Growing your plants from seed is both economical and very satisfying. You will save money and enjoy the “magic” of seeing a plant grow from a tiny seed into beautiful flowers or an abundance of delicious fruit and vegetables. Seeds require the right temperature, water, and air to germinate successfully. Always check the “To Sow & Grow” section on the back of your seed packet to ensure you are planting seeds at the right time of year.

Sowing in Containers 

Growing plants from seed can sometimes be tricky. Our tip for most plants is to sow them into containers first. Doing this gives you greater control over the environment your seeds will germinate and grow. Having greater control over soil moisture and outside temperature while protecting from garden pests will give you a greater success rate.
Step 1: Fill your container evenly to the top with Oderings Seed Raising Mix, then press down gently.
Step 2: Select your seed. Use the pack as a dispenser, or you can purchase a specially designed seed sower. Most seeds require a depth of twice the thickness of the seed.
Step 3: Gently press the seeds down onto the soil and sieve a layer of Oderings Seed Raising Mix over the area. Some seeds may require a layer of Vermiculite instead.
Step 4: Label and date your seeds
Step 5: Lightly water and cover with light clear plastic, a sheet of glass, or place inside a propagator.

Direct Sowing

Some plants are best to be sown straight into the ground and are not suitable to be transplanted as they dislike root disturbance. These mainly comprise of root crops such as carrots, beets, and turnips. Other plants that would have better success with direct sowing are corn, squash, cucumbers, melons, beans, and peas. These can be transplanted but with great caution.
Step 1: Prepare your soil. Loosen, weed, and level soil, incorporating OderingsSeed Raising Mix.
Step 2: Select your seed. Use the pack as a dispenser, or you can purchase a specially designed seed sower. Follow seed packet instructions for planting depth and spacing. Plant in small mounds to aid with drainage.
Step 3: Sieve a layer of Oderings Seed Raising Mix over the area. Some seeds may require a layer of Vermiculite instead.
Step 4: Label and date your seeds and lightly water.

Watering

While it is necessary to keep seeds moist to ensure germination, they may rot if they are too wet for long periods; it’s also essential to ensure they don’t dry out. Larger seeds such as sweet corn and beans may rot easily, so sow them into damp soil but water them again only when the soil dries out. Once they have germinated, continue to water them regularly.

Germination Problems

The primary reason seed doesn’t germinate is because they get too much or too little water once planted, but equally important is how you store your opened seed. Seeds that have been opened and not sealed or stored correctly can start losing up to 50% of their germination within 3-12 months (depending on the seed type).

• Once opened, store in a cool space or drink fridge, with the seed in a sealed bag, in a sealed container. It’s common for newly emerged and planted seedlings to be eaten by slugs, snails, and birds.
• Using bird netting or repellent tape for birds is ideal and if you have this problem with slugs and snails, try Tui Quash.
• Lastly, soil contaminated by weedkillers can have a long-term residual effect; if you spray and then compost the lawn clippings, don’t use the compost in an area where you are sowing seeds or producing edible foods.