selective focus photo of plant spouts
selective focus photo of plant spouts

Germination Tip

There is no denying the cheapest way to fill a space with flowers or get a bumper vegetable crop is to grow from seed. Sowing from seed is not challenge free and poses its own challenges. Firstly the space required to store many trays, secondly the soil needed to fill them. Many growers don't have a greenhouse and are put off allocating their limited space, compost, and time on the chance of germination.

We also would prefer to only commit space and compost to seeds we know have germinated. Through trial and error we've developed the below tip when germinating seeds.

What you will need

This process is simple and only requires a clear plastic container with a lid such as Tupperware, a few pieces of kitchen roll, and a light warm windowsill.

The method

The first step is to ensure your container is clean by giving it a quick rinse under a tap, or if its previously been used for growing, a soapy wash to reduce the chances of disease.

Once your container is clean take a enough kitchen roll to line the bottom of the container, there is no need to go more than one piece in thickness. carefully wet the kitchen until all of it is moist but there is no free running water in the container. This will form the moist membrane to which we will place our seedlings.

Next take your seeds and carefully tip out the quantity you wish to sow into the palm of your hand. Its better to do this then tipping the packet directly onto the kitchen roll. The seeds have a tendency to stick onto the kitchen roll and clump together if tipped straight onto it, especially smaller seeds. Now carefully place the seeds onto the kitchen roll spacing them out evenly. Try to avoid placing them to closely together to stop the first roots tangling together. Now seal the container lid. Don't forget to create a label!

This will create a micro climate within the container once placed on a warm windowsill and is especially ideal when germinating seeds early. Its important to keep checking on the seeds progress, roots can form quickly and we don't want them binding with the kitchen roll. Also remove any seeds that might start to appear unhealthily, we don't want anything spreading to the other seeds.

Soon you will have a container of germinated seeds that can be planted into pots or trays without the need to prick out. Any seeds that failed germination can be discarded. Using this technique can prevent those annoying scenarios where you've filled a seed tray with compost and seeds, then only for half germinate leaving you with a half empty tray of compost.

a group of small black bugs crawling on a white surface
a group of small black bugs crawling on a white surface