Sowing seeds in spring is nothing new for me but being in lockdown has presented a new set of challenges.
I always sow a wide range of vegetables and, since starting my cutting bed, now grow a lot of flowers as well. This year, more time and the wish to avoid shopping, means I’m growing even more things. Like many gardeners, those seeds that usually languish at the bottom of the tin are likely to be used.
I managed to get a delivery of compost but am conscious that it may soon run out so I’m adopting different methods to eke it out. Add to that the difficulty of getting any more seed trays and the 2020 season is already looking different.
Having more time means I’m a bit more organised than usual. This rather lovely cabinet was a gift and I’ve now sorted out labels for the drawers. As the months go on, so the labels will change to reflect what needs sowing. Of course, I still have numerous tins stuffed with seeds.
To save on compost, I’ve been sowing seeds in smaller containers – often a small flower pot is enough for a pinch of seed. Being at home more means I’ve got time to prick them out as soon as they need it so a small scale start isn’t a problem.
I’ve long used the plastic containers from fruit and veg and sowing a smaller container also saves space in the increasingly full propagators and greenhouse.
I’ve used the inner rolls from toilet rolls for some time for sowing seeds but this year have also been pricking out seedlings into them prior to going out into the vegetable garden. This has kept plant pots free for other things.
The Cotswold-based Gardening Naturally also sent me these wood fibre pots to trial (sent free in return for a fair review). So far, they are working well for things that will go out fairly promptly, such as these broad beans – I sow in modules as the local mice tend to have direct sown seed. I’m not sure the pots would be any good for overwintering things though as they tend to disintegrate with constant watering.
Another gardening trials product is this plug plant trainer from Agralan. I saw it at the Garden Press Event earlier this year and was interested to try it out.
I decided to sow chard in it as the seed is quite large and easy to handle. Even with sowing one seed per module, I seem to have ended up with some cells with two plants in them.
The kit is easy to fill with seed and the lid doubles up as a way of making shallow impressions in each cell, ready for putting the seed into. The only problem I’ve found so far is getting water into the bottom of the tray without lifting the seeds out. The next stage will be getting each cell out – something that the instructions suggest should be easy. We shall see.
Another product spotted at the GPE was this Root Pouch, which has been made of recycled water bottles.
The idea is that roots will be automatically ‘pruned’ when they hit the sides of the container, rather than cicling around as they often do in pots. I’ve decided to trial it with a couple of my seed potatoes.
The parsnips have also been started. I’ve sown them onto damp kitchen paper in a container. That way I can plant only those that sprout and space them so that I don’t have to thin later. The family think I’m mad planting with the help of tweezers but it’s a method that works for me.
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