Seeds are life! In a single small seed lies the vital force of a future full-grown tree. Not just for one plant, but for hundreds and thousands of future plants. More importantly, these seeds will not just help plants grow in the coming year, but for many years to come… because seeds bring forth seeds!
Author: Danijela Despotovic
In organic production, the quality and safety of seeds is the first prerequisite for a healthy and high-quality yield. Conventional seeds, the so-called hybrid seeds, which come from the crossing of different varieties in order to increase the yield, have a reduced nutrient quality, aroma, and taste. These seeds undergo chemical treatment before they reach soil in order to build resistance against various fungal diseases.
Our topic for today is the sowing of seeds. At first glance, turning a small seed into a delicious vegetable may seem as a complicated and time-consuming process, but we assure you that it is much simpler than it seems. Apart from seeds of your favourite vegetable , you will also need sowing trays, a substrate and a water spray. We recommend an organic substrate, without mineral fertlisers, with loose and airy structure that encourages roots to develop properly.
Potting soil is not an option, as it tends to become compacted after a few waterings, which prevents the root from developing evenly.
If you are using sowing containers, we recommend that you sow two to three seeds per each “cell” – seed size determines sowing depth. Larger seeds are sown deeper, while smaller ones, such as lettuce seeds, can be laid out on the surface and covered with a thin layer of substrate.
Make sure to label sowing trays so as to be able to distinguish between different plants. In the initial stages of development, all vegetables look identical or similar.
After the technical stage is completed, the seeds require optimal environment for germination and seedling growth. Temperature and humidity are of utmost importance during this period. Keep the trays in the dark during the first couple of days and expose them to light afterwards, with the optimum temperature being 20 degrees Celsius, depending on the variety.
It is necessary to spray the substrate with lukewarm water two to three times a day, preferably after leaving it to rest for 24 hours. If the temperature is fine, seedling trays are put outside, whereas overnight or in case of a temperature drop, they should be brought indoors.
In cooperation with the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, La Organica shot a series of short instructional videos on how to grow a small garden on your balcony in an easy-to-do and fun way, and the episode about sowing seeds can be found here. The best thing all of us can do right now is stay home and enjoy this useful hobby.