherforecast range.
The temperature range printedon our sowing instructions is
indicative of the soiltemperature required for these
seeds to germinate.
So if your seeds list 18 to 22degrees, for example, the
(10:32):
weather outside would need to besubstantially higher than that.
This is why, with certain seedtypes, it can be best to raise
them as seedlings first.
This gives you some morecontrol over these factors and
allows you to move them aroundas required or even to keep them
on a heat map which gives thebest results for seeds requiring
higher temperatures.
Another one we hear often, andwe like this one is does it
(10:56):
matter if I plant the seedsupside down?
The short answer is no.
Seeds are self-correcting, soit doesn't matter.
They'll adjust.
Technically, there is an up anda down to a seed, but nature
will persist, so don't worry.
The last question we'll touch ontoday is how do I plant tiny
seeds?
This is a great question,because some seeds are
(11:19):
absolutely tiny and incrediblydifficult to sow.
For these varieties, werecommend mixing the seeds with
some dry potting mix beforesowing.
This allows you to then pinchand sprinkle the mixture, which
includes the seeds, into thearea you've prepared for them.
I hope all of you out theregetting your hands dirty have
found this helpful.
(11:41):
If you have any questions aboutthis topic or any others that
you would like answered on theshow, please visit
wwwtheseedcollectioncomauforward slash podcast.
We'd love to hear from you, soplease don't be shy.
That address, again, iswwwtheseedcollectioncomau
(12:07):
forward slash podcast.
You've been listening to how IGrow, produced by the Seed
Collection in Knoxfield,victoria, australia.
It is our aim to make gardeningmore accessible to more people,
and this podcast is another wayin which we're doing it.
If you don't know who we are,jump online and check us out.
Just google the Seed Collection, you'll find a treasure trove
(12:30):
of gardening info, as well as ahuge range of seeds and
gardening accessories.
Thanks for listening.
You're listening to how I Grow with the Seed
Collection, and in this episodewe're going to be talking about
how to best sow your seeds.
Every gardener knows thatfeeling of excitement as spring
arrives and it's time to startgrowing this season's plants,
(00:22):
armed with seed packets of yourfavourite varieties.
The temptation is always tojump straight in, but there are
a few decisions you need to makeif you want to enjoy the most
success over the growing season.
The first and most importantchoice is which sowing method
you'll use for each type of seed.
You could sow them directlyinto the open soil, growing them
in one spot throughout theirlives, or, alternatively, you
(00:44):
could sow them into containers,raising seedlings for
transplanting later in life totheir final home.
Choosing which method to use ispartly down to the type of seed
you're using, partly thefacilities and space you have
available and also just a bit ofpersonal preference.
So how do you direct sow yourseeds?
Direct sowing is the moststraightforward method and has
(01:07):
several advantages.
It protects fragile rootsystems and avoids the
disturbance of transplanting.
It's better for growing rootvegetables and other crops which
react badly to their tap rootsbeing constrained.
No hardening off is required,as the plants will grow in their
final location and conditionsfrom the start.
No special equipment is neededeither, just a suitable patch of
(01:27):
earth.
The downside to sowing directis that you're very reliant on
the weather to provide goodgrowing conditions.
A cold snap or torrentialdownpour can decimate emerging
plants in no time.
Also, pests such as slugs,snails and birds tend to be more
of a problem outdoors, findingtender new shoots impossible to
(01:48):
resist.
What about raising seedlings incontainers?
Raising your seedlings incontainers takes a little more
effort and skill, but providesseveral benefits over direct
sowing.
Starting seedlings off indoorsor under glass extends the
growing season in coolerclimates.
Raising them gives you far morecontrol over the growing
environment, from soil type towatering regimen.
(02:10):
It's usually easier to protectagainst pests as well.
In comparison to direct sowing,raising seedlings for later
transplantation makes better useof limited space, allowing the
same outdoor patch to growsuccessive harvests.
However, raising seedlings isn'twithout its problems.
Some plants with delicate rootsystems react badly to being
(02:33):
first constrained and thentransplanted.
Watering can also be morecomplicated in containers.
An unexpectedly hot day canquickly patch for compost and
kill the seedlings.
Lastly, for raising seedlingsyou'll need a little bit more
equipment, including containers,compost and often some type of
protective cover.
