With the weather brightening up again, many new to garden will start rushing out and buying seeds now and many of those seeds will perish before they even germinate and will never get to express themselves as healthy vegetables or beautiful blooms.
At Bare Acre Farm, we’ve been sowing seeds weekly since mid February and will continue to do so right up to mid October, so its fair to say that we know a thing or two about how to do the job. That is not to say that we have not had our share of failures over the seasons. With this in mind, we wanted to offer some tips, all of them based on our own experience and some on our own mistakes.
1. Buying Seeds
Most new gardeners do this!
Buy seed packets from supermarkets or hardware shops.
These seeds are often old, poorly stored, and can have very low germination rates, or may not germinate at all. The outlets that sell these seeds, rely on the gardeners natural self deprecating character and their belief that it is their fault when seeds fail to poke through.
Try this instead
Order fresh seed from reputable suppliers who specialise in gardening. Fresh seed = stronger, faster germination and healthier plants.
2. Sowing
Most new gardeners do this!
Mistake: Use regular potting compost or garden soil for sowing seeds.
These mixes are too heavy, to course, hold too much water, and can either stave or suffocate developing roots.
Try this instead!
Use a fine, light seed-starting compost that’s designed specifically for seedlings. It drains better and helps roots develop properly. Adding vermiculite to your starting mix helps with keeping compost aerated and maintains moisture
Most new gardeners do this!
Mistake: Sow seeds in giant trays or pots.
Roots like to be a little congested, in over sizes containers they struggle to find each other leading to weak seedlings, rot and slow death.
Try this instead!
Use small module trays that encourage compact, healthy root systems. Seedlings thrive when their roots feel “full” in a small space before transplanting. You can sow several different types of seeds in a single tray so it is worth owning a few good one. We use QuikPot trays with either 77 or 150 cells and find them excellent for most thing.
Most new gardeners do this!
Mistake: Sow seeds directly into dirty beds or reuse contaminated trays and compost without cleaning. This spreads diseases and encourages damping-off (that horrible sudden seedling death).
Try this instead!
Always sow into clean trays or modules. If sowing direct, only do so into freshly weeded, clean soil that’s been lightly raked to a fine tilth. Using the stale seedbed technique also helps. A new garden, recently established is unlikely to be weed free, so consider using the no dig method of building beds. (Lots of online info about this)
Most new gardeners do this!
Mistake: Cover seeds too heavily or leave them exposed.
Different seeds have different light needs, and heavy covering can stop germination.
Try this instead!
Research each seed type — some need light to germinate (so only press into soil), others need a light covering. A sprinkle of vermiculite on top can regulate moisture and reduce fungal issues.
It is worth noting that here on the farm we cover ALL seeds with vermiculite only.
3. Watering
Most new gardeners do this!
Mistake: Water seedlings from above every day or let them dry out between waterings.
Overwatering kills more seedlings than under-watering by causing rot and fungus. Overhead watering can wash young seedlings out of trays.
Try this instead!
Correct way: Bottom water. Place trays in shallow water and let them soak up moisture through the drainage holes. Only water again when the surface starts to dry. You want your seedlings in compost that is moist, but never soaking and never bone dry. You can water with a watering can and a fine rose, once seedlings are well established. In late spring, we water our established seedlings every single evening if the weather is hot.
4. Thinning out
Most new gardeners do this!
Mistake: Forget to thin their seedlings.
Overcrowded seedlings become leggy, weak, and outcompete each other for light and nutrients.
Try this instead!
Correct way: Be ruthless! Thin seedlings early either in trays (Use a nail scissors to snip out the unwanted seedlings) or in the ground. Space them according to their final size for strong, sturdy plants.
5. Transplanting
Most new gardeners do this!
Mistake: Wait too long to transplant — trying to move giant, root-bound plants.
These stressed plants often sulk, stall, or never fully recover.
Try this instead!
Correct way: Transplant young seedlings when they have 2–4 true leaves. This will usually be pithing 3-4 weeks of sowing in the late spring (A little longer for earlier sowings) Small seedlings establish faster and bounce back better. For many veggies and flowers, planting small clumps (2–3 seedlings together) works even better — stronger stems and higher yield!
Most new gardeners do this!
Mistake: Plant into bare soil and battle endless weeds.
Weeds will outcompete tiny seedlings every time.
Try this instead!
Correct way: Use a weed barrier like landscape fabric, Mypex, or heavy natural mulch around your crops. It keeps weeds down and moisture in — less work, better results.
6. Other tips for success:
- Always label your trays — you will forget what you sowed where!
- Don’t sow everything at once — stagger your sowings every 2–3 weeks to extend your harvest window.
- Keep seedlings somewhere bright but not too hot. Weak, leggy seedlings are usually caused by poor light, not cold.
- Be patient. Some seeds (especially flowers like snapdragons) take ages to germinate. Resist the temptation to re-sow too early.
