Organic Gardening

OUTSIDE

The cheapest method of raising plants is by sowing seeds directly into prepared soil. This is the method you should adopt for most vegetables, hardy annuals and many herbaceous perennials. You can raise some trees this way but, since you need only a few, it is better to sow them in pots or boxes and plant out later.

Normal, organic methods of soil preparation will produce a good, workable structure. Rake the soil down to make it level and then sprinkle fertilizer over the top at the recommended rate. A firm bed is usually required so, if your soil has been recently cultivated, compress it by walking over the surface with your weight on your heels.

Next, rake the soil down to a fine tilth. Never do this when the soil is wet enough to stick to your boots; you risk destroying the soil structure.

On deep beds, this consolidation is unnecessary and, indeed, you should never tread on the beds. Instead, leave them for three or four weeks after digging so the soil has a chance to settle.

WHEN TO SOW

The correct time to sow seeds varies from one plant to another and is normally shown on the back of the seed packet. There is no point in sowing too early. As a general rule, seeds sown in soil with a temperature below 7C (45F) will not germinate until the soil warms up. Seeds sown in mid spring will often germinate at the same time as, or even before, seeds sown in cold, wet soil. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule. Some alpine seeds, for example, and some trees require a period of freezing weather before they will germinate.

By sowing seeds under cloches you can start sowing outside in early spring. Place the cloches in position two weeks or so before sowing in order to warm the soil up.

Some seeds have extremely hard coats. They germinate more successfully if you soak them overnight in water. Very hard seeds can first be filed with a nail file to assist the entry of the water into the seed coat.

Other seeds, such as beets, have a natural germination inhibitor within the seed coat to ensure premature germination does not take place. To speed up germination, remove the inhibitor by washing the seeds under the cold tap or by soaking them in water overnight.