Lesson 2
Starting from seed
Seed is the cheapest, most miraculous propagation. A packet of basil seeds costs less than a coffee and yields thirty plants.
The principles are simple: a moist, free-draining seed compost; warmth (most edibles want 18–24°C to germinate); light from the moment the first leaf appears; and patience.
The single biggest mistake is sowing too deep. Most seeds want to be covered by no more than their own thickness — fine seeds (basil, lettuce) only need a dusting of compost.
The reliable indoor sowing routine
- 1Fill small pots or modules with fresh seed compost; level the surface.
- 2Water from below — sit the pots in a tray of water for 10 minutes until the surface is dark.
- 3Sow 2–3 seeds per cell; cover lightly; press down gently.
- 4Cover with a clear lid or cling film to hold humidity; place somewhere warm (top of fridge or near a radiator).
- 5Check daily. The moment a green shoot appears, remove the cover and move to bright light.
- 6Thin to the strongest seedling per cell once true leaves appear.
If your seedlings stretch and flop, they want more light, not more water. Move them closer to a window or under a desk lamp.