Global Garden Shop Sowing Seeds

Sowing your vegetable seeds in containers

Growing plants from seed in a container is easily achieved even by beginner gardeners.

Different seeds, different requirements
Some seeds require light to germinate, some need darkness and for others it doesn’t matter either way. Some seeds need to be exposed to cold for a period before they will germinate. Some plants need to be grown in situ i.e. where they are to grow eg beans & peas; while others are best grown in seed beds, cells or punnets and transplanted later. You should always follow the directions on the seed packets carefully for best results but the following is a good general guide.
An excellent range of seeds are available from the Global Garden shop.

General Principles
It is often best to sow seeds directly where they are to grow (gives better root systems). This is one big advantage you get by growing from seed rather than commercial seedlings. Sometimes, however the temperatures outside may make it necessary to sow into trays or punnets placed in a sheltered area (often done with tomatoes & capsicums in cold areas).
Most commonly, seeds are sown in the following way. A light, easily-draining medium is chosen - there are a number of seed-raising mixes available commercially, or you can make up a mix of two parts sandy loam, one part peat moss and one part coarse river sand (NOT beach sand). This material needs to allow free access of air while maintaining sufficient moisture for the germinating seed. If the plant is to continue to grow in the container beyond the seedling stage it is best to use a potting mix rather than a seed-raising mix. Water is essential, and once seeds have begun to germinate, if they are allowed to dry out they will die.
If the seed is of a type which is best planted directly where they will grow but you want to initially raise them in shelter (eg if it is not yet warm enough) then the best way is to sow the seed in individual "plugs". You can buy soft plastic plug trays that look a bit like egg cartons that sit neatly into seedling trays, or you can simply use punnets and separate the plants later, or sow them in individual small pots or Jiffy pellets. Make sure the medium is thoroughly moist before you sow the seeds. (Mini-hot houses which consist of a tray, an inserted tray of plugs and a clear plastic cover are very good and will help keep the medium moist until the seeds germinate.)
Sow the seed according to the directions on the packet. A general rule that works for many seeds is that you plant them at a depth that is twice the diameter of the seed with a minimum depth of 1 cm.

When the shoot breaks through the soil
Once the shoot emerges from the medium, the plant requires bright light to grow well. Seeds do not need fertiliser to germinate but once the seedling has emerged, the plant will then benefit from the application of a liquid fertiliser eg Maxicrop. Once the seedling has developed some true leaves, it can be planted out or transplanted to a larger pot. Harden the seedling off for about a week before transplanting by giving them progressively longer outdoor exposure, water thoroughly the day before and leave soil around the roots. Always make a hole sufficiently deep to accommodate the root.

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