by Chris Emmerson

Created on: April 19, 2008   Last Updated: May 27, 2008

There is nothing difficult about growing plants from seed, all you need is a bit of confidence and a wee bit of help from yours truly.

1 First off, and one of the most important things you need to do, is make sure all of your equipment is clean and I mean spotlessly clean. Even if you have just bought some new seed trays wash them. I fill a bucket with water, add some bleach and give them a good swish around in the bucket, set them aside to dry.

2 There are numerous seed composts you can buy, but I like to save a few bob here and there so I always use a grow bag, add horticultural sand to it and give it a good mix. I have used this method for years and never had any bother. Of course the gardening experts on television and in books will disagree with me, "so what" I am doing something that works for me.

3 Fill the seed trays leaving roughly half an inch from the top, this is to allow for watering, give the compost a drink of water, tip the seeds onto your hand and spread thinly over the compost surface. A good tip for you, half close your hand and tap your palm with a finger the seed will spread very nicely doing it this way. Spread some compost over the seeds, I use an old colander for this job.

4 I like to put my seed trays into large food bags, this saves you the hassle of having to water them again for a while, store the seed trays somewhere reasonably warm but not in direct sunlight.

Once the first seeds are through remove the bag ,otherwise the remaining seed could rot. Watch how they are growing for a day or two then transplant them as soon as they are big enough.

Slacken the earth from around the new plants with a pencil or something similar, then just place them into seed trays, or plant pots whatever you decide to use.

Basically that is the job done I use an old bread tray filled with compost to sit my seed trays on. I then water the compost in the bread tray rather than directly on to the new seedlings, I find this helps to combat rotting off disease, this can cause the seedlings to rot at the base, a quick death for all of the young plants in a seed tray.

So go on have a go it is a simple process, and it is not just the pleasure of growing your own plants, you will save a bundle of money folks.
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