Customer FAQs - Spring Seedlings

Customer FAQs - Spring Seedlings
The fun part about growing is there is always something new to learn, whether it be something new to you or a technique simply forgotten. Have a look to see some of the more common questions we are asked by our customers when it comes to getting the best results from your seedlings…

How do I make my seedlings grow straight?

Without the right amount of light seedlings will bend towards the light. This will happen when grown on a windowsill or somewhere where most of the light comes from one side. The solution is to turn the pots or trays regularly to minimise this or to make sure they are planted out where they will receive a good amount of light. One they are planted on the problem will go away.

None of my seedlings have grown...

First things first, what does it say on the packet? Each seed will have its own ideal time to be sown. If you live further north, where the weather tends not to be as warm as the south, then sowing on the outer limits of this time frame may prove to not be as fruitful as slap bang in the middle of the recommended time frame. We’d advise to make sure all instructions from the packet are adhered to for the best results.

Can I sow my seeds in general compost or do I have to use special seed compost?

There will be plenty of people who use general compost and achieve results they are happy with. However, for an informed choice seeds sown in too rich a compost (i.e. with plant food in it rather than a plain seed compost) can race upwards, get very leggy and flop over to one side. This is known as growing them ‘soft’ and can result in weak plants that are susceptible to disease and other environmental factors they might otherwise have been able to cope with.

Can leggy seedlings be saved?!

If you have leggy seedlings, the best way to correct them is to repot the seedlings (or transplant them) and bury the stems up to the lowest set of leaves. It’s worth the tray at least.

I’m struggling with weeds at the early stages of my seedlings growing...

When sowing direct outdoors, create rows which allow enough space to use a hoe to get in between easily without damaging the crop. Make sure the ground is weeded prior to sowing to try and remove as many weeds as possible so not to leave competition at the start.

What use is my seed packet once I have sown my seeds?

We recommend that you keep seed packets after sowing, they give information that can be really useful when coming back to reference later on.

Where is the best place to keep my seeds?

Store any surplus seed in a labelled, air-tight container for another sowing.

What is the best way to avoid masses of one type of crop all coming at once?

Try to be restrained and do not sow all of the packet in one hit. Make a repeat sowing after 2-3 weeks, to extend the harvest season of fast growing vegetables such as salad leaves, radishes, peas and others.

What temperatures should I be looking for when sowing my seeds?

Packets will give the ideal temperatures, indoor sowing are usually best kept between 15-20°C. Outdoor sowing is usually best done when soil temperatures reach 10°C in late spring.

Does it really matter if I sow my seeds a little too deep?

Seeds have a limited store of energy, if sown too deep they will run out of energy before they can emerge from the soil and begin to photosynthesise.

Pim Dickson

Plant Expert

When Pim joined D.T. Brown, it was originally as a seed buyer, but now as our planting & sowing expert, he’s responsible for all horticultural and technical content, sharing his expertise in this catalogue, and through the growing advice and tips on our seed packets.

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