The Simple Art of Sowing Seeds in Modules

[@MarshallSimmonsTV]

Just a heads up for us yanks, what Huw calls "potting/seed compost" is packaged and sold as "seed starting mix" for us.

[@WintersKnight546]

My garden's going to rock this year. I put in a paver patio in my backyard using 100+ year old reclaimed pavers. Instead of grass for the rest of the my backyard, I'm planting lots of vegetables and flowers. Very excited for March to roll around.

[@midnull6009]

Fantastic! You need to share before and after pix!

[@trinlovesfrogs]

This sounds amazing.

[@WintersKnight546]

@@midnull6009 I totally should. Can you share pictures on youtube? I can always upload a video.

[@starlight1867]

I bought a cheap reflective car windscreen cover last year which I put behind my seeds on the windowsill to reflect back more light. Thicker and stood up better than foil covered cardboard & I can use it again this year.

[@julesgoh]

Great and important reminder to write down the name and date of the seed and sowing. And I love how you share that “you never learn” - which I think ALL of us would have done time and again. It never fails to amaze me how I cannot remember the seed I sowed even though it was sooooo clear in my mind just yesterday lol!

[@Gretlsgarten]

Dito..😂

[@waykeeperfarmandnerdery]

I can definitely relate!

[@clarkl4177]

Happy March, y'all 👩‍🌾 Here in the US South it's warming up beautifully and I am a' plantin' my seeds-- ALONG with my grands👧🧒👦 Thanks, Huw, for sharing your love of growing through your gift of teaching 💕

[@annaaust8445]

Finally i see a chart with the number of seeds per module and good for multisowing! Good advices you give for many things in your videos, and not too long! Merci!! Québec-CAN!

[@6732Louise]

I can’t wait to get sowing over the next few weeks 🙂 I started watering my seedling from the bottom after watching a video of yours last year, its much easier and encourages great roots. Am trying no dig this year, I’m a big fan of Charles Dowding after watching your video with him. Happy sowing everyone! 🌱

[@journeywithnichole]

Best wishes! I have been watering my seedlings from bottom up & they are going crazy in the greenhouse!

[@fabiolamejia1630]

Hola Huw, desde Querétaro, Mexico, me encanta ver tus videos, sobre todo, por que te tomas el tiempo de explicar paso a paso todo el proceso desde la germinación de las semillas hasta la recolección. Yo tengo 4000 mt de terreno, y ahora estoy por empezar todo el proceso para hacer una huerta orgánica de hortalizas y frutales, y bueno con tus videos estoy muy motivada y espero hacerlo muy bien. Gracias y saludos desde mi HERMOSO MEXICO.

[@seamushand8439]

I bought your book last week - its great

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you so much for your support :)

[@elliotduncan1052]

This year 2023, I didn’t this method. I’m trying the big aluminum pans for turkey or roasting. Noticed that I planted more and used up less space . I’m growing corn, Brussels sprouts, carrots, and still looking for Lima beans. The Lima beans and corn and Brussels sprout I was using the red party’s cups. I’m hoping the this eliminates the two transplant steps before putting them in ground. If any extra, I give away which I think where the red cup will come in ????? Because off the stupid high cost of groceries this month ( notice I didn’t say this year, because groceries being going up every month) I’ve over planted everything, and best off all the guys next door letting me use there land too!👍👍

[@sinned6181]

Merci. C’est très bon idée.

[@lyndajordan6479]

Thank you so much for this information.

[@ardaderen26]

Thanks for this video. Respect from Türkiye.

[@mikeross4]

I have multi sown seeds for several decades and my inspiration was Geoff Hamilton who i was the first person I saw on tv who advocated this method. Shows my age!

[@Ollybus]

Yes, Geoff Hamilton was an excellent tv gardener. He advocated reusing/repurposing all sorts of stuff in the garden before we even began using those words! He liked to make things accessible and not too expensive to do.

[@GuyGoesGreen]

Thanks Huw, really useful. Damaging my bank balance as well, as I've purchased some of the seeding trays and will get some of that compost too. Top tip about covering the trays with cardboard too - I'd never considered it, yet my trays are frequently getting too dry. Great recommendations, thanks. Am looking forward to some progress this year, fingers crossed. Keep up the good work...

[@Ngao8264]

I live in Vietnam and i have always followed you. I'm really like video of you, it is effective with me.

