1. Choose a container

You can sow seeds in a seed tray bought in store or alternatively, you can make do with a biscuit tin, an old flower pot, empty food container or something similar. Just be sure they have adequate drainage holes!

2. Fill with quality compost

Sow seeds in sterile, seed-starting mix or potting compost – we’d recommend John Innes Seed Sowing Compost. It’s important to keep soil consistently moist but avoid overwatering. An easy way to avoid overwatering is to bottom water your seedlings by dipping the base of your containers in water and allowing the soil to absorb exactly what it needs.

3. Sprinkle your seeds

Sprinkle small seeds over the compost from the palm of your hand using your finger but be careful not to cover small seeds with soil, as it can smother them. Larger seeds can be placed one by one into the compost. Precise tips for planting can be found on the seed packet! 

4. Cover your pots

Cover your pots with a clear polythene bag or plastic wrap to help maintain an even temperature for germination and then place your pots on a well-lit windowsill or in a heated propagator.

5. Give your seeds lots of light

Seedlings need a lot of light. If you’re growing on a window, choose a south-facing window and be sure to rotate the pots regularly to keep plants from getting too leggy.

6. Feed your seeds

Start feeding your seedlings after they develop their second set of true leaves, applying a half-strength liquid fertilizer weekly.

7. Transfer your seedlings

Once seedlings have grown a few pairs of “true leaves” and are big enough to handle without damage, they can be transferred into individual pots or trays.

8. Harden off and plant out

Once your plants have reached the stage where their roots are starting to emerge from the bottom of the pot, they can be planted out to their final location.