How to grow vegetables from seeds

Following on from the HOMEMAKERSonline article on ‘How to start and edible garden and grow your own vegetables’ here are some tips on how to plant vegetable seeds.

Benefits:

For a start, it is much cheaper than buying veggie seedlings at your local nursery. One packet of seeds can produce a season’s worth of vegetables. There is also a wider variety of seeds available than seedlings because, for example, carrots cannot be transplanted, so garden centres don’t plant carrot seedlings. Seeds also allow you to determine your own quantities of various vegetables, as you may want more of your favourite.

Guidelines:

• Seeds need moisture to germinate, so it is imperative that the soil is kept moist, but not soaked, during germination.
• The soil that you plant the seeds in needs to be the correct temperature. You can find this information on the back of the seed packet. Most seeds need warmth and therefore, planting is usually in Spring and early Summer. Too hot or too cold soil temperature can hamper germination.
• Plant the seeds at the correct depth, by following the recommendations on the seed packet.
• Protect your veggie seeds from pests, pets and birds that may eat or damage the seeds.

Sowing seeds in the ground:

1.   Prepare

• Dig over the soil and break down lumps and remove stones. Add compost.
• Rake the vegetable bed and level out. Voids hold water that can rot the seedlings.
• Water well and leave for two days before planting any seeds.

2.    If you are planting in rows

• Use a stick or the back of a rake to make straight lines.
• Make sure the depth is correct.

3.    Sow

• Sow the seeds as thinly and evenly as possible.
• With the back of a rack gently close the soil over the seeds.

4.    Water

• Using a watering can with a fine nozzle or a soft spray rose attached to a hose, gently start watering away from the bed.
• Let the water gently sprinkle evenly over the bed, so as not to wash the seeds away.
• Water lightly every second day until the seeds germinate.
• Then reduce watering to two or three times a week.

5.    Don’t forget

• To label your seeds, add the name and date.

Succession Planting

Planting new seeds every four weeks will give your crop more time to mature and you’ll have more time to harvest. The timing also aligns with the lunar cycles which are roughly four weeks long.