SOWING SEEDS

Raising flowering plants and crops from seed in homemade potting mixes is a cost-effective way of filling your garden with flowers and feeding your household. You can buy seeds from a reputable supplier or collect them from your existing plants, which will save you even more money and reduce your carbon footprint further, too. The most reliable method is to sow seeds in pots under cover in spring or autumn, which protects them from pest damage and the weather—you will not need any special equipment to bring them to life.

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Eco-friendly containers such as wooden trays and terra-cotta pots are ideal for raising plants sown from seed.

BUYING SEED

Before buying new seeds, first calculate the number of plants you require. Seed deteriorates over time and is best sown fresh, so if you bulk-buy you may have to throw some away if you cannot use all your purchases in the first year.

If you want specific plant cultivars, it is best to buy new seeds rather than collect them from your existing plants. This is because they may be F1 hybrids, which will have been bred to produce a specific flower or fruit color, for example. If you take seed from one of these hybrids, the offspring may not look or perform like its parent.

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The shape and color of plants raised from bought seeds is more predictable than those taken from your own plants.

COLLECTING SEEDS

Taking seeds from unhybridized plant varieties could not be easier. Wait until your flowers have formed pods or seedheads, which protect the seeds while they ripen and usually turn from green to black, brown, or red when their cargo is about to be released. Then take a paper bag and tap the seedhead gently above it so that the seeds fall into it, or cut off the whole pod and place it in the bag. Pour the seeds on to a clean, dry surface and remove any bits of seed pod or other debris (chaff), which may harbor pests or diseases.

To collect the seeds from soft fruits and fruiting vegetables, such as tomatoes, remove the fruit from the plant, scrape or scoop out the seeds, and place them in a kitchen sieve. Wash off the flesh, then leave the cleaned seeds to dry in a warm place. Pea and bean pods can be left on the plant to ripen, or removed when dry and placed in a warm area to continue ripening.

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Collect your seed when the pods have turned brown, black, or red and rattle when shaken.

HOW TO SOW SEEDS

Sow seeds in pots or trays indoors in spring or, if hardy, you can sow them in autumn and keep them in a cold frame or a sheltered spot over winter.

YOU WILL NEED Biodegradable or recycled pots or seed trays • Homemade seed mix • Bought or harvested seeds • Labels • Tray with transparent lid or propagator (for plants that need heat)

Compost Planting Projects | SOWING SEEDS

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1 Fill the pots or trays with homemade seed mix Press down lightly to remove any large air gaps. Sow the seeds sparingly at the depth given on the packet. If you have harvested seeds and do not have this information, plant the seeds at a depth two or three times their diameter. Tiny seeds are best sown on the surface and covered with a thin layer of compost.

Compost Planting Projects | SOWING SEEDS

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2 Label the pots and keep them in a warm, light place or, if hardy, store them in a cold frame or sheltered area outside. Place those that need heat to germinate in a propagator, or in a tray with a clear lid on a warm windowsill. Water regularly.

Compost Planting Projects | SOWING SEEDS

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3 Repot congested seedlings after they have produced a few sets of leaves. This is known as “pricking out.” Gently hold the seedling by a leaf and use a small spoon to coax the roots out of the potting mix, then place it in a pot of fresh mix to grow on.

Compost Planting Projects | SOWING SEEDS

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4 Accustom the young seedlings to outdoor temperatures by placing the pots or trays outside during the day and bringing them in again at night for a couple of weeks before planting out. Known as “hardening off,” this should be done no earlier than two weeks before the last frosts in late spring for half-hardy or tender plants. Plant outside in the ground or in their final pots when the seedlings are growing well and have developed sturdy stems.

Compost Planting Projects | SOWING SEEDS

HARDY, HALF-HARDY, AND TENDER SEEDS

Plants that are described as hardy will survive temperatures below freezing point; others are known as half-hardy and will die when temperatures fall below 32°F (0°C). Tender plants will not survive in temperatures below 50–55°F (10–13°C). Collected hardy plant seeds, or packets that have been opened, can be stored in an airtight container in a refrigerator until ready to use. Store half-hardy and tender seeds in a cool, dry place that is just above the lowest recommended temperature for those plants.

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Half-hardy seeds such as basil and lettuce must be kept safe from frosts.

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