SUCCESS WITH SEEDS!

Professional gardener and keen plotter Hannah Reid shares her top tips for getting your seeds and seedlings off to a great start

-  Hannah Reid

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