Starting Seeds, Part 2

Ready, Set, Sow!

By Ron Dieter, Sunnyfield Greenhouse & Gardens

February 16, 2000 

You've decided what seeds you want to grow and you've determined the proper time to plant them. Now it's time to start sowing.

Most garden centers and discount stores sell seed starting kits. If you're going to start just a few seeds, you might like to try one of them, since everything you need is all packed together. The kit will contain a flat (a plastic tray), cell packs, and planting mix. If you're going to get into this on a grander scale, then you'll be better off buying the components.

Most plastic flats have rows of holes on the bottom to allow excess water to drain away, but some do not. Drainage is very important so if the holes aren't there, get out the drill and make a few. A dozen or so will do the trick.

You can sow the seeds in the flat or you can sow them into the cell packs. If you are just starting a few plants and the seeds are fairly large, the cell pack method will work just fine. In that case put the cell packs into the flat, fill the cell packs with moist planting mix and sow two to four seeds in each cell. Later on, when the seeds are up and growing, you can remove the weaker ones, leaving the strong ones to plant outside later.

Some plants, such as alyssum and moss rose, work well when sown directly into cell packs. You can put the seed into a salt shaker and just sprinkle it over the moist planting mix. But for very fine expensive seeds, such as begonias, petunias, and impatiens, I think it is much better to start the seeds in flats and transplant them to cell packs later.

Fill the flat three fourths full with moist planting mix. Pat the mix down lightly so that it is firm but not packed. Make furrows across the soil by laying a wooden pencil on its side, parallel with the short side of the flat, and pressing it into the soil. Most flats are about one foot by two feet. You should have room for about ten furrows spacing them about two inches apart. The furrows should be no more than a quarter inch deep.

Now you can sow the seeds into the furrows. To make sowing easier, try using a piece of glossy paper folded into a V shaped trough. Pour the seeds into the trough and gently tap the paper as you move along the furrow. You might want to practice by sowing the seeds onto a plain dry sheet of paper a couple times.

It would be nice if all the seeds fell evenly spaced an eighth of an inch apart. That won't happen, but it's what you're shooting for. Some seeds are VERY small. For example, one ounce of begonia seed contains two million tiny seeds. Whatever you do, don't sneeze after you open the seed pack. These very small seeds can be mixed with granulated sugar to make them easier to plant.

You can sow several varieties in the same flat if the germination requirements are the same. Place a strip of masking tape along the long side of the flat and you can identify the variety planted in each furrow.

After all the rows are planted, lightly press the seeds against the soil with your finger. Some seeds require a thin layer of planting mix as a cover in order to germinate. Apply a light cover of mix and very gently pat it down.

Next time we'll discuss watering, lighting, and transplanting.