My first efforts at growing from seed

I’ve never fancied growing from seed before – I’m a bit of an instant gratification woman and have never had the patience – but I have been amazed at how fast it is and how very satisfying! The only problem I have now is where to put all the seedlings as I am running out of space in my very small town garden.

March 16th 2009

I decided to have a go at some courgettes – I fancied the idea of weaving them in with the other plants and shrubs as I have no room for a dedicated veg patch. I picked up a packet of seeds at the local garden centre and some seed trays and general purpose compost and set to work. (You don’t need to buy seed trays though as I discovered later – recycle your eggboxes or supermarket plastic trays – don’t forget to make drainage holes – or even rolled up nespaper or toilet rolls).

I ended up planting only half the pack as there were so many and I thought I’d better hold some back in case of disaster. I put the tray on on the kitchen floor under a skylight so it would get plenty of light and waited, watering regularly. I was staggered and amazed at the speed the seedlings sprouted.

image of seedlings

Normally I am rubbish at this sort of thing as I’m so impatient and I feared I had not taken enough care in the planting (basically having just shoved the seeds into the compost).

This is the result after just 10 days. I’ve been surprised at the different rates of growth – all eventually came through, but some a bit faster than others. I felt really proud of my babies!

Growing seeds is a fantastic thing for kids to do too. If I can manage it, then children will have no bother!

Image of potted seedlings

Now comes the tricky bit. I moved into an experimental phase, as the seed packet gave no further instructions. I tried a multiple test route in the hope that at least some would survive. Firstly I cut the seed tray in two and gave half of my babies to Clare O’Brien, my Make it and Mend it colleague, on the basis that she’s more likely to know what she’s doing than I am and I can always steal a plant back later if mine all die!

April 2009

I put 3 of the seedlings into a bed in the garden and the rest into pots outside. My sister sent me a message on Facebook “I hope you’ve hardened them off!” Damn! I’d completely forgotten that seedlings need to gradually get used to the weather outside and there is always the possibility of a late frost. Someone suggested using plastic bags or water bottles to cover the plants at night till they get hardy enough. As they were looking rather like the plant equivalents of Bambi and it was still pretty chilly outside at night, I brought 3 of them back indoors for some added TLC. The had to manage with the clear plastic mixing bowls I have used as improvised cloches. Fingers crossed they make it through the night!

Well a few days later and the weather turned a bit grim so I kept my seedlings indoors. The 3 that were planted too soon into the bed outdoors withered away and are now turning to compost. I gave a few plants away to my sister in law.

image of young plants in pots

Here’s what’s left – they still look pretty good and had come on quite a bit since the photo above! And a couple of days later the new leaves began to develop serrated edges so they actually looked vaguely like courgettes are meant to look. They definitely benefited from being indoors.

June 2009

Well the plants are doing OK and I now have big fat yellow flowers on most of them. (Mmm maybe it’s time for some culinary experimentation with fried courgette flowers? >>Here’s the recipe )

Some are in containers and some are in the flower beds. It remains to be seen whether I will get any crop from them – but I am hoping.

As to the plants I gave away. Those that went to Clare all died – but she has seen grown some yellow courgettes of her own and they are all showing the fruits and flourishing in her suntrap garden. My sister-in-law’s flowered long before mine – again benefitting from their placement in a very sunny spot.

My garden is small and the sun moves around it and it is very shady in the late afternoon. Anyway, even if I don’t end up filling my freezer with courgettes I am enjoying the foliage and the bright yellow flowers – and I have now also got some purple sprouting broccoli and some Nicotiana coming along nicely too.