Propagation Guide

Propagation Guide

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FOLLOW THIS GUIDE FOR PROPAGATING SEEDS AND RAISING CUTTINGS

Where to Grow There is simply nothing more satisfying or rewarding than growing your plants from seeds or cuttings.

It is simple to accomplish and very rewarding as just a few simple steps can turn a small packet of seeds into beautiful blooms or a delicious harvest of vegetables.

Where to Grow

Plant seeds vary greatly in size so the vessel into which you sow them needs to vary accordingly.

For instance, most small seeds are best sown into seed trays whereas some larger seeds such as melons or peas are often better sown into small pots or cell trays. Once planted, we place the seed trays and pots into a heated propagator to increase the germination rate.

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The Vitopod electric heated propagator is perfectly designed to give seeds the best start. This award winning propagators’ adjustable height offers more control than other propagators and delivers even heat throughout the base. Even heat encourages the seeds to develop healthily.

If you take cuttings, they can be grown in pots of compost. If you wish to really improve the success rate of your cutting why not give our Hydropod Propagator a try. This professional self-watering, soil-less cuttings propagator produces healthy plants and increases the success rate of cuttings.

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Preparing and Sowing Seeds Seed Pa ckets Tin:

Preparing the Seeds for Sowing

When it comes to getting a seed to germinate, water must be absorbed into the seed and there are a number of methods used to break dormancy.

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Scarification – The seed coat, the testa, must be damaged in some way to enable the absorption of water and hence begin germination. Acid, a file or sharp implement can be used.

Stratification – The seed must be warmed or chilled or sometimes a combination of the two to allow moisture to be absorbed. This breaks the dormancy and triggers the release of enzymes which start the process of germination.

Whichever method is used it must be the correct one for the species. In effect we are simulating it’s natural environment to encourage the correct conditions for the plant’s growth. t:

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Sow thin rows of seeds in the allotted space. If the seeds are small, mix with a little sharp sand. This will help with handling and it will be easier to see where you have sown them. Larger seeds are best sown individually. Put a few at a time in your hand and place them at intervals along the row. The fewer seeds you sow the fewer you have to remove later, however you will need to sow more than is needed because some seeds may not germinate.

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Before sowing the seeds, make a shallow furrow in the compost for each row you are sowing.

Water using a fine spray until the compost is moist but not saturated. It is best to do this before sowing small seeds as it will stop them from being spread out. If you are handling larger seeds you can water in afterwards instead, especially if you are sowing straight into pots.

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Once the seeds have been sown, cover them with finely sieved compost to the same depth as the length of your seeds. If your seeds are 1mm diameter, cover with 1 – 1.5mm of sieved compost.

Place inside a Vitopod Propagator and set at an appropriate temperature. For most vegetable seeds, 15˚C -22˚C is an acceptable temperature range. Depending on how warm your propagator is, you may need to water the compost before seed emergence begins, be mindful not over-do it.

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Caring For Your Seeds

Approximately two weeks after the seeds have all emerged remove the weaker looking plants so that there is space between each seedling for it to grow. d eate m In weeks three to six you will need to remove H d fro po Vito agator: a few more of the young plants to give the p plants more growing space. Once the plants are Pro 0 large enough, typically when they have two seed 110.9 £ leaves and two true leaves they can be potted on into either a 3 inch pot of compost.

What cuttings to take and when • March- April: Spring is the time to take cuttings of ornamental bedding plants such as Busy Lizzies and Pansies to be ready to plant up in May. This is also the time to take cuttings from shrubs such as Hydrangeas and forsythias.

• March-July: Early spring to early summer is the key time for taking cuttings of soft herbs such as Mint, Rosemary, Basil, Lavender and Lemon Balm. This is also a great time for taking hardwood cuttings of berry plants such as gooseberries and blackberries.

Taking Cuttings Seed Tamp Sowing er:

Preparing Cuttings

1. Choose healthy, pest free and non-flowering shoots for your cuttings. Snip off the shoots cleanly with sharp secateurs or a craft knife.

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2. Cuttings should be 5-10cm long. Cut straight and cleanly directly under a pair of leaves, and then remove all but one or two pairs of leaves at the tip.

3. Fill a pot with free-draining compost, level the compost out and firm it down. Insert cuttings into the pot, keeping the leaves clear of the surface of the soil. Put in a propagator or cover the pot with a clear plastic bag, held in place with an elastic band to stop the cuttings from drying out. Keep in a bright place until the cuttings have rooted.

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4. If you are using our Hydropod Propagator rather than using compost, the cutting can now be placed in one of the sponge disks that are supplied with the Hydropod. It is now ready for placing in the Hydropod propagator.

Tip - take several cuttings from each shrub to increase your chance of success. Label if you’re making cuttings of several varieties.

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After Care After Care

If you are using the Hydropod Propagator you can see the roots growing because there is no soil so there is no need to pull on your plants.

If growing in soil, check for roots growing out through the bottom of the pot, or by gently tugging at the plants after three weeks. If there is a resistance, they may have rooted.

When plants are about 15cm (6 inches) tall, pinch out the tips to encourage new branches to grow.

Potting On

When potting on into compost tap the pots to remove air pockets from the soil and ensure the soil is watered immediately and thoroughly to avoid any shock.

Make sure the plantlet is not left in the Hydropod Propagator too long as this will produce long leggy roots.

Pests and Diseases

Rotting off – this is usually caused by fungal organisms and can primarily be due to either an unclean soil or seed tray, or more notably to overwatering. An incorrect temperature can contribute to this issue, which is why we recommend the heated Vitopod as it keeps seeds at a constant temperature.

Failure to germinate - this may be caused by damping off organisms or by incorrect dormancy breaking procedures.

What to Sow and When Jan

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Artichoke Globe Aubergine Broad Beans Runner and French Beans Beetroot Broccoli Brussels Sprout Cabbage - Spring Cabbage - Summer/Autumn Calabrese Carrot Cauliflower Celery Endive (outdoor) Kale Leek Onion Peas Peppers Radishes Swede Swiss Chard Tomato

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Any Questions? Contact us

If you would like more information on propagation or simply have a question you would love answering, our Gardening Angels can help.

Call: 01695 554 094 Email: info@GreenhouseSensation.co.uk Watch our advice videos on our website and Facebook

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