Sow & Grow

Now is a great time to start setting seeds. Some seeds can be started in the class room and then brought out when the temperature rises.

You will need

A mixture of seeds: lettuces, radish, tomatoes, cucumber, chives to name a few

Seed and Cutting Compost

Seed trays or toilet roll inserts

Lollipop sticks or labels to Label your salads ( we love to put the date you set the seeds on the Label so you will easily know how the seeds are progressing)

Seeds to be started indoors

Peas (sow March to June, also October in tunnel, ready to harvest in 10 weeks).

Sunflowers (sow in March to May)

Pumpkins (sow April to June, ready to harvest in 24 weeks).

Tomatoes (sow February to March, ready to harvest in 20 weeks).

Marigolds (ideal for Companion Planting with Tomatoes, if you plant near tomatoes it will reply the white fly, therefor healthier Tomatoes)

Spinach (sow March to August, ready to harvest in 7-14 weeks).

Mixed salads & lettuces (sow March to July, ready in 6-12 week)

How to Set  indoor seeds

• Fill pots , Toilet roll inserts trays with compost.
• Water the compost – add more compost if it drops down in the pot. The compost doesn't need too much water 
• In a warm class they will sprout quickly – check them every day.
• Sprinkle a few seeds into your hand.
• Rule of thumb: If the seed is big plant one to a pot.If the seeds are small (lettuce or spinach), sprinkle a few on the compost.
• Cover the seeds with dry compost –
• Do not water from the top – if the seeds are small they will float to the top and could bewashed away. Water from the bottom also seeds like the water to be a little warm. Like us they don't like cold water thrown on them.
• Label the pot or tray with the name of the seed, the variety and the date.
• Cover the pots or trays with a plastic bag until they germinate (this reduces watering as the condensation keeps them moist and warm)
• When they germinate remove the plastic bag immediately or they will get ‘leggy’ and are a bit weaker.
• When it gets warmer and the plants are stronger, you can harden them off. Bring them out by day and in by night for a week or two. After this you can plant them straight out.

Seeds that can be grown directly outside

Radishes (March to September, ready in 4-6 weeks).

Beetroot (sow March to July, ready to harvest in 12 weeks).

Carrots (sow February to July, ready in 12 weeks).

Spring onions (sow march to May & August to September, harvest in 12 weeks).

Peas (sow March to June, ready to harvest in 10 weeks).

Leeks (sow January to April, ready to harvest in 32 weeks; over-wintering crop

Prepare the soil as required, Some veg like different environments so a little research before hand will make a big difference to the results. See if there is someone in the community that has a lovey veg Garden that can advise you. Did you know carrots like sandy soil and do not like manure.

If the soil is dry (unlikely but can happen especially in poly tunnels , water it before seeding –

Make nice straight rows & mark the rows with lollipop sticks or twigs.

If you are seeding carrots or beetroot – make a shallow trench with a trowel.

If you are sowing a bigger seed make a hole with your finger or the handle of the trowel.

Sprinkle the seeds into your hand.

Then sprinkle them into the trench or hole.

Cover the seeds back with soil to the depth on the seed packet and make labels for the rows.

Seed sown outdoors should need less watering – check them regularly.

Think about companion planting when growing a veg garden

onions around carrots confuses the carrot fly and they stay away

Lavender under fruit trees attract pollinators and bees to help fruit the trees

Plant fennel near broad beans and allow it to flower and you will have a better crop.

Easy techniques that help your organic garden