Starting Seed-Tips 

Growing your own plants from seed is very rewarding and
considerably cheaper than buying seedlings or plants from the
shop. The first thing you will need is a box or tray
approximately 3 to 4 inches deep, 12 to 14 inches wide and 20 to
24 inches long.

Once you have your box it will need to be filled with a suitable
seed raising mix. You have two options here, either buy a bag of
seed raising mix from your local nursery or make your own. A good
medium would be 80-85% washed river sand and 15-20% peat moss.
Fill the box nearly to the top and then firm down using a small
board.

Rows can now be made across the box. They should be one quarter
to half inch deep and 2 inches apart. Pressing a piece of cane or
dowel into the soil is a quick and easy way of creating rows.

The seed should be distributed 8 or 10 to the inch in the rows
and then be covered. Move the box to a warm shaded place.

It is important to water regularly during germination, however
the soil should be kept moist not wet. If the water starts
running out the bottom of the box you're over doing it and the
soil will become waterlogged. If this happens the seeds could rot
and fail to germinate.

If you can cover the box with a piece of glass this will hold the
moisture, creating a microclimate, which will hasten germination.

Once the seedlings germinate

the lid can be removed and the
seedlings can gradually be introduced to stronger light - next to
a window would be ideal.

When the plants are one inch to an inch and a half high they
should be thinned to one or two inches apart in the row, so as to
give them space enough to make a strong stocky growth. If you
wish to keep the plants that have been thinned, they must be
planted two inches apart each way in boxes similar to the seed
box.

When the weather becomes mild the box of plants should be set out
of doors part of the time so that the plants will harden in
preparation for transplanting to the garden later. It is
recommended to give the seedlings a good watering just before
transplanting so that a ball of earth will stick to the roots.

By raising seedlings in this controlled climate of germination
they will be hardier and flourish. You'll also have the added
satisfaction of having done all the work yourself. Keeping Soil Healthy

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