Thank you for purchasing our seeds. There is nothing more satisfying than growing your own plants and whether you are a beginner or not, there are a few things one should know before getting started.

Seeds have their own food supply to start them off at least until they can put down some roots and then drawn food from the water and compost.

Some seeds are not very fussy and will grow almost anywhere. These we call weeds even though some of them are rather nice and almost good enough to pull them out from our borders. Some seeds however need a bit more attention to germinate.

The big majority of seeds will sprout quite easily and some of them within a couple of days will start showing their heads above the soil. Some will take a few months but most of them will germinate within a couple of weeks.

All seeds need water, oxygen and the correct amount of light and heat to germinate. You can raise your seeds in your greenhouse or inside your own house in a sunny windowsill. The most important thing about sowing seeds is cleanliness. Trays and pots should be sterilised before use. Without hygiene many seeds will produce poor plants and might develop disease that can spread to the rest of your seedlings.

Damping off is a disease caused by several different fungi that rot the seeds during germination or kill the seedlings after emergence.

Vermiculite is a wonderful thing when sowing seeds. It promotes far better germination and because it locks in moisture there is less chance of damping off so it will produce healthier and cleaner seedlings.

You should use a fine layer of vermiculite where possible. If you are ever unsure whether your seeds need covering there is a very easy rule to follow. If you can see your seeds on the compost when you sow them then you use Vermiculite if you don't see the seeds its best not cover them but just use a very fine sprinkle of compost.

Lighting for your seedlings is extremely important. Without sufficient light, your young plants will become tall or "leggy", which will make them weak and easy to break. Ideally, you should use adjustable fluorescent lights when growing plants indoors. You should keep your lights on for about 16 hours a day - we recommend you use an automatic timer to turn on and off your lights. If you don't have lights, you should grow in a bright south facing window.

Watering young seedlings can be a tricky job as you do not want your medium to dry out but you don't want it too wet either.

Usually when the top of the soil appears dry, you should water. Use a mister or a fine stream watering can to water seedlings. We recommend that whenever possible to water your seedlings from below to help to prevent "Damping Off" disease. To water from below, place your containers in a tray filled with water until the soil becomes moist (not soggy) and then remove.

>All seeds are divided into categories by initials. Below is a guide to the different categories of seeds, together with general instructions as to how to sow them and how to look after them.

HA – HARDY ANNUAL

These are flowers that complete their life cycle in one year. Generally they can be sown in late winter indoor or outside where they are to flower after the danger of frost has passed (around the end of May).

>HHA - HALF HARDY ANNUAL

These also live only for one year but require a longer period of growth. Sow them indoors early spring and give them a warm, light position such as a propagator or sunny windowsill. These are frost tender and you must only plant them after the danger of frost has passed, generally at the end of May. Most of them will flower all summer up to the first frost.

HB – HARDY BIENNIAL

In this group of plants (Wallflowers, Canterbury Bells and Forget me not) sow the seeds in spring or summer indoors and then move them to their final place in autumn or early spring where they will flower the following year.

HHP - HALF HARDY PERENNIAL

Sow these seeds early spring in a heated greenhouse or propagator. They will flower in their first year in summer but must be brought in before the frost and stored inside where they will flower the following year.

HP – HARDY PERENNIAL

Sow these seeds indoors from January to April or from September to October. They can be planted outside when they are big enough to handle and they will flower year after year. Most of them will flower the same year in summer but some will only flower from their second year.

SOWING OUTDOORS - DIRECT INTO THE GROUND

A lot of seeds can be sowed straight in situ. Seeds like Throw and Grow, Wildflower mixes ,hardy annuals and vegetables can be planted straight outside. The soil should be free of weeds, stones and any other rubbish. Choose a sunny spot that is well drained. The soil temperature should be at least 10C. The best way to sow a range of annuals is to sow the seeds in patches. Bear in mind when sowing wildflower mixes of different heights.

Sow the seeds as evenly as possible, cover it lightly with good Compost. When the seeds have germinated it will be necessary to thin out any seedlings that are overcrowded.

SOAKING

Soaking can be beneficial in two ways: it can soften the hard coat and it can leach out any chemicals in the seed that might prevent germination. Soaking can be for as little as 3 hours but if you are doing overnight it’s a good idea to change the water.