Topic: The Art of Sowing

[Zippy Seale]

For anyone interested, an ariticle I wrote, on sowing seed in trays, modules.
this is a Mircosoft Word .doc

http://uk.geocities.com/ba_seale/sowing.doc

please let  me know if there is something else I should put in.
CG

[MrsKP]

i like instructions with plenty of pictures !

cheers !

 ;D

[Zippy Seale]

your welcome MrsKP

I have made this into a web page that is easier to view.

http://www.madbikerdesign.co.uk/sowing.htm
all comments welcomed.

[christine]

Very clear and useful CG .... perhaps you could also mention labelling, for the forgetful (like me!).

[Zippy Seale]

yep, I should really.
done that  in the past, whole try of sprouts and thought they were cabbage.  planted  wrong distances.

[MikeB]

How about including it in the wiki??

[Zippy Seale]

I think that is a good idea. I have placed it on the links page.

[northener]

Celtic, i love that picture of you and your oldman on your blog.

[Hyacinth]

Loved the pics & clear text - well done. How about mention of fine vermiculite for teensy seeds, perhaps?

[Zippy Seale]

Loved the pics & clear text - well done. How about mention of fine vermiculite for teensy seeds, perhaps?

I personally don't add it to my seed trays, though it is in a lot of seed composts to start with.  It is a personal thing, because of the eco damage cause by the vast open cast mining, and the Asbestos contamination risk. Also in preparing it for market use, the pollution it causes when extracting it fron the ore.

[Hyacinth]

ah, interesting & I take your point. I'd not used it until it was recommended on seed packets - so I bought some. :-\

[Zippy Seale]

I used to use it, till I read a article in the sunday times,  and it really showed the damage and effects of mining this stuff.  Ironically, 4 pages on was a big advert for  Perlite and Vermiculite in the garden section.  I try not to buy seed compost that has it, however if I see a cheap stock, i.e.  aldi or poundland I grab it, only to find it has it in anyway.

I don't think alot of gardeners realise how this mineral is extracted.  I have had plenty of dicussions with 'eco-organic' growers and they did not realise till it was pointed out to them.

Because I had to move and now have a new plot.  will have lots of good homemade compost, and I find 1/3 fine sieve soil and 2/3 sieved compost is best seedmix I have ever used.

[MrsKP]

i have used both P & V previously and have half a bag of V sitting there just now but had NO idea of the consequences.  I shall use the last of it and then stop.  Note to self: get a sieve.

we learn something knew every day on here don't we ?  we are after all, trying to give something back to the land (as well as growing nice things) so to use things that ruin it should be avoided.  i know to avoid anything with "peat" on the bag so now i'll avoid P&V too.

[Hyacinth]

Oh dear :(  Holding up my hand to the use of peat pots. Mr. Bowers writes "made from 20% light peat :-[, a small amount of crushed limestone for a balanced PH (where's that being mined - Cheddar Gorge? :-[) & 80% wood fibre...can only hope that the the wood fibre came from sustainable forests)  :-\

[Zippy Seale]

Just an little update.
If you read the article, http://www.madbikerdesign.co.uk/sowing.htm
here is the tray of lettuce which have now germinated.
not a great pic, but one that demonstrates the line and spacing.
will get a better pic soon.