To Late to sow seeds this year?

Hi all,

I have packets of seeds which i brought at the end of last year, mainly flowers but I have not done anything with them as yet this year and just installed a small wall garden to sow seeds and things in, am I to late for this year to sow them? Also what is the best way to sow seeds for good results, sorry very novice at this as just become proud owner of a nice big garden

Thank you in advance

Paul

 

Certainly not too late, even in warm Sussex. Pop them in, water them, follow the advice on the packet, and pray a lot.

 

Thanks John

Can you recommend the best thing to sow them in, compost? When watering is it best to soak or spray with a bottle? Do they need to be fed?

 

Start them in compost. Don't feed seed, feed if they need it when bigger. Just get the compost moist. Water seedlings with a spray. All this is assuming you are not growing exotics from seed.

 

Great can't wait to get home and get started.

Thanks for the advise.

Paul

 

Hi Paul. Good advice from Sarraceniac. Never too late, I have just sown some Tithonia and Cleome today. Christopher Lloyd, in his books, suggested that some tender plants like these shouldn't be sown before 1st May ( damn - got it wrong again!)..

I like to mix two thirds multipurpose compost with one third sharp sand - it just helps the drainage a bit. I water, like Sarraceniac, by spraying; but I like to use a solution of Cheshunt (copper) compound, which you can buy in any garden centre. The copper is antifungal and tends to help prevent damping off (ie dying from rot).

Its worth remembering that what makes plants grow is sunlight. In the early months of the year the sun is not very strong but it is getting much stronger now. That means seeds sown two months ago, don't have as big a start as you might think.

 

That may be why my cobea scandens have been a big failure so far - nothing has germinated. I have just sown the last couple of seeds, so it's fingers crossed.....

 

I have just sown the last of my seeds (annual flower) - straight into the garden! I have my fingers, toes and eyes crossed, but I have no room for seedlings (well I do, but my kitchen is now, and I don't want to have seedlings on my windowsill - there is already a brugmansia, some cacti cuttings and an amaryllus that never came)!)

I wouold usually start my sweetpeas off indoors - especially as my garden is slug central, but again, have just sown the third lot into the ground.

Let us know how you get on Paul.

 

JarBax,
I have had to do the same for the same reasons! We only have a small garden, and no greenhouse, all my windowsills are already covered in pots & trays! When a friend called yesterday she said the house looked like a garden centre, lol. I too have just chucked the last of my seeds straight into the garden

Paul, I agree with John & PeterS, it's definately not too late. Best of luck mate.

Beki x

 

I didn't know that!!!! i always feed everything... maybe thats why i get a lot of dud seeds

 

DD, the principle behind Saraceniac's comment about not feeding seeds is that you want to encourage very small seedlings to look for food by sending out roots. This forces them to estalish a healthy root system. If you feed them too early, they get lazy and don't need and hence don't bother to grow strong roots.

Once they have got a certain amount of root, you can feed them.

 

Gotchya

 

Good advice john and well explained

 

just sown my cornflowers straight into the ground last weekend. Cross with myself as I should have done it a month ago but I guess it just means I'll get a later display.