Preparing Your Seeds For Success In The UK
By Victoria Fuller
So you’ve decided to Sow! Growing flowers and vegetables from seeds is arguably one of the most wholesome and satisfying hobbies that you can undertake, but if you’re new to the garden or just new to seed gardening perhaps you could be wondering “is there anything I need to do before getting my hands dirty?”. Well, never fear! Today we are going to give you some advice on how you can ensure the most successful growing season, before you even break ground!
Growing plants from seeds in the UK is a fantastic undertaking as we have such a lengthy growing season and plenty of rain to help our plants thrive! However, it isn’t as simple as just throwing seeds at some soil and hoping for the best! There are several methods that you can implement to help your seeds along their journey!
START WITH STERILE POTTING MIX
The growing environment for your plants is incredibly important, and although it’s true to say that certain plants will grow just about anywhere in just about any condition (here’s looking at you: wholesome flower growing from a sidewalk crack in the middle of the city center!), if you are really hoping for botanical success then starting with sterile potting mix is the way to go.
Growing your seedlings and juvenile plants in a sterile environment is essential for ensuring that they are not being exposed to soil-borne pathogens that can cause diseases such as root-rot and vascular wilt!
Ensuring that your soil is sterile always lowers the chances of pest eggs being present (and potentially harmful to your plants down the road!) as well as weed seeds that could eventually deplete your seeds of essential nutrients.
SELECT, ANALYZE, & PREPARE THE BEST GROWING SITE
Cultivating your seeds in a Cedar Planters Western Red Cedar raised garden bed or planter box is truly the best way to set yourself up for success from the beginning of your growing journey! Our garden beds are crafted with the highest quality Western Red Cedar which is incredibly resilient to weather, pests, and wear-and-tear, so it is truly an investment in your outdoor space!
Once you have your garden beds assembled we would recommend assessing your outdoor space and taking notes as to which areas get the most sunlight and proximity to your water sources! Once your planter box is filled with soil it will be nearly impossible to move safely so we would definitely recommend being absolutely certain before you start your growing journey!
CHOOSE APPROPRIATE PLANT SPECIES
It is important to “stay in your lane” when it comes to which plants you decide to grow in your raised garden bed or planter box! As tempting as it can be to attempt to replicate an outdoor arrangement or garden that you perhaps saw online or in a magazine, you have to be certain that the plant species you select can thrive in your region so that you aren’t setting yourself up for disappointment!
Understanding your soil temperatures and growing conditions is also essential for success. Certain plants require different types and depths of soil for root growth and developing sturdy root systems, and almost all plants would benefit from adding additional organic matter to your soil such as organic fertilizers and mulch!
DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO “SOAK YOUR SEEDS”
Soaking your seeds is not absolutely necessary, but some seeds can certainly benefit from soaking before being transplanted! Soaking seeds helps to encourage seed germination, and certain types of seeds don’t need any help in this department such as lettuce and radish seeds!
However if you have some seeds that are tough, wrinkly, and perhaps on the larger side then soaking them beforehand can help improve your chances of successful growing! Usually 1-3 hours of soaking in warm water before planting is all it will take to help encourage your seeds!
INVEST IN LIGHTING
Light is one of the most essential components of successful plant growth and can truly make the difference between success and failure! If you are trying to cultivate your seeds indoors before transplanting them outdoors but you do not receive a lot of natural light then a grow light is the perfect solution for you! Indoor florescent lights can help provide simulated natural light which your seeds will need to photosynthesize!
The amount of light that different plant types require will vary from plant-to-plant, so be sure to do some research to see what level or lighting and heat that your seeds require before investing in a fully-fledged lighting system!
DON’T JUMP THE GUN!
Certain seeds can handle frosts and inconsistent temperatures much better than others, but it is important to do your research and double check that the plants you are nurturing can handle a dip in temperature before you commit to transplanting them outside! Spinach and Lettuce seeds get a special mention in the resilience department, they can even survive snowfalls!
If you choose to plant in a Raised Garden Bed you may be able to rest a little easier knowing that ground frosts will be less likely to penetrate the insulation of the Western Red Cedar, so that is certainly something to consider! The general rule though is if you are confident that you have seen your last frost date, you are safe to transplant your seedlings outdoors when the nighttime temperature is at an average of 10 degrees celsius or higher.
Always keep the type of plant that you are transplanting outside in mind, you don't want to undo all of your hard work just because you are unwilling to wait an extra week or two!
PLANT IN A RAISED GARDEN BED
We have all been there: you spend weeks cultivating your seeds to perfection and then the moment you transplant them into the garden outside they get snatched up by a squirrel. Well with a Cedar Planters raised bed or planter box the elevation helps deter a number of sneaky back garden critters while also looking beautiful and making your gardening experience all the more comfortable: talk about win win!
We hope that these tips and tricks will help to guide you on your journey of growing seeds! Starting from scratch can seem daunting but with the right tools and knowledge there is no reason that you can’t take your seeds all the way to their full potential!
