Читать книгу Home Gardener's Propagation (UK Only) - David Squire - Страница 86

Greenhouses provide assured warmth in which seeds can germinate and young seedlings grow healthily. After germination, transfer the seedlings (‘pricking off’ – see opposite page) to wider spacings in seed-trays (flats). Later, plants for decorating homes need to be moved to individual pots (also see opposite page). Always use pest and disease-free compost. Using clean and dry seed-trays is also essential.

1 Fill a seed-tray (flat) with fresh compost and use your fingers to firm it, especially around the edges. Then refill with compost.

2 Run a straight piece of wood over the top of the tray to remove any excess. Then use a presser to firm the surface to 12 mm (½ in) below the rim.

3 Tip a few seeds onto a piece of stiff, folded paper; tap the end to spread the seeds evenly over the compost surface, but not near the edges.

4 Use a flat-based horticultural sieve to cover the seeds with compost to 3–4 times their thickness. Alternatively, use a culinary sieve, as shown here.

5 To water the compost, stand the seed-tray in a flat-based bowl shallowly filled with water. Remove when the surface is moist. Then cover the tray as described on the opposite page.