Sowing Seeds
How, When and Where to sow your seeds
Follow the instructions on the back of the package or check out our garden guide section. Some large seeds, such as watermelon or squash seeds can be seeded directly into the pot where they will grow until transplanting outdoors. For small seeds like petunias or lobelia, it is best to simply scatter the seed thinly over the surface of the soil and then cover with an appropriate amount of soil.
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After germination (1 week or so) the tiny seedlings can be seperated and transplanted into larger containers. Most plants can be grown in fiber packs with 4-8 seedlings per pack, depending on the plant. Some vegetables such as lettuce and those in the cabbage family can be sown and grown directly in 1" x 1" x 2" cells with one plant per cell. Growing in cell packs helps eliminate root disturbancs at the time of transplanting.
Soild temperature refers to the ideal warmth of the soil required to initiate germination. Most seeds germinate at a soil temperature of 18-22 Celsuis (64.4 - 71.6 Fahrenheit). Keeping the temperature within this range can be hard, especially for seeds like peppers which take more than a week to germinate.
Soil moisture is equally as important as the temperature. The seed needs water to help soften the seed coat and stimulate the root development. Once the root has penetrated into the soil, the young seedling emerges from the soild towards the light. If the soil is allowed to dry during this process, the germination is ended in most cases. To keep the soil moist, mix the growing medium with water, enough so that if a handful is squeezed, a small dribble of water will run out.