The Peat-Free Diet: Containers for Peat-Free Seed Sowing
21.08.2023 - 12:05
/ theunconventionalgardener.com
/ Emma Doughty
Seed trays, modules and pots
In the section on basic seed-sowing, I talked about the features of suitable seed-sowing containers. They need to hold a suitable volume of compost, retain water and yet allow excess water to drain away. They should also be clean – using clean containers and clean water helps prevent disease from attacking your seedlings. A nice wash in hot, soapy water should do the trick, followed by a thorough rinse. I tend to do mine in the kitchen sink – pity the poor Victorian pot boy who had to use cold water in a pot shed with no walls in the middle of winter.
Seed trays
The traditional choice for seed-sowing is seed trays (or ‘flats’). A shallow tray, with drainage holes in the bottom, they will hold a shallow layer of soil with a large surface area. They’re ideal for sowing large volumes of seed quickly, but you do have to pay attention to spacing to avoid over-crowding.
Seed trays are cheap to buy (especially the very flimsy plastic versions, but they won’t last long), but you can also make your own out of recycled food containers. Add some drainage holes in the bottom so that they don’t become waterlogged. If you can find food containers with clear lids (or clear containers that are a matching size) they you have a ready-made seed tray and propagator. The other advantage of using recycled containers is that you can match the size of the tray to the number of seeds you want to sow, although it is also possible to buy seed trays in half sizes or to fit onto the window sill.
One disadvantages of seed trays is that your seedlings are all in one batch, which means that if one succumbs to damping off disease then the whole tray is at risk if you don’t take action quickly (for more about damping off you’ll
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