Why grow your own? It’s actually quite simple to have your own garden – and pretty fun too. Growing plants from scratch is an activity the whole family can be involved in and kids love nothing more than experiencing the process of watching their seeds grow.
Still need convincing? We here at HomeLeisure have an entire range of propagation items designed to help you conquer the skill of growing plants from seeds. We will also be helping you out every step of the way with detailed articles on Propagation 101, Caring for Seedlings, Tomato Growing Master Class, and Producing Fruit. Alongside this article we have also developed a free Aussie guide for when to plant fruits and vegetables
Let’s dig-in!
What You Will Need:
- Seeds – we have chosen tomato, peas, carrots and marigolds.
- A decent brand of soil.
- Seedling trays – we used our REKO Grow Your Own 30-Cell Seedling Tray, the REKO Grow Your Own 10-Cell Seedling Tray 3pk, and the REKO Grow Your Own Seedling Tray.
- REKO Grow Your Own 55mm Paper Pots 90pk.
- A spray bottle – we used the Hudson All-Angle Trigger Sprayer 700mL.
- Some clear containers – the StoreMax Stacking Tub 24L by HomeLeisure fit over the seedlings trays perfectly.
All of the items used were purchased easily from the local Bunnings.
To begin, you need to prepare your seeds. The process of growing seeds can be sped up from the get-go simply by soaking them. Allowing seeds to soak in warm water for 8 to 12 hours (or however long depending on the particular plant you are trying to grow) will wake your seeds up! Simply place them in a bowl or cup and cover them with water and wait.
After the seeds have had a good soak, they’re ‘activated’ and ready to be planted. We used a variety of mini pots and trays, and the REKO Grow Your Own specialty products are designed to work together. For example, the 55mm Paper Pots fit inside the 30-Cell Seedling Tray, which fits inside the rigid Seedling Tray. When they’re full of soil the trays become quite heavy, so the rigid base seedling tray holds them all and makes it much easier to move them around.
Take your soil and shovel it into the pots or trays. We used the REKO Grow Your Own 55mm Paper Pots 90pk, and they are ideal because they can be planted directly into the garden once the seed has germinated and ready to survive the elements in the wild. By planting them directly into the ground, pot and all, you won’t upset and damage their roots, therefore greatly reducing the risk of transplant shock.
Before planting your seeds, do some research. Some seeds have specific planting specifications outlined on the back of the packet. However, most seeds need regular watering and a consistently moist soil – not soaking. We used the Hudson All-Angle Trigger Sprayer 700mL with a little diluted fertiliser to mist at regular intervals over the soil.
Once the soil is prepared it’s time to plant your seeds. We sprayed each seed with the diluted fertiliser mixture before planting it. Follow the instructions on the back of the seed packet to determine how far into the soil the seed should be planted, and gently tamp down the excess soil on top.
To aid growth and help keep the seeds warm, we re-purposed some clear plastic containers from the StoreMax range. Placed upside-down over the trays, the containers act like a greenhouse, keeping the seeds lovely and warm. During this stage be sure to check back consistently and water regularly.
Finally, after a little time, a little sun, a little water, and a little love, your seedlings should begin sprouting! This is not a time to be slack though, keep watering them and providing them with the sun and heat they need. Seedlings need to be looked after and protected from cold temperatures, especially frost. So it’s best to keep them inside your house or the garden shed. If you are growing them indoors, take them outside to sit in the sunshine on fine days, and use the clear plastic containers to create the greenhouse effect and give them the warmth they really love. Doing this you’ll find they will be growing quicker than you imagined.
Keep following our posts to complete the propagation process with us in the next instalment.
Good luck and keep growing!
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