March is the height of the seed sowing season. The days are getting longer and the temperature should be warming up a little. In the last 2/3 weeks, I have sown some hardy annuals for my cut flower garden to include:
- Ammi majus
- Ammi visnaga
- Cornflowers
- Anitrrihnums (snapdragons)
- Sweet peas
- Larkspur
- Orlaya
- Amaranthus
- Sunflower
- Rhudbedkia
My top 5 tips for seed sowing are as follows:
- Always read the seed packet for best sowing dates. Light and warmth are essential and germination is much faster if you get this right.
- Consider the type of seed you are sowing. Some are larger and can be sown into individual cellular trays, others are very small and will need to be scattered and potted on once germination has occurred.
- Not all seeds need covering after sowing on top of the compost – this is often determined by the size of the seeds.
- Cover with vermiculite – it is light in weight – and allows light to get through to the seeds.
- Water gently from above to avoid over soaking, and cover with a cloche or plastic bag to keep moisture in. Keep checking to ensure your seed trays are not drying up.
