Insider seed sowing tips for next year's summer border

[@anitahouten8367]

This is a master class from an expert on seed growing. Just what I needed having failed to grow foxgloves from seed twice. Guess what you definitely need seed compost! Thank you Alexandra.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

A pleasure!

[@lulajohns1883]

I am having same issue with foxgloves!

[@shanlynwebb]

Just try throwing seed around where they are to grow and water. I find they like growing that way.

[@lulajohns1883]

@@shanlynwebb I'll give it a go

[@lulajohns1883]

@@shanlynwebb thanks

[@andrewsflicks7920]

Where do you get the time to make and edit all these videos?? You're dedication is amazing...and very appreciated i may add...😊❤

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you so much 😀

[@thelatebloominggardener2479]

Please tell Sue thank you for sharing her gardening wisdom! And thank you for providing such wonderful content!!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@canadian-gardening-6A]

The Interviewer is Awesome! :) Alexandra knows just the right questions to ask to make the expert shine. Thank you Alexandra and Sue!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you so much!

[@groundedangelsgarden]

Great tips, especially her high-tech seed filer shoebox! Simple, affordable, ingenious! Thanks!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

You are so welcome!

[@kerryharrison3806]

Completely engaging and so informative. Thank you both so much for taking the time to make this video. I’m off to find a shoe box for my seed filing system and I know I’ll never have the disappointment of dampened off seedlings again.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@lulajohns1883]

This was a most informative video. I can see many things I do wrong. Thank you very much Alexandra

[@MrsBullfinch]

Me too.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@km-ug9jp]

Excellent thank you. A couple of myths busted too eg expiry dates on seeds and soaking sweet peas 👍💚💚

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@joopspeth6483]

And again a quarter of an hour full of professional information. Thank you.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@julesdavis1845]

The way this grower lays out information step by step is so helpful to me. I’ve failed a lot at growing plants from seeds, at varying stages of growth. Thank you for this video and for arming me with clear instructions. Wish me luck.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you, that's lovely to hear.

[@allenlivera1611]

Excellent video. I'm re-watching it and taking notes. It's great to find all the essential info in one place, and from a reliable source. It was great hearing that expiration dates on seed packets are basically irrelevant. Thank you Alexandra and thank you Sue Oriel.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful! I would add that there is always an element of trial and error with older seed - she did say 'if you've kept your seed in the right conditions', so it doesn't always mean you'll get full germination with older seed - but then sometimes you don't get full germination with younger seed either!

[@annieeyre9319]

so helpful - particularly on watering and for those of us who don't have "all the kit"

[@MrsBullfinch]

This is just brilliant. Thanks so much. You make a good team. I am going to try sweet pea and calendula. I have grown these in Spring before but never the Autumn. I never knew I could do this. I have learned so much today. Thanks again.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@alisonburgess345]

I missed the boat (thanks to covid) in sowing my hardy annuals last autumn so having to grow them now (early Spring). They'll still flower, but I can't wait to do an autumn sowing next year. What a great speaker - well done - thanks guys.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you. And hope you haven't had any long Covid.

[@alisonburgess345]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden No - no covid for me. I was locked out of the location! Melbourne is now the most locked down city in the world..😷😧

[@PatriciaG99]

Love the no nonsense attitude. Thank you for another useful video

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

A pleasure

[@great-garden-watch]

My favorite interview yet! Informative and so entertaining!

[@HighPriestessSteph]

At 08:50 “ You think you’ll remember, but you won’t” Never a truer word spoken! Lol Label everything!

[@Kay-qt2id]

Thank you very interesting, I am in Australia so spring now and I’ve just started to sow my first seeds ever , should have started some in autumn but I will know for next year. The shoebox was a great idea

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you. I was thinking that some of these tips would be even more useful in spring!

[@kathrynmettelka7216]

The plants I will start from seed this fall are cornflower, snapdragons, and lettuce. I will directly put in plants of pansies, which are cheap at any big box store. I could directly put in snapdragon plants too, but I can get more interesting colors from a seed company. In US 8b snapdragons and pansies normally overwinter. Normal being questionable in these days of climate change. Pansies cannot last in our summers. Oddly, my snapdragons lasted through the summer. Lose some, win some. There's always mystery in the garden.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I agree, there always is.

