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Still trying to understand seed sowing instructions
Hello everyone,
So I just want to get my head clear on my understanding of this, I hope you don't mind this as a bit of a ramble rather than a direct question. I'm just trying to understand why we are instructed to do things in a certain way, so that as a beginner I can make better informed decisions about which seeds I should buy and try to grow.
SOW INDOORS
1. There are plants that we want to grow that require a much longer growing season, i.e. they need a longer period of much warmer weather in order to produce fruit or flowers. An example of this would be tomatoes. We could sow tomato seeds outdoors in the uk once you hit the decent weather (say June) in order that they have the heat to germinate but there wouldn't be enough time for the fruits to develop by the time the colder weather returned and killed the plant.
2. There are other plants that could grow outdoors but because we want an earlier flower or fruit from them than that would occur naturally outdoors, we start them indoors in a warmer environment so they can germinate, something it would be too cold to do outside.
I think I understand the reasons for the above. I also understand there is more work involved, in having to harden off or that starting them off too early might mean they will germinate but there might not be enough hours of daylight a day to get a decent growth from them.
If I understand correctly, these seeds also often need a constant temperature so an unheated greenhouse or a cold frame would not be considered indoors as the fluctuation in temp from day to night is too great.
SOW OUTDOORS
Sowing outdoors seems to come with one of 2 instructions, to sow in seed trays or pots or to sow directly where you want them to grow.
I assume it is safe to say that anything that can be sown outdoors is a hardy annual or perennial?
1. If they can be sown outdoors in trays, these don't need to be under cover? i.e. you could sow seeds into a pot and leave them in a sheltered position? However, people tend to sow things in the green house as it is a more controlled environment and potentially have less predators such as slugs?
2. Sowing directly is self explanatory but not mandatory, i.e. seeds you are told to sow directly could just as easily be sown in a seed tray or pot and grown on. If you were to do that, would it make any difference in terms of the growth of the plant? Does the plant benefit one way or the other? I understand there are exceptions, i.e. there are certain plants that don't like to be disturbed so benefit from being sown in situ.
Is there anything there I have understood incorrectly? And is there anything there you think I have missed out?
Apologies for the long post!
So I just want to get my head clear on my understanding of this, I hope you don't mind this as a bit of a ramble rather than a direct question. I'm just trying to understand why we are instructed to do things in a certain way, so that as a beginner I can make better informed decisions about which seeds I should buy and try to grow.
SOW INDOORS
1. There are plants that we want to grow that require a much longer growing season, i.e. they need a longer period of much warmer weather in order to produce fruit or flowers. An example of this would be tomatoes. We could sow tomato seeds outdoors in the uk once you hit the decent weather (say June) in order that they have the heat to germinate but there wouldn't be enough time for the fruits to develop by the time the colder weather returned and killed the plant.
2. There are other plants that could grow outdoors but because we want an earlier flower or fruit from them than that would occur naturally outdoors, we start them indoors in a warmer environment so they can germinate, something it would be too cold to do outside.
I think I understand the reasons for the above. I also understand there is more work involved, in having to harden off or that starting them off too early might mean they will germinate but there might not be enough hours of daylight a day to get a decent growth from them.
If I understand correctly, these seeds also often need a constant temperature so an unheated greenhouse or a cold frame would not be considered indoors as the fluctuation in temp from day to night is too great.
SOW OUTDOORS
Sowing outdoors seems to come with one of 2 instructions, to sow in seed trays or pots or to sow directly where you want them to grow.
I assume it is safe to say that anything that can be sown outdoors is a hardy annual or perennial?
1. If they can be sown outdoors in trays, these don't need to be under cover? i.e. you could sow seeds into a pot and leave them in a sheltered position? However, people tend to sow things in the green house as it is a more controlled environment and potentially have less predators such as slugs?
2. Sowing directly is self explanatory but not mandatory, i.e. seeds you are told to sow directly could just as easily be sown in a seed tray or pot and grown on. If you were to do that, would it make any difference in terms of the growth of the plant? Does the plant benefit one way or the other? I understand there are exceptions, i.e. there are certain plants that don't like to be disturbed so benefit from being sown in situ.
Is there anything there I have understood incorrectly? And is there anything there you think I have missed out?
Apologies for the long post!
I’ve no idea what I’m doing.
1
Posts
I'm thinking perhaps parsnip or carrot?
I learnt that from Christo Lloyd’s books.
Direct sowing doesn’t work well here, too many Pigeons.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Re sowing direct -Nasturtiums are another. I've often done them in small pots first, for the same reason - pigeons snaffle them.
It's also difficult to sow direct if your soil is heavier/wetter and doesn't warm up quickly.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Direct sowing fine seed certainly isn't easy, so trays or pots are better, as I can manipulate the growing medium, but those larger individual seeds that can be pushed in, are easier to work with. It's keeping them protected from predators that's the main problem.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I would recommend that you start with a beginners' gardening book. The answers from us lot would be too involved fro you to follow.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
edit to add - apologies - I see Fairygirl said similar , my issue ( London vs scotland) is definitely pest-damage not weather.