Avoid These 7 Seed Sowing Mistakes If You Want A Beautiful Garden
All the magic that happens in the garden begins from a couple of small seeds. You tuck a seed in the soil, then you add some water, give it love, and up it grows into a yummy harvest or a stunning bloom. Amazing! However, while it may sound simple on paper, a lot can go wrong from seed to plant, leaving you feeling bitterly disappointed and wondering “what went wrong?”. That’s why we are here to help. Gardening is a lot of trial and error. But we want to save you some headaches, by telling you what seed sowing mistakes you should avoid if you want to have a successful garden.
All the magic that happens in the garden begins from a couple of small seeds
Gardening is a lot of trial and error
In this article
Common Seed Sowing Mistakes
There are a handful of good practices you can apply to sowing seeds that can ensure your seedling will thrive. But to get to that point you first you need to know what should be avoided. So, let’s take a look at some common mistakes that might be holding your gardening experience back.
There are a handful of good practices you can apply to sowing seeds
#Seeding at the wrong time
Some plants like warm weather, some prefer cold weather. All plants have their preferences. That’s why it’s crucial to read the instructions on the packet and see what the ideal sowing times are. You really don’t want to sow your seedling at the wrong time of year. You don’t want to sprout seedlings only to be unable to plant them or plant them and have them die due to the wrong weather conditions.
Some plants like warm weather, some prefer cold weather
#Wrong soil type
You can’t just use any old soil for your seeds. While you may think soil is just soil, this is simply not true. You shouldn’t use soil from the garden as it may contain pests or diseases that will ruin your new seedlings. Some types of bagged soil can also be too dense for your seedlings. The wrong soil can prevent your seedling from growing properly. That’s why you need to use a fresh, clean, bagged soil that is make for seedlings.
You can’t just use any old soil for your seeds
#Not enough light
Light gives life to our plants. That’s why it is very important to have plenty of it if you want your seeds to grow and thrive. A south-facing window in warmer regions is perfect for growing seedlings. However, if you live in a colder climate and no sunlight seems to be coming through the thick clouds, you might want to invest in supplemental light if you want to have healthy seedlings.
A south-facing window in warmer regions is perfect for growing seedlings
#Planting too deep
Speaking of light, different seeds have different light requirements. This affects the depth at which the seed should be sown. Go too deep and that seed isn’t getting the light it needs to grow. It’s very critical you read the instructions on the seed packet to see how deep you need to sow it. This is a mistake that can easily be avoided and can save you some headaches.
Different seeds have different light requirements
#Wrong soil temperature
Different seeds prefer different soil temperatures. The right temperature can help the seed germinate faster and stronger. That’s why it’s important to keep track of this. Many seeds don’t grow due to cold soil. In most cases, the soil’s temperature should be around 15 to 25 C. On the other end of the spectrum, soil that is too hot, also won’t do the job. Your seeds will just bake and die. It’s significant you keep in mind that soil and air temperature are two different things, so keep an eye on your soil.
Different seeds prefer different soil temperatures
#Watering problems
Watering can be a tricky thing to nail. For most seeds to properly germinate they need soil that is kept damp, but isn’t wet. Overwatering will cause the seeds to drown, rot and die. However, watering them too less won’t give you the results you want and leads to very unhealthy plants. Once the seed has sprouted, it’s still very important to water them regularly, as sprouts do not have a root system to rely on for moisture. Finding the balance here is key. Having an inconsistent watering system will only cause the seed’s stress.
Watering can be a tricky thing to nail
#Wrong sowing method
Some seeds prefer to be sown directly into the soil, while other like to start off in small pots and trays. It really depends on what you are sowing. Veggies, for example, quickly produce roots which may get damaged when transplanting. Whereas chilies develop strong root balls when they are sown into a smaller container and then repotted. It’s important to read the packet for sowing instruction before you start, as you don’t want to use the wrong method.
Some seeds prefer to be sown directly into the soil
These were some common seed sowing mistakes you need to avoid if you want a thriving, beautiful garden. We hope you found this article useful. Now that you know what to look out for, you will be able to avoid these mistakes, and enjoy a happy, healthy garden.
These were some common seed sowing mistakes
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