[@dcrosco1458]

What i like to do and I have never had a problem with growing is, ziploc bag , paper towels,, put seed on towel water lightly, put towel in ziploc bag put in light. When they grow in 3 to 7 days transplant into containers. I have 100 percent growth

[@Maureen..]

Great video. I also use a mini greenhouse.. I use it inside my non heated conservatory for starting seeds and then after the frosts I use the frame outside for putting my salad things on like cut & come again lettuce, pea shoots, beet leaves etc, to keep them away from the slugs

[@katblyth8153]

Straightforward, uncomplicated advice! Thank you.

[@HoH]

Thanks Huw for the informative video as always!

[@connybecker9446]

I just find your Channel it's so helpful thanks from Germany 😊

[@GreenSideUp]

I think I must of tried 4 or 5 different peat free composts last year Huw, all where pretty rubbish. I admit that these where all around the same price point as the same size bags of normal run of the mill multi purpose composts. I see you are using the melcourt multi purpose and that looks really good and after investigation online the price is reasonable but outlets to buy it are very thin on the ground. Apart from the melcourt, are there any other peat free composts you would recommend with a much wider and numerous distribution base? I think Peat free composts are something we should all be talking about and brand recommendation would be useful for many...Steve...😃

[@that_auntceleste5848]

Last year i had success in coconut coir. I buy the bricks from pet supply stores because they tend to run cheaper there than as gardening supplies. (Still sterile because the reptiles need sterile bedding.) I add a little dilute fertilizer later when they need it. The spouts don't need fertilizer at first because the seed has what it needs. I also tried the burpee organic seed starting mix based in coconut coir. It's very fine textured and also worked.

[@amassing]

Wilko sell 40L coco coir blocks for £3.50 if you've got one near you. I mix it one part to two parts sieved peat free to get a nice seed sowing and potting mix. Coir does come with it's own environmental and ethical concerns so it depends how you feel about that. Most of the really good peat free is expensive and hard to find unless your lucky enough to be near a specialist retailer. I've found Growmoor (got it at Home Bargains), B&Q GoodHome and Miracle-Gro Peat free all not too bad for basic compost - i.e. it doesn't look like soil improver. Every peat free I've tried is worse in terms of water and nutrient management compared to peat (including Melcourt) but really it's a minor inconvenience considering it's just a hobby. I found if Peat free says it contains six weeks of feed, then treat that as three or four weeks and then feed a bit more often than you would with peat. I also had to learn to water based on the weight of the pot rather than the look of the compost.

[@lisabinedell310]

I recently used Melcourt for the first time to re-pot my house plants and I got a bad infestation of fungus gnats in all the pots. I discovered that this is because Melcourt is not sterilised. If you are growing seeds indoors for a sunny windowsill then perhaps stick to a compost you are familiar with or seed sowing compost. I’m glad I learnt this lesson before I started sowing seeds for my allotment.

[@amassing]

@@lisabinedell310 I've used Melcourt on and off for years and never had that problem although I have occasionally with others including Dalefoot which is sterilised. I think it might be more to do with the retailers who tend store compost outside exposed to the elements possibly for months on end. The stuff sold specifically as house plant compost is always kept indoors with the house plants.

[@williamreely3455]

I hate trying to start plants in peat or coir; the seedlings never seem to take well to it and they fall over because it's not cohesive so they can't get entrenched properly. Lots of people say you need super fluffy and airy starter mix to start seeds well because "their young roots can't penetrate otherwise". Which is rubbish. Most if not all seeds are well-equipped to penetrate garden variety soil; if they weren't, they'd never propogate naturally. The main thing to keep in mind when choosing a seed starting medium is that it has to be *fine grained without large chunks* that could block plant or root growth. You can even use potting soil so long as you sieve out any large particles.

[@kathrynmettelka7216]

Thanks for clear, sensible instructions. I am starting seeds for the 1st time in Central Texas, which is warmer than you are. It was t-shirt weather today, but there is still time for a frost. I'm using the winter sowing method since I am a home gardener without a greenhouse or a system of shelves and grow lights indoors. I have also direct sowed lettuce and bachelor's buttons outside, protected against squirrels by chicken wire cloches.

[@jeanettebaldwin3902]

I’m in Central Texas too and watch Huw. Was outside all day today. Cold for tomorrow. Happy seeding and growing to you!

