GARDENING Sow seeds to save on costs
MUCH CHEAPER THAN SEEDLINGS
ith all eyes on the budget this past week, maybe it’s a good idea to look at ways of making one’s own garden budget go further.
Gardening can be expensive, not just the plants but also compost, water, and fertiliser. The good news is that just about everything that is available in seedling trays can be grown from seed.
Winter flowers like sweet peas, primulas and poppies all showoff best when massed and growing from seed is much cheaper, because a six-pack of seedlings doesn’t go far.
With the rains of the past week having softened the soil, select the right position, dig over and level the soil before sowing. Sweet peas are the queen of the winter and spring garden because of their irresistible fragrance.
“If sown now, or in early March, they should start coming into flower in June and if a second round of sweet peas is sown in April, they will flower in spring,” says Kirchhoffs Seeds Marlaen Straathof.
Climbing varieties, like ‘Mammoth’, are good for growing along wire fence, trellis, or obelisk, while bushy varieties, like ‘Bijou’, do well in containers or as bedding plants.
The climbers need a good depth of fertile soil, because plants are grown in a trench, 50cm deep, while bushy garden-bed varieties just need 30cm.
Make sure they get at least six hours of sun, and that the soil drains well. Growing on a slight slope will help with getting sufficient drainage. Make a trench by removing the top soil to a depth of 30cm and put it to one side. Mix compost and a sprinkling of lime into the top soil. Loosen the soil in the trench to a depth of 20cm. Sprinkle iron chelate at the bottom of the trench and add bone meal or superphosphate for root development. Return the composted topsoil to the trench and water well. Sow seed at the recommended depth and keep moist during germination, which takes about 14 days. As the seedlings emerge, put more soil around them. When plants are about 18cm high, pinch off the top leaves. This encourages strong basal shoots. Water once a week and apply Margaret Roberts Organic Supercharger every 10 days when plants are in full bloom. Removing old flowers extends flowering.
Iceland poppies are good for planting among roses. Their low growth and tall flower heads don’t intrude on the roses and they flower when the roses are pruned. They do best in winter sun, in light soil that drains well. Sow seed directly where the plants will grow because Iceland poppies do not transplant well. There is no need to cover the seeds; just firm them down well.
Water regularly and dead-head spent blooms to extend the flowering period. If you don’t have much space, grow poppies in a container. Fill with good quality potting soil. With your finger, make a shallow, circular trench around inside edge of the container. Sprinkle the seeds into the trench and cover with very little soil. Place the container in a sunny area and keep the soil slightly moist until the shoots appear. Thin out the seedlings so plants are 10cm apart. Fairy primulas are the go-to flower for shade. They combine well with daffodils and Bellis perennis. Primula seed can be scatter sown onto well-prepared soil and pressed down onto the soil. Keep the soil moist during germination. Thin out to 15cm between plants when seedlings are big enough to handle. Sow now for flowers in July.
For more information contact BallStraathof at 011-794-2316 or e-mail