How to Grow Seedshow to plant seeds If you want to learn how to grow seeds, it is often best to start your seeds growing indoors to protect them before being moved outdoors. If you begin growing them inside, you can grow many different varieties of plants and you can sow then 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost is over, because they wouldn't do well outside in such cold conditions. Slow growing flowers and vegetables will get more growing time indoors, meaning they can grow quicker and bloom faster when you transplant them to the garden. You just need a sunny room or greenhouse if you want to do this. What is a Seed? Think of a seed as an egg. It has a hard shell and nutrients stored inside which provide the plant with energy. Different seeds need different dormancy times. A lot of annual seeds germinate in the following spring. When seeds absorb water and food, the inside will convert from starch to sugar, encouraging the embryo to grow. It eventually bursts out of this hard shell and begins taking food and water from outside of itself. This is when you need to increase the water you are allocating and begin fertilization. Never leave your plants in standing water because this promotes disease and fungus problems. They should dry out a bit between waterings. When learning how to grow a seed, knowing the right amount of water to give them is critical. Knowing how to grow from seed includes knowing what they need to thrive. Seeds need light, water and warmth. Light helps the seeds to germinate and grow. You can use fluorescent lights if you have no, or little, sun. Excessive water can kill your seedlings but they do need to be kept moist. Nearly all seeds grow best in a warm soil which is between 70º and 75ºF. You should use and plant seeds when you buy them rather than keeping them for the coming year. Large seeds need a lot of soil for germination but smaller ones don't need much. If you are planting large seeds, place them half an inch under the top of the soil. Spring and summer seeds need planting after the last frost. Always read the packet instructions on seeds for more advice. Seed Containers You need to use seed containers if you are going to start your plants off indoors. These should have drainage holes to let excess water through. Anyone who has a good knowledge of how to grow seeds will recommend that you sterilize your containers. You can do this by washing them in warm, soapy water then rinsing them off. This prevents diseases. You shouldn't use normal garden soil for seedlings because it is heavy and might contain some soil-borne diseases. Instead, try a combination of vermiculite, perlite and peat or just peat. Seedlings must be watered every couple of days but don't water too much. Let the soil dry out on top before re-watering. Water from the bottom if you can. Learning how to grow seeds is fairly straightforward but make sure you read the back of the seed packets when you buy them to make sure the conditions your garden can offer are suitable for the plant in question.
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