western-queensland-gardening-guide.pdf - South West NRM

Growing media
There is a wide range of soil materials which are used for growing plants. You can
mix a batch of medium yourself or else purchase one of the commercially prepared
mixes*
If flat seed trays are going to be used, a very free draining medium will be necessary.
The medium must be clean and free of weed seeds.
Sowing and germination
Seeds may be sown into individual containers, or on a semi-commercial scale,
densely into a tray or large container.
If the viability of the seed to be sown is low or unknown or germination is slow, then
sowing into a communal tray will allow dibbling out of the successfully germinated
seedling with little waste of growing medium or space.
However, if the seed is known to have good viability and is likely to result in a quick
and high germination rate (>85%), then sowing into individual containers will save
on dibbling but pricking out may be necessary.
Use the following steps:
Fill the container to about 10 mrn from the top with moist medium, allowing room
for the seed and a covering of medium. ~evel the medium by shaking or knocking
the container.
Press large seed (greater than 10 mm) halfway into the media.
Sprinkle small seed lightly over the surface. Very fine seed can be mixed with dry
sand and shaken out of a pepper pot to obtain even spread of seed.
Cover small and very fine seed with a thin layer of sand to about the thickness of
the seed size.
Figure 19. Cover the seeds with fine sand