There is no more economical way to fill a garden with plants than by growing them from seed. And few things are more wondrous that watching some small, dead looking seed, sprout, break through the soil and grow into a colorful, perhaps fragrant beauty in just a few short weeks.
Out in nature, seeds are scattered randomly by scattering or broadcasting, as well as from birds, animals and wind. To plant plants in a more controlled manner, we buy commercially sold seed in packets and plant them in some determined order.
The most common ways to plant seeds are through direct sowing, or planting in flats or containers and then transplanting the seedlings into the garden.
Direct Sowing. This means to plant the seeds directly into the soil where they are going to grow. The advantage of direct sowing is that the seeds can grow and mature in one place, without having to be transplanted. Direct sowing of seeds can be done by broadcasting or scattering the seeds in a random pattern for a more naturalized look, or they can be planted in rows for a more formal appearance. In either case, it is best to clear the ground of weeds and grass, till and add organic matter. If the seed is very small, it can be mixed with sand for more even distribution.
Planting in flats or containers indoors with adequate light, or in a greenhouse, generally gets the growing season off to an earlier start than by planting outside. The seeds are planted 4-8 weeks before the ground is ready for direct sowing. Once the seedlings have put on their second set of leaves, and the outside ground conditions allow, they are ready for transplanting into the ground.
Almost any container will do that will hold soil and allow proper drainage. If the container has previously been used for planting, be sure to give it a thorough cleaning before re-using. This will lower the chances of “damping off”, a fungal infection that kills young seedlings.
Choose a prepared potting mix for growing seeds, not regular garden soil. New seedling roots are too fragile to try to grow through dense garden soil. Gently firm the soil into the flat or container and level it off just below the top. Water the soil mix thoroughly before planting.
Small seeds can be broadcast over the top of the soil and then covered with a very light coating of soil mix. Larger seeds can be placed in shallow furrows or holes made in the soil. Prepackaged seed packs will give instructions for how deep to plant the seeds. The general rule is to plant seeds at a depth of twice their diameter, lightly press into the soil, cover, tamp down the soil. Place the container in a tray of water so that it may drink from the bottom. Watering from the top may dislodge the newly planted seeds.
From this point on, keep the soil mix moist, but not wet. To retain moisture, a plastic bag can be placed over pots or flats that contain slow sprouting seeds. Place where seeds can receive good light, but not direct sun. Now wait for nature to do the rest.
After you have watched over the precious little seeds for what seems like an eternity, they finally sprout and push their first leaves through the soil. You’ve done it, brought another group of plants into the world. At this point, if you had a plastic covering over the flat or container, you can now remove it.
When they put on their second set of true leaves, it is time to thin them out. This gives them enough breathing room to grow larger before being sent out into the garden. A few weeks to a month after the initial thinning out, the seedlings should be ready for planting into their new garden home.
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