[@patrickdempsey9886]

Thank you very much one and all such great advice I recommend watching this video again and again God bless again thank you.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@wvindependent1464]

Inspiring! By the way, spray trays with chamomile tea and it will prevent damping off.

[@elsagrace3893]

Have you done a double blind control study on that?

[@elsagrace3893]

Have you done a double blind control study on that?

[@margaretd3710]

What a charming lady Sue Oriel is! A true delight.

[@wvindependent1464]

Artichokes a great to start this time of year. The seedlings go through the winter, then they are more apt to bloom the following year.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Interesting! They're such distinctive plants

[@annegfox]

Brilliant, thank you. Concise and informative. Now I need to tidy up the garden shed and find room for some seed trays!

[@williamwade641]

A video bursting with excellent tips. Thanks for posting.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@penelopehammerton2907]

Thank you Alexandra for another super video. I will start with sweet peas. In the past I have not had much success, so planting them early might just do the trick.🤗🤞

[@stampinghippo7157]

WOW! This video is ingenious! Thanks to the down-to-earth informations, given from Sue, now everyone should know to trust their gut when planting seeds ( with no fuss and not having to wast time and money, YEAH). Imagine me, filing my sweet peas, soaking them in luke warm water and leaving them on a warm window sill only to find them leggy and half died by the time I wanted to get them out. Now I know what to do! Thanks to both of you for these helpful informations! Best wishes, Hanni.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you! So glad it was helpful.

[@DownButNotOutYet]

A sweet talk about the seed germination, and all my problems have been covered, leggy plants and water from above! plus seed compost. We are all happy about such valuable information. Wishing all the gardeners the best with their new plant germinations and to be very happy growers. As always thank you Alexandra .not forgetting Sue at Country Lane :)

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@ritasicari7518]

Another extremely informative video. Thank you.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@aiai-j7i]

I watch your videos all the time...it truly is like getting a horticultural course. Thank you so much!!! I only have a small balcony garden but I learn in preparation for when I have a larger garden 🙂

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@calebw2436]

Thanks again for a great video. I will be collecting my seeds from my cornflowers today and will be planting them once they are ready and the tips will come in handy.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Best of luck!

[@hardygardener3091]

Thanks so much! Wish I had have seen this b4 I experienced damping off recently. At least it won't happen again, nothing worse than a failure without knowing why. You help reminding me I can grow plants too!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@keengardens3987]

This was SUCH a good video!!! I learned so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nalurpal]

I absolutely love this video. Going back to basics is so important. And the way she explained it is so clear and casual. Love it!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@squidsquiddly5970]

This is exactly what I was looking for today! Thank you for this informative video!

[@HannaARTzink]

Excellent instructions. Thank you Ladies.

[@convinth]

Very informative. Well worth a second viewing.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@maryfroelich4700]

Love love love your passion and content! Thank you for all your hard work and efforts 🌼

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@makeyourlifebeautiful1652]

This is amazing...I love how 1 acre is a middle sized garden..mine must be a postage stamp😂

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It's certainly at the top end of 'middle sized', though in some ways, 'middle sized' is almost a joke name because gardens like mine ( about a fifth of an acre) are 'big' for town gardens, but 'small' for country gardens, and also professional gardeners often refer to a garden of four acres as 'small'. Garden size is a very fluid concept!

[@sikpalthiara6958]

Brilliant video, just what I needed in time for preparation of next year seed sowing ❤

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nancyparmelee4161]

Now I know why I have little success growing from seed. I’m pretty much doing everything wrong 😂!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Me, too!

[@herenow2895]

Excellent, expert advice. Thank you for uploading this. Re damping off, I've found Cinnamon powder to be very good if it becomes a problem.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Interesting, and someone else has said chamomile tea.

[@herenow2895]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden - I was pricking out some seedlings earlier in the year and damping off was laying waste to them at a rate of knots. I searched around for a solution and came across cinnamon powder. I lightly sprinkled it around the base of the seedlings that hadnt succumbed and in and around the holes of the ones that were replacing the fatalities. It was very effective and I lost no more.

