Secret to not getting clumps of seeds together please?

Hi,

I am a newbie, so sorry if I have posted this in the incorrect forum.

This is the first time I have tried to grow seeds in a seed tray (Lobelia). I thought I had been really careful trying to get the tiny seeds as spread out as possible, but as you will see from the attached photo, turns out not so much

Is there a good technique for ensuring you get as even a spread as possible, when the seeds are so very tiny (I can hardly see them even with my glasses on) please?

I suppose I will have to try and separate them when they get bigger, but I am probably going to lose a lot doing that?

Many thanks in advance.

 

Hi,

It can be difficult as you say, the supposed way to overcome it is get some fine dry silver sand ( small bags in most garden centers) and mix the seed into a small handful of sand then spread the sand.

Lobelia in particular is difficult to keep apart but do not try transplant them singly, just move a small clump and pot that up, might be 5 to 20 seedings but thats fine, it will still make a good plant.

 

That's brilliant @ricky101 thank you so much. I was so pleased they have started to come up but thought I had ruined them, so that is a relief, thank you

 

You are welcome.

Should also have said get some cheapo x2 or x3 reading glasses like we used to struggle with ! but these days we cheat a little.

Not too far away is a very good garden center who sow small pots of Lobelia, Begonias etc and once a bit bigger than yours are, sell them for about £2 a pot.

We were lucky enough to get them just before the lock down so they are now almost ready to plant out as you can see.
Just want the warm sunshine to come back...

 

What a clever idea about the £1 glasses, I know the Poundshop is open, so will get some, I only have reading glasses and not very strong, so that probably didn't help

We have a great local nursery, they have been delivering, but not Lobelia plants, so I am hoping they will be partially opening again soon and will get some of those as well, just incase mine don't make it

Gosh they look great, looking forward to seeing mine grow

Take care and thanks again @ricky101

 

When I was young and into bedding plants I used to actually prick out lobelia singly, its amazing how bushy one plant gets if it is grown singly.

Couldn't do it now though, cant see well enough.

 

I would like to give that a go @pete, thank you for sharing that.

I bought a pair of +3.5 glasses today from Poundland, haven't had a go with them yet, but I am hoping that I might be able to pick off the ones on the outside of the larger clumps at least!

 

Assumed your pic shows the size of them now ?

Would let them grow a bit bigger before transplanting, makes it easier if nothing else.

Find using a little 1/2 or 1 ltr spray bottle an easier way of watering such fine seedlings, avoids risking washing some away and using room temp water avoids shocking and stunting their growth.
Getting too kind to our plants in old age ....

 

If I was growing them these days I'd use those trays with divided cells and put a small pinch of seed in each section, it avoids any pricking out entirely.

 

Thank you for the advice @ricky101. I collected quite a few trays with divided cells for bedding plants from last year, so will definitely sow the other packet of Lobelias into those. Great idea about the spray bottle, I have a small one so will do that tomorrow, I was a bit worried about drowning them, so feel a lot more confident about that now