Days are longer, daffodils are in bloom and spring is in full swing. Many of us will be sowing seeds and caring for little seedings, some of which will be just poking through the soil. Spring seed sowing is a busy and exciting time for gardeners – months spent preparing, drawing up plans, narrowing down varieties (a few times!) and culminating in hours spent sowing seeds.
Over the space of a few years, I have built up quite a collection of seeds. I will openly admit I am a seed addict! I have quite a collection; some I have bought, some are from seed swaps and some I’ve saved myself from my own plants. I do try to use up the seeds I have, but I can never resist the lure of a new variety.
Growing from seed is generally inexpensive and simple – it is important to remember that seeds saved from hybrid plants will have variable results. While some seeds should be sown as soon as they are collected, generally sowing is best delayed until an ideal time of year. It is important to store the seeds properly; ideal conditions are in paper envelopes in an airtight container. It is important seeds are not subject to any excess moisture or warmth, as this can cause the seeds to go mouldy and deteriorate. I keep my seeds in photo storage boxes, designed for 4x6in photos – they’re the perfect fit for seed packets. With a label on each box, it’s easy to find seeds at a glance and a total game changer from my previous unorganised seed storing methods!
SOWING METHODS
Denne historien er fra April 2023-utgaven av Kitchen Garden.
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Denne historien er fra April 2023-utgaven av Kitchen Garden.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
SEPTEMBER SPECIALS
This month, with sweetcorn, figs and blackberries on the menu, Anna Cairns Pettigrew is not only serving up something sweet and something savoury, but all things scrumptious
FLAVOURSOME FRUIT AUTUMN RASPBERRIES
September - is it late summer or the start of autumn? David Patch ponders the question and says whatever the season, it's time to harvest autumn raspberries
SOW GREEN THIS AUTUMN
Covering the soil with a green manure in winter offers many benefits and this is a good time to sow hardy types, says KG editor Steve Ott
A HISTORICAL HAVEN OF FRUIT AND FLOWERS
KG's Martin Fish takes time out from his own plot to visit a walled garden in Lincolnshire which has been home to the same family for more than 400 years
RESTORING THE BALANCE
The phrase regenerative gardening is often heard in gardening circles, but what is it? Can it help you to grow better veg? Ecologist Becky Searle thinks so, and tells us why
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT
Garden Organic's Anton Rosenfeld shares his expertise on using compost made from green bin collections with handy tips on getting the right consistency and quality
Celebrating Organic September!
In this special section we bring you four great features aimed at improving your crops and allowing nature to thrive
SEEING RED
Do your tomatoes have a habit of remaining stubbornly green? Or perhaps you're lucky to enjoy lots of lovely fruits - just all at once. Either way, Benedict Vanheems is here with some top tips to ripen and process the nation's favourite summer staple
NEW KIDS ON THE BROCCOLI!
Rob Smith is talking broccoli this month with a review of the different types available and suggestions for some exciting new varieties to try
A NEW kitchen garden
Martin Fish is getting down to plenty of picking and planting on the garden veg plot, while Jill is rustling up something pepper-licking good!