[@darinbennett3638]

Huw, thanks for the step-by-step tutorial on sowing seeds. I have always been hesitant in starting plants this way and I'm not really sure why. It is cost effective to start plants by seeds and so I'm going to try doing more seed sowing this year. It's exciting to be at this time of year when anything and everything seems possible! Here's to a great season of gardening. (Kentucky, USA)

[@davidthescottishvegan]

Great tips for seed sowing in modules Huw Richard. A fantastic video and may you have a successful gardening season. Keep safe, warm and well.

[@christianerardt3705]

This is really a great basic knowledge that you share. Thank you very much for that - and especially for the charts with the recommendable bulb sowing. 💚🌱

[@stephent1521]

Very helpful video Huw. Another tip for insulating sedds/ seedlings is to use the old polystyrene boxes that are used for transporting fish. Fishmongers & delicatessens often throw them away. Steve T.

[@gardeningwhatshappening7152]

Thank you for always sharing your knowledge Huw! God bless. :)

[@mekashealingjourney]

Dear Huw I love your style I actually practice most of these. No need to making sowing complicated. And yea those containerwise trays are amazing. Thank you for all you do.

[@marybogar5981]

Excellent video! Great tips even for those of us with warmer temps. I can just adapt the process using your techniques.

[@overwhelmedmama244]

Love your video but I’m actually giving up gardening. A lot of vegetables went bad cause we couldn’t finish them fast enough and people didn’t wanna come and pick them. I’m allergic to the hot sun so I can’t be out as soon as it starts warming up so I don’t have enough time between everything I have to do to be picking for everyone and us too. Husband got upset of so much going to the chickens, which I don’t see as waste but he does so I’m just very discouraged this year. Just giving up. Might do a couple of buckets on my porch where I can pick them without being hit by the sun and that’s it. Hope everyone’s garden and harvest goes well this year!!!

[@EmilyTAYLOR-mo9xc]

I am in the middle of taking your course! Love it so far, what a great value! Just curious about what your growing zones are? Is this january when you are starting seeds? Are you able to do that because of the double greenhouse?

[@Freerose2]

Thank you. I learn a lot as always.

[@missourigirl4101]

Huh you’re gardens are so pretty and I love your videos

[@fatherofchickens7951]

Glad to see you sarting up the season! I've sown a bunch of flower seeds so they'll be blooming by my klast frost date May 4th!

[@ohio_gardener]

My bunching onion and leek seeds are up and starting to grow. They'll be ready to go out into the gardens mid-March. The end of this month will be planting pepper seeds, and then a couple weeks later the tomato seeds will be started. Spring is just around the corner. :-)

[@tinkeringinthailand8147]

I adore watching your content Huw, much of it I can apply to my garden and gardening practices here in Thailand. I have noticed that starting my seedlings in modules (Sweet corn, sugar peas, Kale, cauliflower(attempting), long beans and radish) produced stronger plants when opposed to to seeds planted directly maybe it is due to the winter temperature of 30 degrees C. Unfortunately the heat limits what I can grow and when. CD has recommended sweet potato and corn in my 40degree + summer.

[@nygardenguru]

Appreciate your honesty and recommendation on the cd40 vs cd60. Unfortunately only the cd60 is available in the US. Jury is out if they will perform.

[@ArkansasWoodcutter]

Excellent! I’ve started using boxes to trap air in the greenhouse. It helps as a passive heat store. Thanks for sharing! 👍

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@David-xh9cw]

Great video Huw! Some really useful tips and it doesn't get explained any more clearly than that, brilliant!

[@wendysalter]

So excited!

[@gardenonthemoors]

Great and couldn't agree more about compost for seedlings, there are some plants that need a specific compost but most of the plants and vegetables we grow are very happy in peat free multipurpose, and the seedlings don't tend to be in there long anyway!

[@selinanguyentv5125]

vườn rau nhìn thích quá ạ

[@sebs751]

I liked how you delivered the information. You earned a sub.

[@deecooper1567]

Cardboard is my friend for many things👍. I’ve been ordering food on line the last several years & Costco packs their frozen/ cold storage products in what looks like your wool covering & I’ve been tossing it🥴 Not any more Tho. thanks for the tips from Nevada USA 🇺🇸👵🏻👩‍🌾❣️

[@Blackfish46]

Excellent information, even that I'm on the other side of the world and our seasons are opposite I still got a lot out of this.

