Growing your own plants is not only fun and rewarding, but it’s also a cost-effective way to expand your garden. Spring is the perfect time to get started with propagation. Here are some essential tips and tools to help you succeed!

Tips for Successful Propagation

Jiffy Pellets: These small, magic incubators are perfect for seedlings and cuttings. Soak the pellets in water until they swell, then insert your seeds or cuttings. They help reduce transplant shock, which is often a cause of poor results.

Seed: Always use fresh seed. If you have old packets lying around, the germination rate will be low, so it's best to invest in fresh seeds for a better success rate.

Cuttings: Choose fresh, healthy stems for your cuttings. The ideal length for cuttings is finger length (up to 10cm). Using rooting hormone, like Ibadex Powdered Rooting Hormone, can help stimulate root formation.

Watering: Keep the soil moist but not overly wet. Consistency is key to successful germination and root development.

Plant Growing Essentials

Just like baking a cake, successful propagation requires the right ingredients. Use the following tools and techniques to improve your success rate:

Propagation House: Small and portable greenhouses speed up germination and root development. They’re perfect for sunny corners on your patio or even indoors. Pick one with a great ventilation system, providing fresh air for seedlings.

Seed and Cutting Trays: Provide a great environment for germinating seeds. You can also use recycled shallow containers with drainage holes.

Seed Raising Mix: Whether you make your mix with pumice, peat, and perlite or buy a fresh seed-raising mix, this is crucial for strong seedling development. Cover sown seeds lightly with Vermiculite to keep them in heat and protect them from diseases.

Labels: Use plant labels to mark what you’re growing. It’s simple but invaluable when you’re looking back months later to remember what’s been planted.

Jiffy Pellets: These are perfect for small seeds like tomatoes, chillies, and sunflowers. Kids will also love watching the pellets swell with water!

Patience: Different plants germinate and root at different rates. Some will appear in days, while others take weeks. Consider investing in a heat pad to speed germination if you want faster results.

What to Grow

Vegetables to Sow

Warm-weather crops: Tomatoes, chillies, cucumbers, courgettes, eggplants, and capsicums should be sown in a mini propagation house and planted out once the frosts have finished.

Cool-weather crops: Beetroot, lettuce, onions, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and celery don’t need as much warmth to germinate, making them great for early sowing.

Flowers to Sow

Alyssum, petunias, granny bonnets, hollyhocks, marigolds, sunflowers, cornflowers, asters, sweet peas, nasturtiums, cosmos, and zinnias.

Cuttings

Spring is a great time to take cuttings from Hebes, lavender, Buxus, lemons, succulents, Lonicera, and camellias.

You’ll soon be on your way to growing a beautiful garden using the right techniques and tools. Happy propagating.