Watering seeds

If the seedlings are very tiny, or have yet to sprout, I usually use a spray mister to thoroughly wet the compost and/or seedlings. It doesn’t ‘batter’ them. When they are bigger, a fine rose on a watering can is fine. Don’t overwater them though - if they get waterlogged, they will rot.

I have a tiny watering can with a very fine rose on it, and I water from a height, so I was hoping that would be OK.

I may continue to need help down the line with my new babies!

What seeds are you growing, Lucky? Some seeds are like dust when you sow them, and the seedlings are so tiny when they come through they are little more than a green haze on top of the compost. I try and avoid these as they are a b****r to prick out even as they grow. Hence the need for misting. The main thing with any seedlings though is not to waterlog them. I’m glad you seem to be enjoying your gardening!

And if you are growing them indoors, make sure they get lots of light, or they will be “leggy”. (You probably knew that??).

I have given up growing seeds inside. Just too much bother. However you will have to keep the compost just damp and of course turn them regularly otherwise they will grow towards the light. I am just about to order some seedlings for delivery in May. A bit less hassle! However I will grow rocket from seed and easy plants like marigold to fill up the gaps. Good luck!!

There are sweet peas, poppies, million bells, cosmos.

Well, you’ll never have to buy cosmos seeds again, lucky!

Ah......pricking put - presumably putting them in bigger pots when they are ready to. How do you know when they are big enough? Do you still keep them indoors then until the weather warms up?

Seeds grown indoors do tend to grow quickly, but---- they also grow lanky and some sadly don't do so well unless planted outside undercover in a cloche or greenhouse.

First you will have two seed leaves appear. Leave them, at this stage, until the first ‘true’ leaves appear (ie the ones that look like the proper plant leaves). At this stage, you should probably thin them out: remove weaker seedlings to give the stronger ones more room to grow. When you have a couple of pairs of strong ‘true’ leaves, you can usually prick them into small individual pots or plant cells and grow them on.