Ms. Eudora’s Garden Tool Blog

Do you already miss those fresh garden vegetables that you grew in your outdoor garden over the summer?  Would you like to grow those same vegetables indoors? Continue Reading »

Now that you have harvested your seeds for next year’s garden, it is time to decide when you want to start to sow them. First of all to a novice gardener probably has no idea as to what is sowing seeds?  Sowing seeds is simply germinating your seeds either inside or outside in small trays or directly in the ground, in other words planting.

Depending on the size and types of seeds you have the best time to sow them will depend totally upon you.  If you gathered seeds from annuals, then generally start sowing them in the spring, either inside in trays or pots and later transplant them outside after the danger of late frosts have passed.

If you harvested half-hardy or hardy  annuals then they can be sown in the fall of the previous year and in spring they will have a longer growing period  or sow them directly outside in early spring  again after the danger of frost have passed, while seeds from hardy or half-hardy perennials can be sown year around.

There is no right way or a wrong way to germinate or sow your seeds; you will have to find the right combination of moisture and temperature for your seed types.  Remember that when you start to sow your seeds you should always start with fresh new compost or potting soil, making sure that your pots and/or trays are clean. Label and stake your seeds as you plant them to prevent confusion and don’t allow your seeds to dry out.  Soak them for at least two hours  ( keeping them moist but not soaking wet ) while you prepare the pots and trays, and  as you ready your pots keep a sharp eye out for slugs and snails, ( they get everywhere ).

Experiment with your seeds by trying new methods that may make your plant grow faster, larger and healthier than the year before. Some seeds that you choose to plant will grow better after they are freshly harvested and can be sown any time of year, such as hardy perennials, while most seeds if kept in a cool dry place can be kept for many years and sown then. 

Special Note:  If you have small children, know what plants are poisonous, just like the plant is poisonous, so are its seeds.  Keep the little ones out of DANGER.

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