How to Grow From Seed

There is no better feeling than growing your plants from seeds. At Mr Fothergill's Seeds, you can find a massive selection of simple seeds to grow at home, from vegetable seeds and fruit seeds bearing delicious food fresh from your garden to a wide selection of flower seeds to bring it a new level of beauty.

In this blog, learn all about growing from seeds with a comprehensive step-by-step guide, from how to prepare your soil to what you need to do to care for your seeds after planting, as well as some helpful tips to ensure you get great results every time.

Soil Preparation

The first step in growing seeds is to prepare the soil. First, dig over the soil until the depth is equal to your spade, removing debris or weeds as you go. To get the soil in the best conditions for growing seeds, add some compost or well-rotted manure.

Finally, make a furrow about 15cm deep, sprinkle a little fertiliser into the base, and then refill the soil to almost the original level. Firm it down and then water it well. Your soil is now fully prepared for sowing and growing seeds.

Sowing Your Seeds

When to Sow Seeds?

There are two periods of the year that provide excellent conditions for growing seeds. Depending on the variety Spring and autumn are great times to plant your garden seeds and see the best results. Your seed packet will outline the ideal times to sow your seeds for your climate as well as growing advice and harvest periods. 

How to Sow Seeds?

Your next step to growing from seed is to sow your seed correctly into the soil you have prepared. The ideal depth for sowing is about twice the diameter of the seed, but this will, of course, differ depending on the variety of seed you are planting, so be sure to follow the guidance on the seed packet and give the plants plenty of room to grow. Always sow a few extra seeds compared to how many plants you wish to grow, this allows you the option to pick the strongest plants to grow on as well as providing a buffer should you have a less-than-perfect strike rate.

Sow along the furrow at the recommended spacing and then cover the seed with fine soil or seed-raising mix. If you are sowing different varieties of seeds, be sure to plant each variety together to ensure the correct spacing, and do not mix seeds unless of course you are sowing a wildflower mix or green manure crop that can be scattered across the soil. 

Caring For Your Seeds

Giving your seeds adequate care so that they grow correctly is just as crucial as preparing the soil and sowing the seeds correctly. Without the correct care, your seeds may fail.

After planting your seeds, you will need to keep the soil moist until they germinate. Once they begin spouting out of the soil, you should thin out the newly emerged seedlings at the two-leaf stage to prevent overcrowding. This ensures you leave the strongest plants to mature. To thin out your seedlings, simply remove any excess seedlings by gently pulling them out ensuring you don't disturb the neighbouring root systems or trim them off with scissors. 

Apply a liquid fertiliser at regular intervals, starting with a half dose on young plants. This encourages strong and vigorous growth.

Helpful Tips For Growing Seeds

Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind whenever you are growing seeds:

• Always choose a sunny position for your garden bed.
• Smaller seeds can be grown in garden equipment from our seed-raising range such as Jiffy pots or propagator trays and transferred to the garden bed when they are easy to handle.
• Seeds will not germinate unless soil temperature is adequate for that variety.
• Always consult your seed packet for specific growing requirements.
• Keep your seeds safe from pests with some mesh cover or slug and snail pellets.