(02:53):
So next we're going to talkabout sunlight and shade.
Whether you're starting yourseeds off directly in the soil
or in containers, you'll need tochoose their final position
carefully.
Different plants requiredifferent amounts of sunlight to
flourish.
Trying to grow a sun lovingplant in a shady spot is a
recipe for disappointment, whileplanting natural shade dwellers
(03:15):
in full sun is a waste of primegrowing space.
Try to remember that the amountof sunlight a particular
position gets will changethroughout the day and over the
season.
Take a little time to observehow the light behaves in your
location before deciding whereto plant Plant life cycles.
The life cycle of your plantswill affect their ideal
(03:37):
positioning too.
Plant species come in threemain growing types.
Annual plants grow throughout asingle season before dying off.
Biannual plants complete acycle over two seasons, while
perennial plants last three ormore.
Take this into considerationwhen choosing your seed's final
home.
There's little point in placinga tender biannual in a spot
(04:01):
prone to winter frost, forexample, but this wouldn't
matter for an annual or a hardyperennial.
Lastly, it's a sensible idea togroup seeds from each cycle
type together.
This minimizes the disruptionof digging out dead annuals
which are still surrounded byliving biannuals or perennials.
Once you've chosen your seed'ssowing method and final location
(04:22):
, you can get to work.
Here are the step-by-stepinstructions for both direct
sowing and raising seedlings.
Method for direct sowingFirstly, prepare the ground well
by removing weeds and debrisand breaking up larger clumps of
soil.
Water moderately, but do notsoak, and optionally dig in some
well-wrotted compost or manure.
(04:43):
Sow seeds at the depth andspacing recommended on their
packet.
Smaller seeds can be spacedmore closely and thinned out
later to leave the strongestplants at the optimum distance.
Larger seeds, such as legumes,should be spaced straight into
their final patterns.
Water the seeds in, but don'tdrench them Over.
(05:05):
Wet soil risks the seedsrotting before germination.
Continue to water regularlyaccording to the weather
conditions, aiming for a moistbut not waterlogged soil at all
times.
Depending on your location,slugs, snails, birds and other
pests may be a problem, so takewhatever protective measures you
need.
And lastly, keep the soilweed-free throughout the growing
(05:27):
season, adding further compostor plant feed as necessary, but
remembering not to overdo it.
Now the method for raisingseedlings.
Firstly, collect together yourpots or other containers and
wash them well, choose sizesappropriate for the seeds and
use the spacing instructions onthe seed packet as a guide.
Try to keep root restriction toa minimum, but there's no need
(05:51):
to dedicate a large pot to eachseed.
You'll be transplanting themwell before they grow to
maturity.
Fill your containers with goodquality seed compost or other
fine-grained soil, leaving acentimetre or two at the top for
easy watering.
Next, plant the seeds to thedepth specified on the packet
and cover well.
Consider using a thin top layerof amiculite or seed-raising
(06:15):
mix to help germination andprotect the emerging seedlings.
Water these containersmoderately and place them in
their starting growing position.
Avoid direct sunlight,especially under glass, as this
can scorch young, tenderseedlings as well as dry in the
soil out surprisingly quickly.
Remember, containers can dryout very quickly.
(06:36):
Once the seedlings havegerminated and they're nearing
their transplanting height,start to introduce them to their
final planting conditions bymoving the containers outside a
few hours a day to harden themoff.
When transplanting theseedlings to their final area,
make sure the soil is finallyraked and weed-free.
Take care when transplanting tominimise root disturbances and
(06:57):
stem damage.
Also, pay attention to theweather.
Plant to avoid extremes of anykind for the first few days
after planting.
If possible, remember tocontinue weeding, watering and
feeding as required, as well askeeping on top of pest control
until the plants mature andstrong.
Lastly, we have choosing wintersow.
(07:18):
Whichever method you're using tosow, it's important to choose
the right time to achieve thebest results.
The seed packet will give agood indication of typical
timings, which you should adaptfor your own climate.
However, there are a few thingsto bear in mind.
Different seeds take longer orshorter time periods to grow,
and some seeds may not be a goodfit for the length of your area
(07:39):
.
