Horticulture Principles and Practices

FIGURE 9–11 Seedlings can
be raised in compressed (a) peat
disks or (b) peat pots (Source: For
(b) George Acquaah)
Dry compressed
peat disk or pellet
(a)
Seed emerging from
expanded medium
after soaking in water
Seedling ready for
planting
(b)
306 Chapter 9 Sexual Propagation
9.15.4 SOWING SEEDS
The seed packet displays a variety of information, including the name of the cultivars and
directions for production (sowing, spacing, care, and maturity). When in doubt, always
consult the instructions on seed packets.
The soil surface should be of fine tilth. Instead of broadcasting over the entire soil
surface, seeds should be planted in rows. This strategy helps in transplanting the
seedlings. A number of shallow grooves should be made by placing a straightedge on top
of the soil and drawing a line with a finger or stick. If the seeds are not too small, they
can be evenly distributed in the grooves. With care, the seeds can also be distributed
fairly evenly in the grooves by tilting the opened packet and gently tapping it as it is
moved along the groove. A simple handheld seed planter, a folded paper, or even the seed
envelope itself may be used to drill seeds (Figure 9–12).
Most seeds must be covered lightly after sowing (Figure 9–13). This covering may
be part of the germination medium or other material such as shredded sphagnum moss.
Fine seeds (e.g., petunia and begonia) are best left uncovered to be washed down with
water during watering. Since a flat may contain rows of different plant species or cultivars,
it is a good practice to always label each different item with a plastic label that indicates
the plant name, cultivar, and date of planting. Some seed companies enclose labels
in their packages. Some growers simply invert the empty packet over a stake that marks
the rows sown to a particular cultivar. However, sometimes the paper rots under repeated
watering or may be blown away by wind. Use indelible or water-insoluble ink in writing
the label.