HOW TO GERMINATE SEEDS: THE GARDEN NURSERY

What is a Garden Nursery?

A garden nursery is a place where seedlings are produced.

Reasons for Sowing Seeds in a  Nursery

Seeds are sown in a nursery for two reasons:-

1.         The seeds are very small.

2.        The seedlings are very delicate.

The Nursery Shed

The nursery shed should have:-

• a concrete floor
•  a clear plastic sheet covering the roof to shelter seedlings from  heavy rainfall but will allow light to enter the nursery
•  hedges or trees around the nursery to protect young plants from strong drying winds
•  stands for placing seed boxes to keep them above the ground
•  a regular supply of water
•  tools and equipment and a supply of potting soil

Potting or Nursery Soil (Soil used to raise seedlings) should:-

• be free from weeds, pests, and plant diseases
• be well aerated
•  drain readily
•  have adequate nutrients

Good potting soil is made from a mixture of:-

    1.   Loam

    2. Organic matter

    3. Sand

 

The Seedbox or Seed Tray

Wooden seed boxes are typically 35cm x 25cm x 7cm and have slits at the base for drainage.

Styrofoam and plastic seed trays are also available and can be used instead of wooden seed boxes. They come with separate compartments for sowing seeds and have small drainage holes at the base.

The Seedbox as well as the piece of wood that is being used for firming the potting soil.

Plastic Seed Tray

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Seedbox Preparation 

A well-prepared seed box contains adequate potting soil that is well-drained and aerated.

Steps:

1. A thin layer of straw or a piece of nylon mesh should be placed at the bottom of the seed box to cover slits and prevent potting soil from falling through
2.  Place a 3-4cm layer of moistened potting soil into the seed box.
3.  Remove excess potting soil using a piece of wood.
4. Firm the potting soil to a depth of 1-1.5cm from the top of the box.

Nylon mesh is used to cover slits and prevent the growing medium from falling through.

Moistening the potting soil with water 

Placing the moistened potting soil into the wooden seedbox

Potting soil firmed to a depth of 1.5cm from the top of the seedbox

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Sowing Seeds

Steps

1. Sow seeds either in long rows or by broadcasting over the entire soil surface
2.  Lightly cover seeds with a layer of finely sifted nursery soil.
3. Gently water the seeds.
4. Label the boxes with the name of the seeds and the date of sowing.
5. Cover seedboxes and place them in a cool sheltered area to await germination.
6. Water occasionally before germination to prevent soil from drying out.

Sowing seeds in long straight rows in the seedbox.

Covering seedlings with nursery soil.

Germination

Germination should take 6-8 days but differs depending on the species of seed sown. When 70-75% of the seeds have germinated the covering is removed and seedlings are exposed to light.

Germination of seeds

Post-germination Care  

Thinning out

Seedlings are thinned out at the 2-3 leaf stage

Thinning out seedlings

Aftercare

• Watering
• Soil aeration
• Weed control
• Application of fertilizers
• Pest and disease control

Hardening off

Seedlings are hardened off about 1 week before transplanting into the field by:

•  less frequent watering
• allowing the soil to dry out
• exposing seedlings to sun and rainfall

Transplanting

After hardening off, young plants are taken out of seed boxes, and pots or lifted from nursery beds and replanted in the field at their correct spacing.