Propagation
No , not a big female pig !
I have fail . I have succumbed to the overwhelming temptation to sow all the seeds I flummox from the Hardy Plant Society seedexchangethe other daylight . Gorged myself . I should have , indeed I think to , spread the sowing out over a few workweek to debar a log - mess of time - consuming pricking out later on . Ca n’t help myself , got carried away . It ’s fortunate that they did n’t all arrive at once or I may have inseminate over 50 varieties in one hit in a fit of sowing . Never mind , hopefully some will be wearisome germinators . At least they are not taking up much distance .
As described in an earlierposton the maths of generation , it is hugely ineffective in both quad and compost term to seed a few tens of seed in a standard seminal fluid tray which can hold hundreds or even thousands of seedlings . I am therefore using 7 cm straight pots , 15 of which correspond in the same space as a standard cum tray , see below – 15 pots jammed into a unripe full size seed tray .
In some cases of larger mass of 1 seminal fluid diverseness I have split them across two tummy , but I likely did n’t want to .
In the past times , I would have used cosmopolitan purpose compost for sowing seeds , possibly seed compost if I was feel wealthy . This year , follow the guidance of Peter Thompson , see book reviewhere , I am inseminate in pots that contain a bed of general role compost about 2/3rds full , top off up with vermiculite to just below the rim of the pot ( perlite , qat litter or other clay or demolish brick product would work too ) . The seeds are seed directly on top of the vermiculite . Most seeded player , being lilliputian , can but be watered in with a fine rose . Larger I can be “ stirred in ” to the top layer with a dibble or pencil , then water . Pea - sized seeds should be put on top of a thin level of vermiculite then buried to just below the brim in more vermiculite . The vermiculite serves the undermentioned aim :
Frugal dougal
The main benefit of this method , I think , is that it pass water tearing very uncomplicated , no shot . Just water freely , with a fine rose , and the surplusage will quickly run out away . lachrymation is the heavy matter to get right and germinating seeds and seedlings are vulnerable to both underwatering and overwatering if seed in peat - free-base compost .
I ’m conduct a little trial comparing seeds sown like this vs seed from the same packet boat seed just in compost and I ’ll stake on thatseparately .
Here they all are in all their glory :
Serried ranks of sowing joy
I have been playing with the label printer – the pots are all very neatly label . It is a bit more of a faff than just write but hopefully wo n’t fade , and I also desire that they stay stuck ! .
Vermiculite or perlite is quite dear when bought in 5 or 10 litre inner circle in garden centres . I buy it in bulk in 100 cubic decimeter bags for about 25 British pound sterling on Amazon , very skilful note value in comparison at less than 25p a liter , compared to more like 80p a litre when bought at B&Q , say . A 100 liter bag does me a whole yr . Vfm !
I ’ll be back , with more sowing excitement and detail of trial .
Neat and tidy, tidy and neat!
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