The moon is right (Maramataka), it’s still a little chilly (here anyway), but spring is trying it’s best and now is a good time to get cracking on seed sowing.

This is a real quick post with lots of photos of dirt, just to give you the basics of seed sowing if you’re new to the game (warning, this game can be addictive!)…

So, use seed raising mix, unfortunately not all seed raising mixes are made equally, if you’re reaching for the cheap bag be prepared to fish out the large pieces of bark, the real fine stuff is the best, personally, my favourite is Daltons organic seed raising mix.

Fill up your container, usually a flat tray with at least 4 cm depth, then water your medium (medium being your seed raising mix).

Arrange your seeds, or if they’re very fine, sprinkle.. if they’re super fine, mix the seed with sand for an even distribution.

Label. Don’t trust yourself to remember what it is that you sowed next to that other really memorable seed, especially true if you’re sowing different types of tomatos.

When it comes to covering your seed you don’t want to cover it with any more than the seed is big. I have re-written this sentence many times, my brain can’t work out how to word it better! Hopefully these pictures of pea seeds help! For the fine seeds, vermiculite is the bees knees, failing that, the finest of the fine seed raising mix, sieve it if you have to,

Then pat it gently, you’re making sure that the seed is connected to the soil. Then gently spray with water.

Where you’re going to put them now depends on your current climate and what you’ve sown. For me, cold inland, most will be going on my heat pads, some in the glasshouse. (Go to this post here about heat pads)

Keep your seeds moist, by either spraying or watering from the bottom. Watering with a water can is a bit a rough at this stage. And eventually you’ll have trays of little seedlings and a heart full of pride! Have fun and don’t be shy to talk to your seeds to help them grow… Haha! There’s a (completely un-scientific) theory actually that basil seeds grow best if you verbally abuse them, maybe use them to vent your frustrations!