Seedbeds

**Small pumpkin** · 26-06-2019, 07:26 AM

I'm with you VC. Not got a clue how a seed bed works.
It's another one of those mysteries of gardening that I don't understand. There's quite a lot of them

**Bren In Pots** · 26-06-2019, 07:53 AM

I don't get them either, I start seeds of in modules/pots then plant then out when they're large enough to not get eaten in one bite by slugs. So to me a seedbed would be a slug supper/breakfast bar.

**Penellype** · 26-06-2019, 08:03 AM

I think the idea of a seedbed stems from the times when people had large kitchen gardens and were growing all their own veg. While it is easy to grow a dozen cabbages in modules, it is much harder to grow a hundred, especially when you add the broccoli, kale, sprouts etc to that. The idea was therefore to keep a bed for sowing seeds and sometimes another as a "nursery" bed where young plants were planted close together to be transplanted into permanent positions when space was available later in the year.

My experience with trying a seed bed is the same as that for any sort of direct sowing in the soil. I found that almost nothing survived the slug onslaught. I suspect in the old days the gardeners threw slug pellets about without any concerns for wildlife.

**Snadger** · 26-06-2019, 08:07 AM

A small area dug and raked to a fine tilth.I grow all my brassicas in a seedbed.

Short rows roughly half a metre long sown and labelled in close proximity 10cm between rows.(Hand weeded if required)
This way I can transplant to final position at my leisure and don't need to worry about watering because once germinated they look after themselves.

Saves using compost, saves watering and saves greenhouse space. I feel it also produces stronger plants that can be transplanted one or two at a time if needed.

I don't like either buying in or even being gifted brassicas as clubroot is always a worry for me.

**Penellype** · 26-06-2019, 09:53 AM

Originally posted by Snadger View Post

A small area dug and raked to a fine tilth.I grow all my brassicas in a seedbed.

Short rows roughly half a metre long sown and labelled in close proximity 10cm between rows.(Hand weeded if required)
This way I can transplant to final position at my leisure and don't need to worry about watering because once germinated they look after themselves.

Saves using compost, saves watering and saves greenhouse space. I feel it also produces stronger plants that can be transplanted one or two at a time if needed.

I don't like either buying in or even being gifted brassicas as clubroot is always a worry for me.

I totally agree with the arguments, but how do you deal with the slugs?

**Snadger** · 26-06-2019, 10:09 AM

Originally posted by Penellype View Post

I totally agree with the arguments, but how do you deal with the slugs?

I don't.

They munch a goodly percentage but there is always enough left for my needs.

My seed bed this year is in a cold frame without a lid so maybe the exterior barrier helped.

**greenishfing** · 26-06-2019, 12:49 PM

I use a seedbed for baby brassicas too, normally it's very successful. However this year I planted it just before heavy rain and I think most of the seeds got washed away or drowned.
Usually when I have planted out what I need I offer the extras to my neighbours.
For some reason slugs don't seem to bother them. I don't pellet them. I think at this time of year the slugs have so much choice they can't be bothered with them.

**veggiechicken** · 26-06-2019, 01:13 PM

Originally posted by Snadger View Post

A small area dug and raked to a fine tilth.I grow all my brassicas in a seedbed.

Short rows roughly half a metre long sown and labelled in close proximity 10cm between rows.(Hand weeded if required)
This way I can transplant to final position at my leisure and don't need to worry about watering because once germinated they look after themselves.

Saves using compost, saves watering and saves greenhouse space. I feel it also produces stronger plants that can be transplanted one or two at a time if needed.

I don't like either buying in or even being gifted brassicas as clubroot is always a worry for me.

Originally posted by greenishfing View Post

I use a seedbed for baby brassicas too, normally it's very successful. However this year I planted it just before heavy rain and I think most of the seeds got washed away or drowned.
Usually when I have planted out what I need I offer the extras to my neighbours.
For some reason slugs don't seem to bother them. I don't pellet them. I think at this time of year the slugs have so much choice they can't be bothered with them.

Do you sow seeds direct in it or plant seedlings?
In other words, is it a "seedbed" or a "Seedling bed" to start?

**greenishfing** · 26-06-2019, 01:50 PM

I sow the seeds direct.

**Urban** · 26-06-2019, 02:48 PM

A seed bed protected by 2 rings of wire connected to a 9 volt battery. Would probably work. I prefer to start things off in modules. Trying to reduce the amount of plastic I use though. So maybe in a few years when my current modules need replacing. I'll try a seed bed

**rary** · 26-06-2019, 03:58 PM

Originally posted by Penellype View Post

My experience with trying a seed bed is the same as that for any sort of direct sowing in the soil. I found that almost nothing survived the slug onslaught. I suspect in the old days the gardeners threw slug pellets about without any concerns for wildlife.

This will please VC

, when I was a boy there were very few glass/greenhouses in gardens and those that had them used them for winter/early salad onions then for more exotic expensive plants like tomatoes etc. as for the seed bed its as Snadger has said an area of the garden dug and raked till you have a fine filth, and the seeds were protected with a barrier of soot and in many case's a ring of soot went round individual seedlings

**rary** · 26-06-2019, 04:08 PM

We have been so indoctrinated into thinking that we need compost to sow seeds into, there is a lot to be said for harvesting our own seeds, as it would appear some F1s need mollicoddled at the start, as, sow in good quality compost, there seems to be a loss of knowledge for sowing seeds into soil

**Snadger** · 26-06-2019, 04:50 PM

Originally posted by greenishfing View Post

I sow the seeds direct.

...Ditto.

**bramble** · 26-06-2019, 07:12 PM

My late father always had a seed bed.l
As Snadgar said, raked until fine and drills of seeds sown.

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