Caption: “The love of gardening is a seed that once sown never dies, but grows to the enduring happiness that the love of gardening gives”. Gertrude Jekyll
The noise of the seed catalogue landing on the mat casts light on the darkest of winter days. Sitting with a cup of tea, soaking in the colours and scents and marvelling at the new Sweet Pea or Nigella seeds and where you can fit them in is an abiding pleasure for most gardeners.
There are many reasons that gardeners grow from seed. Whatever your reason, Dalefoot Wool Compost for Seeds has been developed to provide the best possible medium for sowing and also growing on from seed.
We have listened carefully to our customers and have developed the perfect start for seeds.
Tips for growing from seed. You may want to grow all your vegetables from seed saving on the cost of plug plants and allowing for a greater variety of successional sowings
• Shallow containers are best for seeds. Seed trays, small pots, egg boxes and yoghurt pots work well. All containers must have holes in the bottom to allow for good drainage. Re-used pots must be clean and sterile.
• Do not use garden soil when sowing seeds.
• Fill the clean container with Wool Compost for Seeds. One bag is sufficient for 2 standard full size seed trays. Gently tamp the compost down, sow the seed lightly and cover it with the seed compost.
A gardening rule of thumb says the larger the seed the more deeply they are planted. The seed packet gives all the information you need about the planting depth, when to sow and the estimated time before germination.
• Wool Compost for Seeds contains wool. It is not essential to soak the trays before sowing the seeds because of the way the wool fibres hold water. Mist the trays with a spray remembering that the seed compost needs approximately 50% less watering, depending on the temperature the seed trays are kept at. We recommend that you water to touch and lifting the seed tray to gauge its weight will give a good idea of how much water is in the compost.
• Keep the seed trays warm by putting them in a greenhouse, in a propagator or even an airing cupboard. Remember to keep the seed trays out of the direct sun if under glass.
• Top dressing the seed compost with some vermiculite or fine grit helps prevent crusting. This also helps to maintain the moisture and minimises damping off.
When the seedlings are well grown gently separate and prick out into Wool Compost which has all the nutrients the plants need for the entire growing season.
"I have never seen a root ball like it. The fibrous root system was denser, much more developed and uniform producing the best tomato plants I have grown" – Terry Marshall professional tomato grower grew from seed in Dalefoot Wool Compost for Seeds and moved on to Dalefoot Wool Compost for Vegetables and Salads 2016