Growing Plants from Seeds

Growing plants from seed is quite time consuming, but it is very rewarding. It is also a very economical way to produce a beautifully blooming flower garden or fruitful vegetable garden. Some seeds such as shrubs, trees, and herbs will grow with relatively little help form the gardener, but most will require a lot of attention and nurturing before you see results.

When choosing seeds, make sure you buy them from a reputable source. Most garden retail stores will have sourced their seeds from reliable suppliers. Generally, good quality seeds will have plenty of information on the packet, including the Latin name of the seeds, growing instructions, germination information, and any tendencies for insects or diseases. Alternatively, there are several trustworthy online sites where you can either purchase seeds or trade with other gardening enthusiasts.

The seed packet should provide information on when it is best to plant the seeds. Most seeds when sown straight into the ground will just become dinner for your local birds, so for most plants (unless otherwise stated on the packet), you should start in containers inside your home. The following are general guidelines for the time of year you should plant your seeds:

Spring: Spring is the best time for planting Annuals such as Calendular, Cornflower, Nigella, Cosmos, Petunia, or Snapdragons. Hardy annuals such as Calendular, Cornflower, and Nigella can be planted outdoors and will be able to withstand most weather conditions including a light frost. Half hardy annuals such as Cosmos, Petunia and Snapdragons will need to be started indoors. These plants should be started approximately 4 to 8 weeks before the last frost of the season to give them the extra time they need to develop in order to flower well in summer. Frost can be predicted by comparing the dew point and temperature on a weather station, and you can predict the last frost on a year by year basis by using a weather station to track the frosts and store the information on your computer, creating a weather history and allowing you to check the last frost dates of previous years.

Summer: Summer is the time for planting biennials and hardy shrubs. Biennials such as Sweet William, Foxgloves and Canterbury Bells should generally be sown early in summer under a cover outdoors. Hardy shrubs such as Azalea, Honeysuckle and Rhododendron should be sown late summer.

Fall: Fall is the usual time for planting hardy bulbs, however, these can also be planted late summer or late winter. Hardy bulbs such as Daffodils, Hyacinth, Crocuses, and Tulips are all to be planted in Fall. Bulbs generally need a lot of sunlight. Watch the weather patterns and try to plant them during a sunny spell, ensuring they are in a sunny spot in the garden.

Winter: Winter is a busy season for planting in anticipation of spring and summer. Half hardy bulbs such as Lachenalias and Freesias should be planted in late winter, like hardy bulbs, these should be planted in a spot that will receive lots of sun. Perennials such as Daylillies, Delphiniums, and Lillies should also generally be planted in late winter, however, if you still get frosts in late winter, hold off planting these for a couple of weeks as they do not like the cold. Hardy trees such as Firs, Maples, and Birches can also be planted at any stage in winter, but try to avoid planting on frosty or windy days - you can use a weather station to predict these and plan your planting.

Most delicate plants will need to be sown and nurtured indoors in a container, then transplanted when they are larger and strong enough to withstand outdoor weather conditions. Any container that can hold 3 to 4 inches of soil is suitable for sowing your seeds in; however, it must be clean. An unclean container can cause 'damping-off', a fungal disease that attacks seedlings at the soil line and causes them to collapse. You must also make sure that your container has sufficient drainage holes in the bottom to prevent over-wetting and rotting the roots.

Fill the container about 3 quarters full with a soilless mixture; this can be purchased at your local garden center. Soilless mix is best for growing new seeds because it is generally more sterile and will significantly decrease the chances of having issues with fungus killing your seeds. Soilless mix containing Sphagnum moss is best, as it specifically provides protection against the fungus that causes dampening-off. This mix is also good as it doesn't form a hard surface that can prevent the seedling from sprouting through.

Moisten the soil and allow any excess moisture to drain out, then press down lightly to remove any excess air (do not push too hard as this will compact the soil and prevent air from getting to the roots of the plant).

The most common mistake when planting seeds is planting them too deep, however, the type of seeds you have will determine how deep you should plant them and this will generally be detailed on the back of the seed packet. If you have purchased or traded seeds that are not in a packet, the general rule of thumb is that the seed should be planted no deeper than twice its width. If you are sowing seeds for transplanting later on, space the seeds 1/4 to 1/2 an inch apart, in rows spaced approximately 2 inches apart. Cover the container with a plastic bag to help retain moisture.

Move the containers to a warm location to help encourage the seeds to sprout. Ideally they should be stored (still covered) at about 70°F to 75°F. Keep a constant eye on your seeds, remembering to keep them moist. You should use a thermometer or weather station to monitor the temperature, trying to keep it as consistent as possible.

As soon as you see seedlings emerge, remove the plastic cover and put the container in a light location. The seedlings need strong light to help them photosynthesize. You can help provide this by placing them close to (but at least 2 inches away) from a fluorescent light. If not all of the rows of seedlings have begun to sprout, you can cut rows of plastic and stick those over the container where seedlings have not yet appeared. Once again, keep a close eye on the seedlings, remembering that being open to air and under light will make the soil dry out faster. Keep them moist but try not to over-water as well, as it is important for air to get down to the roots. It is important to keep an eye on the humidity at this point, as humid air will absorb the moisture that plants would normally absorb, resulting in plants drying out faster. You can monitor humidity easily using a weather station.

Once 6-8 seedlings have emerged, begin applying fertiliser to help them grow on a weekly basis. Because the seedlings are still young and in a small container, it is best to use a water-soluble fertilizer at half the recommended strength. Once they have grown 2-5 leaves they are generally big enough for transplanting. If you leave this too long, the roots may grow and tangle together, stifling the growth of the seedling and making it difficult to transplant. However, if you are transplanting the seedlings outside, they will require 'hardening' first.

Hardening is the process of introducing the seedlings to the outdoor environment and should be done at least two weeks before transplanting the seedlings into the garden. When first put outside, the seedlings should be placed in the shade, sheltered from wind, watch the weather predictions and choose an overcast day for this. Over time, gradually expose them to the sun (start with half an hour), increasing the length of time each day. Keep an eye on the weather and bring the seedlings inside if very heavy rain, hail, or snow is predicted (you can predict and monitor these things yourself with a weather station). After about 2 weeks of hardening, the seedlings will be ready to be transplanted.

Choose an overcast day for planting you seedlings outdoors. Carefully remove the seedlings from the container one at a time, being careful not to damage the roots. Dig down to a level approximately the same as the level the plant was at in the container. Gently pick up the seedling, handling it by the leaves not the stem, and place it in the soil, then gently push the soil down around the base of the plant to remove any excess air, then water and fertilize.

Once the seedlings have been planted, most of the hard work is over. All you need to do now is continue watering, keep away the weeds and watch out for any signs of insects or diseases. If you've had the patience to get the seeds this far, congratulations, you definitely deserve the wonderful garden you will get as a result!