Sowing is perhaps the most beautiful way to bring a garden or vegetable patch to life. Whether you want to grow flowers, vegetables or herbs, it all starts with that little seed. At Plukkers we have already developed specific growing guides for many species, with which you know exactly how to sow and care for your favourite crops. You can find those guides here . In this blog we dive into the basics of sowing and explain important terms and techniques.
The basics: pre-sowing or direct sowing?
Pre-sowing
Pre-sowing is done indoors or in a protected environment, such as a propagator, seed tray or windowsill. This method is ideal for plants that need a long growing period (such as eggplant and peppers), do not tolerate cold temperatures well (such as tomatoes) or are expensive seeds that you want to have a lot of control over (such as kalettes or cut-your-own flowers). When? Usually between February and April, depending on the crop.
Advantages of pre-sowing
- You have a head start on the season.
- You can have more control over temperature and humidity.
- The plants are larger when you plant them out. This means you are less likely to have problems with pests such as snails that eat your mini seedlings. The larger the plants you put in the ground, the less interesting they become. Small seedlings that are just starting to peep out are much more vulnerable.
Tip: Use a propagator to help your seeds germinate faster. This will help you grow consistently even in a cold house.
The importance of grow lights
If you are going to sow indoors, good light is a real game changer. Without enough light, your seedlings will grow up looking for sun, but will remain limp and weak – we also call those types 'Tall Lindas' here. Luckily, you can easily prevent that with grow lights !
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Why grow lights?
Grow lights give your seedlings exactly the right light they need to grow strong and healthy. Especially in winter and early spring, when it is often dark and gray outside, grow lights are a lifesaver. -
How do you use grow lights?
Hang the lights about 10-15 cm above your seedlings and let them shine for 12-16 hours every day. A timer can be handy so you don't have to switch them on and off all the time (at least you don't have to think about it).
