Preparing summer bedding plants - Galway Independent

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Preparing summer bedding plants

Written by Administrator

Wednesday, 17 January 2007

Summer bedding plants that require a long growing season can now be sown indoors.

The varieties that fall under this mantle include beauties such as Ageratum (floss flower), Allysum, Antirrhinum (snapdragon), Begonia, Dianthus (Carnation), Dahlia, Lobelia, Tagetes (marigold), Nasturtium, Viola (pansy), Pelargonium (bedding geranium), Petunia and Salvia.

Seeds for these and many more annuals will be available in your local garden centres over the next few weeks. For these seeds to germinate during chilly January will require a heated propagator, green house or warm windowsill. Let's look at the windowsill propagation method, as this is a 'tool' we all have. To sow the seed you will also require a plastic seed tray (in previous weeks I wrote about cleaning them for this very task).

Begin by placing a sheet of wet newspaper in the bottom of the tray. This prevents compost being washed through the drainage holes in the base. Fill the tray with seed and cutting compost to within 1cm of the top and press gently with a piece of board or your fingers to remove any air pockets. Then, check that the compost surface is roughly level; adjust if required. This compost must be lightly moistened across its surface before sowing your seeds according to their packets instructions regarding spacing and covering. After sowing, you must again press the compost gently with a board. Certain seeds will require light restriction to ensure germination, if instructed on the seed packet to restrict light. You can do this by covering the compost with a sheet of brown paper. Brown paper or not, you must then cover the seed tray with a sheet of glass and place it on a windowsill in a centrally heated room. Ensure this sheet of glass has smooth edges to prevent cuts and that the whole propagation set-up is well away from the reach of children and pets.

Once your emerging seedlings begin to break the surface of the compost, you must remove the brown paper, if used, and prop up the sheet of glass to allow airflow. After a few days, you may then remove this sheet of glass completely. Don't forget to turn the tray every day or so, as this allows even light distribution, which will prevent the seedlings growing lopsided towards their light source. Since you no longer have a sheet of glass to retain water, it is up to you to keep the compost moist. Water this compost as needed, using a mist gun rather than a watering can to avoid washing out your new seedlings.

Next week: dealing with the seedlings.

Answer to last week's gardening brainteaser:

Aids to distinguish between an orchard apple tree and a crab apple tree when fruitless include:

Orchard apple trees usually have blunter leaves, plus the new shoots of the orchard apple tree are usually downy, whereas the crab apple shoots are not.

Here is this week's question:

Which plant produces the largest seed?

There are no prizes; this is just for fun and education. I will have the answer next week.

As well as his horticultural writing, James Kilkelly provides a garden and landscape design service based in County Galway. Contact him through his website www.gardenplansireland.com or alternatively by phone on 087-2067846. For free access to an incredible wealth of gardening information visit his gardening forum www.irishgardeners.com.

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