Ruth gets to work with seeds and tubers
For many gardeners, this is the most wonderful time of the year, when the weather is improving and we have gardens to fill with colour and beauty. This week I am going to be sorting through seeds, and sowing some hardy ones inside and undercover, and starting to pot up our dahlia tubers. They are one of my must-have plants; I am entranced by their variety and beauty, their rich colours and bronze leaves. I also like the fact that the simple single varieties are great for pollinators – beauty and benevolence combined!
The tubers have been overwintered in the greenhouse in pots of dry sandy soil. If potted up in fresh multipurpose compost now, they will soon start to push out new shoots and I will be using some of these as cuttings to make more plants.
When it comes to sowing hardy annuals you have two options – inside and out. Both have their pros and cons. Inside you have a better chance of germination as conditions are stable, but your windowsills will soon fill up with seed trays. You also need to remember to keep the compost watered (water from the bottom, try to avoid wetting the little leaves) and remove the seed tray lids at germination to lessen the danger of fungal diseases.
If you sow directly into the soil you have less work to do but seeds and seedlings are at greater risk of being eaten, washed away or inclined to rotting in the cold and wet.
In the column, right, I look at some of the basic requirements for successful sowing indoors which also applies when we start sowing half-hardy annuals in a few weeks’ time.
Tips for sowing
Good hygiene is important
1 Buy fresh seed compost and vermiculite and either buy new modules or trays or, as I do, give your old ones a wash in warm water.
2 Dampen the compost using fresh tap water. Avoid harvested rainwater as it can be contaminated with debris that may cause seedlings to fail.
3 When sowing small seeds, always sieve the compost to remove larger debris that can block their progress.
4 Scatter seeds thinly and cover with a light layer of compost or vermiculite. If seedlings appear cramped, thin them out later on.
Potting up dahlia tubers
1 Give your tubers a gentle squeeze to make sure they are firm and healthy. Discard any that feel soft or are rotting.
2 Pot them up in multipurpose compost, water and stand them somewhere light and frost-free. They should soon start to send out shoots.
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