Spring Seed Sowing Tips

Get a head start on your vegetable garden with these spring seed sowing tips from Urban Bounty. The key to success when sowing seeds early is to start them indoors from mid August. When the soil and air temperatures warm up in spring you can then plant your seedlings out into the garden.

Warm season vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, capsicums and eggplants are not that happy when planted out in the garden early in spring as the soil is too cool. Starting seeds indoors allows you to gain a few precious weeks of growing time, which can really make a difference.

Growing plants from seeds is so satisfying. There’s usually a much wider range of varieties available when purchasing seeds instead of seedlings that come in a six pack at the local garden centre.

You can also save your own seeds from season to season, then you’ll know exactly what you are growing and that they have not been bathed in a wash of chemicals. Growing from seed is also a lot less expensive.

 Top tips for starting seeds inside:

Start with a good quality seed raising mix – this is really important, as your seeds need goodness to get started.

Most seeds are good to go, but some need to be refrigerated or soaked in water before planting – check the seed sowing instructions before you get started.

Sow the seed no more than twice its diameter.

Keep the soil moist but don’t overwater –germinating seeds and baby seedlings won’t survive in soggy soil!

If you have placed your seed tray on the window sill, turn it around each day.  This way, the seedlings will get an even dose of sunlight and won’t start leaning towards the prevailing light.

Harden seedlings off before planting into the garden.  This means gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions by moving them to a warm, sheltered spot outdoors for a few days before transplanting into the earth. 

 Urban Bounty has lots of organic, non-GMO herb, vegetable and edible flower seeds in store now.

You can order online and they’ll deliver to your door – you just need to pop them in the pot! https://urbanbounty.co.nz/collections/buy-vegetable-seeds-nz