[@TransdermalCelebrate]

Excited for the new year, 😁

[@frasersgirl4383]

Great video Huw!! Thanks ever so much!!

[@clivesconundrumgarden]

Simple, easy to follow and less stress sounds like a good method. Especially for beginners like us. We'll try these methods out. Cheers from Victoria Canada Btw do you think left handed gardeners have an advantage;)

[@fie200793]

Great, short, precise video - thanks a lot for this. Hope you will make more in the same format 😊🙏🏼

[@christinebrooks6364]

Hi Huw, great video, thanks for sharing and take care 🙂

[@ramthianthomson601]

Lovely!. Thanks

[@robinmiller1783]

Another great vlog.

[@immo784]

Learned new tips.Much Thanks Sir!

[@markhoverd4993]

In the video you planted some radishes by multi sowing the seeds. Once the radishes start growing do they need separating or do you just plant them out as a plug plant? The only thing I multisow is spring onions so I can pick them in bunches

[@asmerom3025]

I'd love to know exactly the mae of that super marker you used to write your labels. It writes so clearly.I've tried so many -all useless. Your videos are wonderfully easy to followe and cover the processes so thouroughly. A joy to watch

[@francescaguglielmi3558]

Hi Huw, I love your videos😀, I often see and review them to study all your secrets. I bought the modules and I am fine, but I wanted to ask you if the beet would not be better to sow it in the tall modules you use for the fava beans. what do you suggest me?

[@s.l2741]

What brand are your seed trays? They look amazing - like they've been used 200 times and are still going strong! I'd love to buy some.

[@bierkimchi2740]

thank you for sharing

[@Samanthamidnight888]

Fantastic information! Thank you

[@chereenchalhoub6192]

Hey Huwe & everyone! I tried to research for some Organic peat free, multi-purpose compost to start of my seeds in Australia and I had no luck! Does anyone know where I can buy? And your videos are allways simple, that's why I enjoy watching all your videos! Thankyou, you have helped me in the past few years of my gardening!

[@backyardnaturefollies673]

Always have problems with worms on my lettuces. Have to use a bug net when I transplant them out. Always something invading my plants!

[@GL.cats123]

Just want to say thanks for telling me how make my on channel. I have green leaf gardening yay 😀

[@GLG_YT]

Let’s grow

[@brianramsey3824]

Do u take the cardboard off before u expect germination?

[@sventer198]

Thank you!

[@HuwRichards]

You're welcome! :)

[@waraphonbontea9360]

Thanks 😊

[@ellski85]

Like the video . Where else can you buy the seed trays? Container wise are very hard to purchase from ?

[@amiladybug9526]

Great information very helpful thank u

[@angelfermin4125]

Excelent video

[@gardengrrlWendy]

Such valuable information! I really appreciate it, Huw! My question is, would it make sense to start seedlings outside after my frost date has passed? Has anyone done this? I would just protect them in cardboard boxes at night, as I don't have a mini greenhouse.

[@gaiasoundandvision]

Thanks Huw :) most informative :)

[@fourniersfarm]

Fantastic video Huw. Thank you for all the great tips. Just one question about the overnight temperatures do you have heaters in your greenhouses or is it keeping in enough heat to get through the chilly nights?

[@anne-mariemarsh6236]

I've got the same question. Often you get advice on the best temperature for germination but where I live the night-time temps go quite low. Any idea Huw.

[@stevendowden2579]

enjoyable video huw

[@TheFarmerTv99]

Great 👍 sharing

[@pieterwachters3867]

I have a question about when you start sowing. Do you start what you package recommend or do you start a little bit early on? So you can plant little plants outside when your package actually recommends to sow them outside. Or is that a bad idea with temperature and stuff?

[@joanevans1894]

Excellent as usual. I get a lot of algae green on top of my sown seeds, in my greenhouse. It happens every year. Any suggestions.

[@aenorist2431]

0) Save on the plastic and rootbound starts and use soilblocks instead? ;) Neat video huw, even if I won't take all those tips quite as given :D

[@agnelchristianpereira6598]

Great video... Thank you....

