How To Propogate Plants From Seed
There is a certain satisfaction in
knowing that the plants now growing in your garden were raised from seeds that
you sowed yourself. This is equally valid for children as well as adults.
Below are some instructions on indoor methods using
seed trays, or perhaps for larger seeds consider 3" (75mm) Pots.
Using Seed Trays
General principle of using seed trays
Step 1. Preparation
Have the gear to hand. Suitable seed compost,
vermiculite if suggested above,
clean and sterile tray, a 6mm soil sieve, compacting board, leveling board,
plant labels, permenant marker pen, a watering can with fine rose end. You might
also consider making or getting a potting/seed bench. A few days before you
commence bring in the compost so that it can warm up.
Step 2. Filling the tray
Using the 6mm sieve held over the tray add the compost breaking up lumps as
you go. Fill the tray until it is over flowing, lift the tray and gently tap
against the work surface to consolidate the compost. Add a little more compost
if the levels drops too much.
Step 3. Leveling
Here we are attempting to lower the level of the compost to about a 6mm
(1/4 inch). Using either the leveling board or other flat surface, level the
compost so it is flush with the top of the tray by using a light combing action
several times. Now we need to take out around a 6mm (1/4 inch) of the compost
and here is were your leveling board comes into play. Gently rake out the excess
compost until the surface is level.
Step 4. Compacting
With the 12 mm (1/2 inch) thick compacting board, compact the surface by a
further 6mm (1/4inch) by pushing until the compacting board is flush with the
top of the seed tray.
Step 5. Moisten the compost
Some instructions will have you waiting until the end before you moisten the
soil, the choice is yours. What you are aiming for is for the compost to feel
like freshly spun clothing, in that it is not dry and not soaking wet.
This should be to at least a depth of 2.5cm (1 inch). Transfer the seed tray
away from the seed bench, so as to prevent having to wait until it is dry before
you can prepare another seed tray. Fit the rose end onto watering can with the
holes facing upwards. Tip the watering can towards the spout until water comes
out of the rose, then slowly sweep over the seed tray from left to right and
then right to left and repeat.
Step 6. Sow the seeds
Open the packet of seeds and aim to get the correct spacing as mentioned above,
do not be too concerned if some seeds go astray.
Step 7. Cover the seeds if required
Unless mentioned earlier cover the seeds with twice their depth by lightly
passing compost through a sieve. With vermiculite, broadcast over the surface
aiming for a unified covering.
Step 8. Compact again
If you have covered the seeds, then with the compacting board push down on the
surface again until the board is level with the top of the tray.
Step 9. Labelling
It is easy to forget which seed tray contains which seeds sown on a
particular date and therefore plant labels can help to identify these. On one
side place the name of the seed and on the other the sowing date. Push the label
in at one end of the seed tray.
Aftercare
Using 3" (75mm) pots
General principle of using three inch (75mm) pots
Step 1. Preparation
Have the gear to hand. Suitable seed compost,
vermiculite if suggested above,
clean and sterile pots, a 6mm (1/4 inch) soil sieve, compactor,
plant labels, permenant marker pen, a watering can with fine rose end. You might
also consider making or getting a potting/seed bench. A few days before you
commence bring in the compost so that it can warm up.
Step 2. Filling the pot(s).
Using the 6mm sieve held over a pot add the compost breaking up lumps as
you go. Fill the pot until it is overflowing, lift the pot and gently tap
against the work surface to consolidate the compost. Add a little more compost
if the levels drops too much.
Step 3. Compacting
With a 12 mm (1/2 inch) flat surface like a compacting board, compact the surface by pushing until the compacting board is flush with the
top of the pot.
Step 5. Moisten the compost
Some instructions will have you waiting until the end before you moisten the
soil, the choice is yours. What you are aiming for is for the compost to feel
like freshly spun clothing, in that it is not dry and not soaking wet.
This should be to at least a depth of 2.5cm (1 inch). Transfer the pot(s)
away from the seed bench, so as to prevent having to wait until it is dry before
you can prepare another pot. Fit the rose end onto watering can with the
holes facing upwards. Tip the watering can towards the spout until water comes
out of the rose, then slowly sweep over the pot(s) from left to right and
then right to left and repeat.
Step 6. Sow the seeds
Open the packet of seeds and aim to get the correct spacing as mentioned above,
do not be too concerned if some seeds go astray.
Step 7. Cover the seeds if required
Unless mentioned earlier cover the seeds with twice their depth by lightly
passing compost through a sieve. With vermiculite, broadcast over the surface
aiming for a unified covering.
Step 8. Compact again
If you have covered the seeds, then with the compacting board push down on the
surface again until the board is level with the top of the pot.
Step 9. Labelling
It is easy to forget which pots contain which seeds, sown on a
particular date and therefore plant labels can help to identify this. On one
side place the name of the seed and on the other the sowing date. Push the label
in at the side of the pot.
Aftercare
- Cover the seed with newspaper and place in a warm place of ideally 20C 68F
unless otherwise dictated on the seed packet. (You may wish to see
how to use seed propagators)
- Keep a watch on the seeds on a
daily basis and use a mister to moisten the surface if it appears dry.
- When you
see the seedlings emerge bring out and place into the light. The first leaves to
emerge are called Cotyledons and are not so called true leaves.
- Depending upon the seeds sow you may need to transplant the seedlings into
either pots or seed trays when the first real leaves begin to show.