GROWING FROM SEEDS
With the right care and conditions, you can grow all manner of plants from seed… and it’s easy on your wallet, too
When it comes to gardening, few activities are more grounding and rewarding than planting seeds and watching something grow from almost impossibly small beginnings. It is also a very economical way to grow a greater range of flowers and produce – including some of the more unique and diverse plants like heirloom or heritage varieties.
To put it simply, growing from seeds is far cheaper than buying plugs or ready-grown plants, and it’s a much more rewarding way to fill your garden with flowers and produce. With so many different varieties of seeds available you are also guaranteed plenty of choice, allowing you to be creative when deciding what to grow in your space. For example, there are over 10,000 varieties of tomato grown around the world for consumption, all differing in taste, colour and size. These varieties have been developed by gardeners over the centuries and adapted to a country’s individual microclimate. The same has been done with other vegetables and of course flowers, giving the grower the strongest, healthiest and most colourful blooms. Growing from seeds gives you the added pleasure of experiencing the process of seed-to-plate (or vase) and a sense of achievement from watching something you have nurtured flourish.
Seeds can be divided into two main categories: perennials and annuals. The difference between them is that perennials live on average for three-plus years while annuals will complete their life cycle in one single growing season. When you take a closer look at your seed packets, however, you will notice some interesting twists, including tender perennial, hardy and half-hardy annual. There is even a third category that combines some of the characteristics of annuals and perennials known as a biennial.
If this is all starting to sound a little like a biology class, or if you are new to gardening, then something simple like Nigella (love in a mist) or sweetpeas might be a good option for a first attempt.
Seeds can be purchased online or from a seed catalogue, but if you can make the time, visit your local garden centre so you can get an idea of what’s available and ask for advice if you have any questions.
It’s important to consider where you will eventually plant your seeds and what might grow well together. Companion planting can be hugely beneficial. An example of this is growing nasturtiums alongside tomato plants, which won’t just give a burst of colour, but black fly and aphids will attack them and leave your vegetables alone.
Another thing to think about is a seed’s requirements, which include appropriate soil tempera
