How do you sow dust-like seeds?

[cheops]

Slightly off the topic but how does people sow ladybird poppy seeds. They are as fine as dust and don't even feel gritty between fingers. When I bought ladybird poppy plug plants earlier in the year there was one small plant to each capsule. How on earth was that achieved?

[Jay-ell]

You can mix the seeds with a paste (e.g a flour paste or wall paper paste which doesn't contain fungicide) so that they are well distributed though the paste, put it into a sandwich bag, cut a small hole in the corner and use it as a piping bag.

One they're growing pricked them out into individual modules.

[Bren In Pots]

Would mixing them with some sand help?

[rary]

Mix with dry white sand, that way you can see if you are spreading them evenly, I have used the method that Jay-ell told you to try for larger seeds which can save having to thin out a lot, but never used it for fine seeds if you try it that way let me know how you get on

[cheops]

Thanks jay Bren and rary for stimulating thought. I didn't realise you can buy a wallpaper paste that didn't contain a fungicide, but no matter it would be easy to make a flour paste. Sounds a good idea but with a powder [which is what ladybird poppy seed basically is], would not the seeds/powder stay in batches or lumps in the paste?
With fine sand I've a feeling they might distribute better as all is dry.
Just my thoughts - I really don't know. I'm even thinking the slightest pinch of 'dust' allowed to fall over small flowerpots filled with compost might well work. Yes there will be a bunch of young plants come up but this bunch lifted with the compost and planted in the garden would do ok?? Would poppies not do ok in a bunch.
I just don't know. I'm still collecting the seed heads as they turn brown so I've a little time to think. Maybe I should try the paste method, the sand method and the 'bunch' method and see what works best.
Has anyone any experience with seeding ladybird Poppies? And should I try seeding them soon or wait till spring?

[Jungle Jane]

I'm even thinking the slightest pinch of 'dust' allowed to fall over small flowerpots filled with compost might well work. Yes there will be a bunch of young plants come up but this bunch lifted with the compost and planted in the garden would do ok??

When you have the bunch of tiny seedlings come up,carefully pot each one on into small pots. I don't touch the seeds when they're dust like,I feel like they'l absorb into my skin & disappear,I just pour some of them into a 3" pot,last year I had a huge amount of petunia seedlings in a pot,if you take time with surgical fingers it'l work out fine.

[cheops]

if you take time with surgical fingers it'l work out fine.[/QUOTE]

Thanks Jane I'm no doctor but I'll try lol.

So I still need someone please to tell me to sow ladybird poppy seeds soon or wait till spring.

[roitelet]

They are hardy annuals so they could be sown in autumn or spring. I would have a go at both.