Sowing your own seeds can save you lots of money and you can choose from a much wider range of vegetables, especially heirloom or heritage varieties. But many of us struggle to get the same results as the seedlings we see in the nursery. Many of us can’t even get the seed to germinate in the first place. So what is the problem and how do you sow seeds successfully?
There are a few keys to getting it right when sowing seeds in punnets. Here’s my tips:
1. Choose the right mix.
Commercial seed raising mix is available from nurseries and hardware stores. This is much finer and sandier than regular potting mix. It allows the developing roots and shoots to penetrate the soil without any obstacles (like large composted wood chips) getting in the way. It also has a good balance of holding moisture for the seed and roots to absorb as well as allowing excess water to drain away freely.
2. Choose the right container.
A container that is only about 5cm or 2 inches deep is ideal. This is the depth that water is retained in any size pot, so it’s perfect for soil to hold moisture when germinating seed. Divided cells can allow you to take out seedlings and transplant them later without disturbing the delicate root system. Some household containers are just the right size and it can be a great way of recycling. Use things like old yoghurt or butter containers (just snip some holes in the bottom), plastic strawberry “punnets” that already have holes in the base, and egg cartons can also be planted straight into the ground and the cardboard will decompose in the soil.
3. Sow only a few seeds.
It’s better to sow too few than too many seeds into your container. Too many seeds will compete for moisture and nutrients and you’ll just end up with long spindly “sprouts” that don’t have enough energy to grow. Aim to sow only about 6 to 8 seeds of most vegetables in a 2” x 4” (5 x 10cm) punnet. Only 2 or 3 pumpkin, zucchini or cucumber seeds in the same size pot.
4. Get the right depth.
Sow seeds to a depth equal to twice the diameter of the seed. That means if your seed is less than 1 mm then you’re only sowing it 2 mm deep – that’s not very far below the surface! Too often we sow too many seeds and smother the lot of them.
5. Keep the soil damp.
It’s really important to keep the soil damp for successful germination. The seed needs to absorb a certain amount of moisture from the soil to initiate germination before it even starts to grow. We don’t see any of this activity because it’s all below the surface and it could take anything from 3 days to 3 weeks, depending on the type of seed. Don’t allow the soil to become dry otherwise this will kill the germinating seed or seedling during the process and you won’t be able to resurrect it – better to start again. Conversely, don’t keep the soil too wet because you can run the risk of rotting the seed. Aim for the consistency of a wrung out sponge – damp, not wet. Don’t forget to check your seed trays every day.
If you want to know more about sowing seeds, you can see exactly how it’s done in my video tutorial on Backyard Veggies. The seed sowing module gives you step by step instructions, to give you perfect results every time.
Have a great week everyone,
The Veggie Lady
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