sowing seeds

theGrinch

I want to start sowing seeds (marigold and brussell sprouts). I have tray with 200 compartments to do with in. I would like to know if I sow the seeds singularly or a pinch of them per compartment? thanks

jennifernil

Hi there. I grow plants to sell for charity so can help you a bit. First, how big is your tray? I use standard trays (approx14x9 inches) and put plastic inserts of 50 cells in each tray. Haven't done sprouts so will stick with the Marigolds. What type are they....french, african or pot/scotch? French grow very quickly. Where are you and when do you want them to be big enough to plant out? Do you have a greenhouse? Is it heated? This is all relevant to when you need to plant the seeds.

This is what I do. Wait untill 1st April . Fill cells with compost and firm a bit. Place in closed (no holes)seed tray. Use a piece of wood or a screwdriver handle to make dents about 5mm deep. Place 1 marigold seed in each dent and cover with silver sand (or compost, but sand is better). Fill another tray half full with water and dunk the cells until the surface of the compost is damp. Drain well and return to seed tray. Cover with transparent lid. Place on heated tray or in propagator at 20 C. Seeds will germinate in 2 or 3 days given this treatment. Once up place immediately in heated (min 10 C) greenhouse and give maximum light.Remove cover once plants are approx 20mm tall. They will be ready to pot on in 4 weeks. Pot into 70mm pots or 9-packs using some slow-release fertiliser. Plant out at end of May.
With F M , depending on the variety you get up to 98% germination. If your cells are very small do not use more than 1 seed. Sometimes I use 2 if I know the variety usually has lower germination. Best to use the bigger cells as it gives the plants more room to develop. You must move them on as soon as the leaves start touching or they will get leggy, so if you use small cells it means moving twice. You should aim to be moving on the whole "plug" once there is a good root-ball, i.e. when you see the little white roots through the hole in the bottom of the cell. However F Ms do not mind a bit of root damage and soon grow new ones.
You will need to adapt these ideas to fit your circumstances.