The ultimate guide to sowing seeds

Everything you need to know to achieve germination success

For many gardeners, nothing is more exciting than the first glimpse of brand new seedlings poking through the surface of the soil. And, if you stick to a few basic principles, you can easily achieve fantastic results with any fruit and veg sowings this year. Take a look at these helpful ideas to get the most out of the next season…

Choose your starting point
Seeds can either be started under cover or directly on the plot. The time of year and the type of crop you want to grow will massively dictate your best plan of action. Early sowings benefit from warmer conditions under cover, but when the last frosts have disappeared (normally around May) then you can start putting the outdoor veg bed to good use.

Get cracking
The conditions you place your seeds in will greatly determine how successful you will be in terms of germination rates. Seeds require warmth, oxygen and water. An airing cupboard, a propagator, a cloche or even outside soil from May onwards are great places to start.
If you’re not starting outdoors, you will need to invest in multipurpose composts. Mixes that are specially designed for sowing are available, but an all-rounder will come in handy in the later stages, too. A fine tilth is also required in order to separate the soil from large stones which may hinder germination.
Depending on where you want to sow, this can be done in a number of ways. For example, if you are using seed trays the compost will benefit from sieving beforehand. If you are working on the plot, rake the ground thoroughly to remove clumps, stones and weeds. These tasks will also make your chosen medium free- draining, which is ideal for most crops. 

Follow guidance
If this is your first year of growing your own crops it’s definitely worth sticking to sowing advice on the packets of your seeds. This information should cover the best place to start (indoors, outdoors or under cover) and the ideal spacings. First of all, drills must be prepared to act as a guide to show what depth the seeds need to be buried at. Seeds should be sowed at regular intervals, with adequate room to develop. There are seed spacers available that can be adjusted to the specific edible you are growing. However, a ruler will work just fine – or you can judge it by eye.

Provide suitable conditions
Regular watering is crucial for the development of seeds and young seedlings – the key is to not over-do it. Check the consistency of the soil by sticking your finger around 1cm below the surface, if you can still feel lots of moisture it’s best to leave your sowings alone. However, if the ground is completely dry, irrigate well, with a fine rose so as not to drown the seedlings. Repeat this process and you will increase the likelihood of avoiding problematic conditions such as stem rot and damping off.
If you have sown into trays or pots inside, a sunny windowsill is the ideal place for your seedlings during the day. However, once the sun goes down, temperatures can plummet, and your young crops could soon start to suffer cold conditions. For this reason, if you know certain areas of your house drop in temperature overnight it’s best to move pots further indoors in the evening to maintain even and consistent levels of warmth. 

Must-have seed-sowing tools
1 Seed trays: If you are starting under cover or indoors this piece of kit is ideal for germinating seeds. Most crops have a very shallow root depth in the early stages so this container can accommodate seedlings until they are ready to go into their first individual pots.
2 Pots: Depending on how many crops you wish to grow this year, you will need plenty of pots in gradually increasing sizes. This will provide your seedlings with the opportunity to slowly develop their root system so that they become strong and anchored to the ground.
3 Dibber: Making holes in the soil and creating drills on the plot can be a messy job, but this simple little tool creates precise impressions in the ground. Some have measurements along the length of the dibber, allowing you to see the correct depth for each type of veg.
4 Sieve: Perfect for aerating the soil and removing large stones which can crush tiny seedlings. A sieve is an inexpensive piece of equipment that can help you get the season off to a good start.
5 Rake: Use this tool to remove pesky weeds and manipulate the ground on your veg bed so that it adopts a fine consistency.
6 String line markers: To keep your sowing drill straight, use this basic piece of equipment. They can be bought online or in garden centres, but it’s also very easy to make your own.
7 Watering can: To avoid drowning your seeds, pick a watering can with a fine rose head. This way liquid will trickle out slowly which will allow you to irrigate the soil appropriately without waterlogging.
8 Potting bench: Creating a space that is dedicated to sowing seeds will make this process even speedier, and allows you to keep your compost and tools in one spot.

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