Seed Sowing for Autumn

Some good ideas for varieties that can be sown MONTH by MONTH until the end of April in most areas!

FEBRUARY (LATE SUMMER)

Beet, Carrot, Chicory, Florence Fennel, Leek, Shungiku
Antirrhinum, Aquilegia, Corn Cockle, Cosmos, Flax, Forget Me Not, Hollyhock, Nasturtium, Phacelia, Viola
Catgrass, Chives, Lemon Balm, Marjoram Sweet

MARCH (EARLY AUTUMN)

Broad Bean, Beetroot, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Endive, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Minutina, Mizuna, Onion (Borettana, Pearl Drop), Radish, Shiso, Strawberry Spinach, Swede
Alstromeria, Asperula, Baptisia, Bells of Ireland, Cyclamen, Delphinium, Larkspur, Stock, Sweet Pea, Violet
Calendula, Chervil, Coriander, Dill, Evening Primrose, Fennel, Parsley, Sorrel, Thyme

APRIL (MID AUTUMN)

Corn Salad, Cress, Mesclun, Mibuna, Miners Lettuce, Mustard, Onion, Pak Choi, Turnip
Cowslip, Honesty, Sweet William

DIRECT SOWING:

You can sow the following varieties DIRECTLY into your garden:

Vegetables

Arugula, Beet, Beetroot, Broad Beans, Carrot, Chicory, Choho, Collard, Corn Salad, Cress, Endive, Florence Fennel, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leek, Lettuce, Mescluns, Mibuna, Miners Lettuce, Minutina, Misome, Mizuna, Mustard, Pak choi, Radish, Rocket, Shiso, Shungiku, Spinach, Swede, Turnip

Herbs

Chervil, Coriander, Dill, Fennel, Sorrel, Thyme

Flowers

Alyssum, Calendula, Cosmos, Nasturtium, Sweet Pea, Poppies, Wildflowers

Green Manure Crops

Mustard, Spring Manure Mix

DIRECT SOWING METHOD

• Turn over garden soil with spade or fork. Break up the clods of earth and rake to produce a fine surface. A loose soil enriched with moderate amounts of organic matter or fertilizer to supply nutrients is best.
• Add any other conditioners such as peat moss, compost or sand etc if not added the previous Autumn.
• Sow seeds thinly in rows or in beds then cover with no more than twice the thickness of the seed with fine soil, tamp firmly down and moisten bed well.
• When seedlings are about 6cm high or have developed their first true leaves (recognizable as those of the sown species) the row should be thinned out to the plant's required spacing.

CONTAINER SOWING:

You can sow the following varieties IN CONTAINERS prior to transplant into your garden:

Vegetables

Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Flower Sprouts, Onion

Herbs

Lemon Balm, Parsley

Flowers

Viola/Pansies

CONTAINER SOWING METHOD

• Seeds can be sown in trays or shallow pots using a sterilised potting mix.
  Fill the container to within 2cm of the rim, then moisten by standing the container in a tray of water until the surface of the mix becomes slightly damp or by watering from above using, at all times, a very fine spray.

• Then sow the seed. A rule of thumb is to cover seed to a depth of no more than twice their diameter but in the case of very fine seed, no covering is needed as the seeds, when sown on the surface of the mix, naturally work their way into the soil. If covering is preferred, sieve mix finely over the surface.
• A piece of glass with a few thicknesses of paper on top may be placed over the container to prevent the mix surface from drying out. Turn glass daily so that the dry side is downwards.
• If soil shows signs of drying out, repeat either watering process taking care not to wash any surface soil away.
• Check daily for signs of germination and remove covering as soon as seedlings appear, exposing the tender plants gradually to the full sunlight.
• If growing on a window sill, turn the container every day to maintain an even growth and to keep the seedlings from leaning towards the light.
• When they’re large enough to handle, transplant seedlings into a suitable container approximately 4cm apart. Harden off plants gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions.

DO NOT OVERWATER SEEDLINGS!