Sowing | Seeds | Soil |

Germination is the process by which a seed develops into a new plant. It starts with the seed coat absorbing water, expanding and splitting, which allows oxygen and water into the seed so its food reserves can be broken down and used by the embryo for growth. The first root (called the radicle) pushes into the soil to anchor the new plant in place and start absorbing water and nutrients. The first shoot (called the plumule) then grows upwards, out of the soil, towards the light.

Preparation

• Ensure the area is weed free
• Rake the soil gently so it is fine and crumbly and is reasonably level
• Use gardening gloves

Equipment

• Trowel
• Hand rake
• Dibber
• Measuring stick
• Kneelers 
• Gardening gloves
• Watering can
• Labels and waterproof pen or pencil
• Sticks or straws (to mark rows)
• Seeds 

1. Read the seed sowing instructions on the seed packet to work out the sowing distances
2. Make a channel in the soil by placing the spacing stick on the soil and making a narrow channel (known as a ‘drill’) by running the tip of a trowel, or
   A small stick used to make holes in potting compost for sowing seeds or transplanting small seedlings. Various items can be repurposed as dibbers, including pencils, plant labels and chop sticks.

   dibber against the side of the spacing stick. The seed packet will tell you how deep it needs to be
3. Water the
   A miniature furrow typically 1–5cm deep, made with a stick, hoe or rake. It is used for planting seeds or bulbs, and ensures they are positioned at the correct depth and spacing.

   drill very carefully, using a watering can with a fine rose, before sowing the seed
4. Open the seed packet carefully and place seeds into an easy to access container such as a shallow plastic saucer, or tub. If they are small seeds, use your index finger and thumb to pinch a small amount of seed and sprinkle very sparingly just above and along the drill. Large seeds can be sown along the channel, using the spacing stick to measure the distance between each seed
5. Cover the seeds by carefully raking the soil back over the channel, using a rake or the back of a trowel
6. Remember to label the row stating the name of the plant and the date

• With small seeds, empty the packet into a small pot and mix with sand so seeds are visible in the drill
• Avoid sowing seeds on windy days
• Large seeds can also be sown individually using a
  A small stick used to make holes in potting compost for sowing seeds or transplanting small seedlings. Various items can be repurposed as dibbers, including pencils, plant labels and chop sticks.

  dibber to create a hole for the seed. This is known as station sowing
• String can be used as a marker to make a straight
  A miniature furrow typically 1–5cm deep, made with a stick, hoe or rake. It is used for planting seeds or bulbs, and ensures they are positioned at the correct depth and spacing.

  drill if you don't have access to a measuring stick
• Thin out
  A seedling is a young plant grown from seed.

  seedlings if needed -
  Pulling out some of the seedlings, usually along a row, so the remaining seedlings are spaced further apart. It reduces overcrowded, which can hinder their growth.

  thinning out is the removal of seedlings that are growing too close together so that the plants do not compete with each other for water,
  To grow well, plants need a wide range of nutrients in various amounts, depending on the individual plant and its stage of growth. The three key plant nutrients usually derived from soil are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, while carbon, oxygen and hydrogen are absorbed from the air. Other vital soil nutrients include magnesium, calcium and sulphur. Most garden soils contain enough nutrients to promote healthy plant growth.

  nutrients and light