How to sow seeds direct into pots

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Sunday, 24 March 2019 at 3:00 pm

For a quick-growing, low-maintenance display, you can direct-sow seeds into a pot. We show you how.

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Growing flowers from seed is a great way of saving money, and summer planting doesn’t get easier than this. You can sow most half-hardy and hardy annuals straight into the container in late March (delay until April if the weather stays cold) - the first shoots often appear within days, with flowers from early June right through until October.

Place the container in full sun where your summer annuals can soak up the warmth, and get enough light to open their petals.

Find out how to grow the perfect pot of seed-sown summer annuals, below.

You Will Need

Crocks
A bell cloche
Vermiculite or fine grit
Seed compost
Multi-purpose, peat-free compost
Flower seeds
Container

Step 1

How to sow seeds direct into pots - adding compost to the pot

Place a couple of crocks in the base of your pot to aid drainage. Fill the pot with a good quality, peat-free multipurpose compost, topping off with a 3cm layer of seed compost. Water the compost thoroughly and allow to drain.

Step 2

How to sow seeds direct into pots - sowing seed on the surface

Using vermiculite or sand, divide the surface into thirds. Sow three types of seed - one in each section, spacing them at 5cm intervals.

Step 3

How to sow seeds direct into pots - covering the seed with vermiculite

Cover the surface with a fine layer of vermiculite.

Step 4

How to sow seeds direct into pots - covering the pot with a bell cloche

Protect the seeds with a cloche until they have germinated. Thin overcrowded seedlings to 10cm, by gently prising them out using a pencil. Firm in the rest.