Season Raising seedlings undercover can extend the growing
season, but be careful of earlyand late season frosts when
under glass.
Realistically try and match theneeded growing time with your
local climate.
Sowing too early indoors canlead to leggy seedlings if it
stays too cold to transplantthem outside.
Don't be in too much of a hurryto get sowing.
(08:01):
Seeds planted a little latewill soon catch up when summer
arrives, whereas leggy plants,they rarely flourish later.
For food crops which grow ratherquickly, it makes sense to
plant your seeds in successionRather than sowing a whole
packet at once and then facing aglut.
Sow a smaller amount of seedevery week or two so that growth
and cropping is staggeredthroughout the season.
(08:23):
This also allows you the timeto make the most out of your
harvest.
Growing your own plants fromseed is an exciting and
satisfying journey, but manysmall details can make the
difference to your success.
Planning is vital Before sowing.
Decide on how to give yourseedlings the best start in life
, and you'll be rewarded withhealthy, abundant results.
(08:44):
Music.
Now I'd like to move in toanswering some of the most
common questions and challengesthat we hear about from our
customers.
One of the most common thingswe get asked in regards to
sowing seeds is how many seedsto plant per cell, tray or hole
(09:07):
in the garden, and the answerdepends a little bit on the
germination rate and size of theseed.
For small seeds, it can be sownusing a scatter method.
You can sprinkle a sparsequantity over the soil surface.
For larger seeds, we recommendyou sow 1 to 3 per cell or hole
in the garden.
This way, you can thin them out, selecting just the strongest
one later if needed.
(09:27):
Music.
We find lots of gardeners askingus how often they should water
their seedlings.
Well, there's no definitiveanswer to this question, but it
is important to keep the soilconsistently moist and never
soggy.
If you put your index fingerinto the soil.
It should come out with alittle bit of soil stuck to it
due to the moisture, but thereshouldn't be water sitting in
(09:48):
the soil or forming a muddyslurry.
Overwatering will rot yourseeds.
Using a spray bottle to mistthe soil surface is a great way
to water, especially for verysmall seeds that might be washed
away when using a hose orwatering can Moving on from
water.
One of the other commonquestions we are asked is why
(10:08):
didn't my seeds germinate when Iplanted them in the right
temperatures?
Well, sowing instructions ofteninclude a temperature range.
We find that it can be easy forhobby or everyday gardeners to
confuse this with the weatherforecast range.
The temperature range printedon our sowing instructions is
indicative of the soiltemperature required for these
seeds to germinate.
So if your seeds list 18 to 22degrees, for example, the
(10:32):
weather outside would need to besubstantially higher than that.
This is why, with certain seedtypes, it can be best to raise
them as seedlings first.
This gives you some morecontrol over these factors and
allows you to move them aroundas required or even to keep them
on a heat map which gives thebest results for seeds requiring
higher temperatures.
Another one we hear often, andwe like this one is does it
(10:56):
matter if I plant the seedsupside down?
The short answer is no.
Seeds are self-correcting, soit doesn't matter.
They'll adjust.
Technically, there is an up anda down to a seed, but nature
will persist, so don't worry.
The last question we'll touch ontoday is how do I plant tiny
seeds?
This is a great question,because some seeds are
(11:19):
absolutely tiny and incrediblydifficult to sow.
For these varieties, werecommend mixing the seeds with
some dry potting mix beforesowing.
This allows you to then pinchand sprinkle the mixture, which
includes the seeds, into thearea you've prepared for them.
I hope all of you out theregetting your hands dirty have
found this helpful.
(11:41):
If you have any questions aboutthis topic or any others that
you would like answered on theshow, please visit
wwwtheseedcollectioncomauforward slash podcast.
We'd love to hear from you, soplease don't be shy.
That address, again, iswwwtheseedcollectioncomau
(12:07):
forward slash podcast.
You've been listening to how IGrow, produced by the Seed
Collection in Knoxfield,victoria, australia.
It is our aim to make gardeningmore accessible to more people,
and this podcast is another wayin which we're doing it.
If you don't know who we are,jump online and check us out.
Just google the Seed Collection, you'll find a treasure trove
(12:30):
of gardening info, as well as ahuge range of seeds and
gardening accessories.
Thanks for listening.
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