[@joanjewellery7264]

hi Huw, as always a fantastic video packed with useful information. Could you tell me please if is it possible to grow in the solar tunnel summer crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers and etc. Does the green color of the cover block the sun and is it enough sun for these plants? warm regards, jo

[@greenfingers9437]

Hi Huw which part of the country are you? I’m in the south east UK, Croydon area I’m a beginner so need to know if I should be sowing at a different time to you! If that makes sense?

[@JuliaHerych]

Which crops do you sow in longer/ larger cells/pots?and which in smaller?

[@jamiemittermuller6470]

I’ve used the fertile fibre multipurpose compose and have had fantastic results with it for the past 2 years. Problem with coir based composts is you have to be a bit more savvy with watering and feeding. I still haven’t got it perfect. Any tips for getting sharpie ink off plant labels other than acetone/nail vanish remover. I’m trying a new module tray the bustaseed

[@lisahargreaves3938]

Broad bean seed sowing is now in new Zealand. The rows are placed at 90cm apart. What can I interplant to utilise the huge space in between rows?

[@manonguinchard5829]

I bought a mini greenhouse like you show in the video, do you think it’s warm enough to start seedlings in now outside ? Mine is not in my greenhouse. I live in the East of France were the temperature are roughly around 8°C during the day and 5°C at night. It’s our second year gardening and last year we started everything inside but it was taking too much space in our small living room 😅.

[@JigmeChhimi]

Love the videos just curious you and Charles use compost to grow your seedlings but you're in the US we use seed status vermicoline and all this other stuff should we be using compost for seed starting?

[@this_is_not_my_real_name]

I'm curious about this too. Where I am, we have compost, potting mix and seed raising mix. The compost is like the stuff you would make at home in the compost bin, and specifically says not to grow seeds directly in it. I'm wondering if, in Britain, all of these growing media are called compost?

[@Farmynator]

Vermiculite is almost non existant in Europe that's why we use compost or coconut, mixed with perlite.

[@that_auntceleste5848]

In the UK they refer to all kinds of bagged soil as compost. In the US the ones that are good for seeds are called "seed starting mix." The vermiculite and perlite and normal potting soil can actually get in the way of little teeny roots, so the seed starting mixes tend to be very fine in texture. I use coconut coir because peat is not sustainable. But either base will work. Happy growing! 🌱

[@michelleclanin6251]

Hello!! Now when you transplant your radishes out will you separate all the seedlings per module or plant the whole clump? Thanks

[@monikan365]

How to take out seedlings out of modules safely? I demaged half of my sumflowers by trying to spoon them out..

[@arealtorwitharescuepurpose1875]

Excellent txs

[@krzeslozpokoju]

How many trays do you need to have to grow all the plants all over the year?

[@tiarianamanna973]

Have u tried multisowing daikons and big winter radishes like black spanish?

[@Pastaboy7]

Where did you get the hard seed trays that you showed on this video?

[@marceloschmitz1103]

Any tips on how to get fox away from the veg bed?

[@oliverm3696]

Hi Huw. Thanks for the great content! I'd be interested to know what you've sown so far at this time of year? I didn't realise those plastic greenhouses were so effective and I was about to get an electric propogator to start them off. Looks like this isn't really necessary though? Cheers

[@Estertje93]

Not necessarily for beetroot and other cold hardy stuff like broad beans, peas and spinach. But a propagator is very useful for your tomatoes and peppers if you want to grow those. They won't sprout yet in a greenhouse, they need warmer temps.

[@oliverm3696]

@@Estertje93 Thanks for your help Ester

[@moontongng9209]

Huw ,do you put them in the polytunnel with heating?

[@thedorsethideaway170]

Could you put a link to where to source the deep modules from please? TIA

[@roadmap5351]

What brand of compost do you use?

[@gudi361]

I write my labels before sowing, especially when I sow several different plants in one tray

[@808quake]

Organic Peat-Free Multipurpose ? What is actual ingredients? Thank you for great videos.

[@PartTimePermies]

Do you ever use soil blocks?

[@jemroberts6507]

Hi Huw. Any advice on what night time temperatures in a greenhouse tomato & pepper seedlings can handle - allowing for actual frost protection in the greenhouse. I have a new thermostat heater in a new small polycarbonate greenhouse but not sure on temperature parameters for seedlings. Starting seeds inside house atm

[@anne-mariemarsh6236]

I'm looking for the same advice. 😊