Home > Projects >

How to sow large seed

You will need: Seeds, Compost, Cell tray, Dibber, Label, Propagation case, Watering can

The keys to success when sowing any seeds are reading the instructions on the pack, using good quality, fresh, sterile compost and providing the right conditions for germination. Many plants with large seeds, like melons and cucumbers, dislike being disturbed once they are growing. Cell packs allow the seedling room to grow and mean the young plant can be moved without root disturbance.

Best time to do it:

Step 1

Fill a cell tray with fresh, sterile compost and make a hole in each cell with a dibber.

Step 2

Place a seed in each hole.

Step 3

Tap the sides of the tray with the flat of your hand to knock compost back over the seeds. Label with the variety and date of sowing. Water using a fine spray and allow to drain.

Step 4

Place the tray inside a propagation case. This traps heat and moisture inside, stops draughts affecting the tray and allows you to shade the seedlings from bright sun by putting a layer of horticultural fleece or newspaper over the top without it touching the plants.

Related FAQs

Ask a gardening question:

Latest Gardening News

Autumn Estate Tractor and Trailer Tours launched at Blenheim Palace

Give the Gift of Nourishment to Garden Birds This Christmas With Peckish and Gardman

Essential Gardening Jobs for Late Summer

Essential Gardening Jobs for Mid Summer

Gardening Projects for October

---

How to: Maintenance Pruning

How to keep Containers Well-Drained

How to lift Dahlias

How to plant through weed-suppressing membrane

Latest Gardening Videos

---

Planting a Spring Flowering Container

Five Essential Tips for Growing Lemons

Digging Up Sweet Potatoes

When is the best time to prune my bottle brush plant?

How to Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs

How to Take Care of Spring Flowering Bulbs

All Videos

Explore Gardens from Around the World

Keukenhof
Lisse, Netherlands

Pamplemousses Botanical Garden
Pamplemousses, Mauritius

Saint Petersburg Botanical Garden
Saint Petersburg, Russia

The New York Botanical Garden
New York, United States

Singapore Botanic Gardens
Singapore

Majorelle Garden
Marrakesh, Morocco