Planting seeds

[lewic]

I am trying to avoid using plastic pots (other than seed trays) and want to cut down on hassle, so have bought some peat pots.

The advice on the packet is a bit confusing - do you plant the seeds straight in the peat pot, wait for the plant to grow then thin them out and plant the whole thing in the ground outside? Or do you start the seeds off in a seed tray, then transplant the ones you want into peat pots?

Should the peat pots stand in a seed tray with holes in the bottom, or without?

And if you are planting directly into a seed tray with holes, do you need to put the tray onto something without holes, to keep the water in?

I have a mini greenhouse with 6 shelves (8 if you count the floor) and many of the seeds which state they can be planted now, also say they should be kept at over 15-20 degrees C. Would a propogator lid on top of the seed tray suffice? Or should these be started off at home? (not sure where as I have very limited space!).

Have also bought a small poly tunnel from Wilko, but assume it is too cold to put anything directly in the ground, even with a tunnel?

[lewic]

[STEVEB]

I use peat pots sow 2/3 to a pot thin to the strongest specimen and plant out the whole shebang,use a seed tray without holes if like me your using the windowsill
Use your poly tunnel to warm the soil for a couple of weeks first,and have patience plenty of time to sow

[lewic]

Thanks, thats v useful. I think I need something to keep the water in when planting indoors though, as otherwise it could go everywhere. The techincal term is a gravel tray.. apparantly. Didnt know these things existed until now (bang goes another £20!)

[STEVEB]

Dont shell out that much,you must have a cheapo shop/poundstretcher or the like in your area?buy cheap till you get the hang of all this

[redimp]

I started off with cheap green plastic 'gravel' trays (from Instore) and as they have broken, I have brought sturdy black plastic ones (with holes and without) from Wilkos where they sell them quite cheaply or from garden centres when they have them on offer.  I now only have sturdy ones but buying them like this meant that there was not a large outlay.

[Weed-Digga]

We use cat litter trays from the £1 shop, 99p shop or Wilkos, they must think we have about 40 cats!!

Weed-Digga

[Tee Gee]

There is some info and pictures here; http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Seed%20sowing/Seed%20Sowing.htm on 'seed sowing' but not 'peat pots' I found these more hassle than plastic pots as it happens.

Plus I can use my plastic pots time and time again.

Normally I use ¼ trays for seed sowing, but this year I am using plastic punnet trays for seed sowing(four to a standard tray)and I am getting good results up to press.

[1066]

We use cat litter trays from the £1 shop, 99p shop or Wilkos, they must think we have about 40 cats!!

Weed-Digga

me too!!! And there was I thinking I would be the only 1 to think of cat litter trays!!!

[lewic]

Cat litter trays? Why didnt I think of that! Some useful info in The Gardeners Almanac, I havent got anywhere heated though.

I'll see what happens with the peat pots.. hope they dont just turn to mush. Last year I picked up/dug up literally hundreds of broken plastic pots that were littered around the plot by the previous owner, and I swore I would never use them for seedlings!

[electric landlady]

I used to use peat pots and treated them just like plastic pots, ie sowed some seeds directly into them and transplanted other seedlings into them once big enough; stood them in a tray (either with or without holes depending on what was to hand) but then planted the whole thing into the soil. 

I found them a bit fiddly and prone to disintegration/going mouldy but this wasn't a serious problem. However they are made of peat, so not very environmentally friendly, and of course you can't reuse them.

I then discovered the joys of homemade newpaper pots (free, fully recycled, unlimited supplies as long as you read a lot of newspapers, can be made in different sizes, therapeutic to make on long winter evenings) and have never bothered with peat pots since.

Cat litter trays - what a brilliant idea! I have just been in Wilkos looking at gravel trays and not liking any of them. I shall check out the cat litter department next time! Plus I bet they come in pretty colours.

[SPUDLY]

I hardly ever use plastic pots now. Like electric landlady, you can use paper pots or toilet roll tubes. I use the tubes. Cut one tube in half to make two small seed pots. Just fill each half with compost and pop a seed into each. If you cant get hold of enough, ask family and friends to save them for you. When the seedlings have grown just pop the whole thing into the soil. You do get mould on these if you over water them. I use an old fairy liquid bottle and just give a squirt of water in each. Same as paper pots really.

[Eristic]

Frankly the only good thing the 20th century gave the gardener was the plastic flower pot. The better grades will last decades, are easy to clean and will stack away when not required. Price - zero. There is no substitute.