[@jankeelliott7801]

Worked for me too:)

[@elliepaske2062]

Another very informative video. Lots to remember so I’ll make notes. Thanks Alexandra.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@natashabrooks8735]

I've had a few sulky seedlings, thankyou.

[@waygoblue4729]

The amount of information in this one video is astounding and so welcome. I especially want to mimic the seed organizing method. Thank you to both of you for this!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@ben-fe3zy]

I really liked Sue's presentation - to the point and informative.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you liked it!

[@Theoanno7]

Thank you so much Sue! 👏🏿

[@lifeinseason]

✋Zone 4 here in Canada 🇨🇦. Very envious of those of you to whom this video applies. ☺️

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Ah, yes, I did wonder if the colder zones might feel left out. I actually wish I'd done this in the spring, because the seed sowing tips apply to spring and autumn, and far more people sow seeds in spring. And they're such good tips.

[@suepercy8390]

Great video thanks. I love the way you hold the points that may have just been quickly mentioned and bring the person come back to them (like taking them out of a propagator after germination - my weakness; scared that my babies won’t manage in the big cold world)

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tessmonro7102]

Thank you! This was a great video and I've learned so much from it. 😄👏👏

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Chimchimenys]

Excellent video. I've never grown anything from seed and I'm a rank amateur at all things gardening related but this video gives me enough information to give it a try!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@busarafirestone1180]

So much golden information! I am slightly less terrified of growing plants from seed now!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Just give it a go and see what happens. I sometimes have complete failures, but often it's successful.

[@ludmilabevan3283]

Fantastic sowing and growing tips. Thank you so much Alexandra. It's time for action.

[@Sylvia1G]

Another really informative and helpful video. Thank you Alexandra!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sheilaferg45]

Thank you so much ,this was a great video filled with common sense advice. Looking forward to putting it into use.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@phantom2697]

Hi Alexandra. So amazing thank you so much for this post. I have always found it hard to get my head round sowing seeds. One of my highlights from various sources this year. Please keep up the great work and u just make me smile I love ur personality and enjoy watching u, u make me smile. Smashing!

[@phantom2697]

And yes also agree Sue is so insightful and love how she keeps thing real. Really has helped me and feel so much.more confident now

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you, that's so nice to hear.

[@cambbrown6205]

Interesting and useful thank you. I have never planted seeds in the Autumn before. I had success with Cosmos and Sweet peas this year, however my Larkspur were very disappointing. I am going to re-watch this and start my seeds off early this time :-)

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Sue has sent me this for people asking about larkspur: Sow your larkspur seeds thinly in a small tray or pot…cover the tray/pot with clingfilm and put it in the fridge for 2-3 weeks. This will vernalise the seeds. Then bring into the warmth and remove the clingfilm. Hopefully your seeds will germinate a few weeks later. Don’t overwater them!!

[@P-Artsypants]

I'm starting my garden this year and this video makes me feel like I did everything wrong. I better go take my seedlings out of there little condensation greenhouses so they can buck up!!

[@donaldauguston9740]

Thank you Alexandra for this very interesting video. I'd love it if you would go over some of the autumn perennial trimming you do and why/when to do it. Thank you, DA

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Good idea, I will have a think about that.

[@shirleywilson5959]

So very helpful and easy to follow, thank you 😊

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@austinconnor5297]

Shirley Wilson.. good evening how are you doing? How's the pandemic situation over there in your country?

[@kimberly8185]

I have 8 trays of 72 cells of flowers.. I may have gone overboard.....but... not sorry!! 😆 everyone in my life is getting flowers this year! 😆

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

sounds lovely

[@susanbrookes8247]

Excellent video. Thank you very much

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you liked it!

[@austinconnor5297]

Susan brooks.. good evening how are you doing? How's the pandemic situation over there in your country?.

[@norinenagle6730]

So interesting and informative. Thank you.

[@vivsalittlebitcrafty4854]

Oh Thank you soooo much for this fabulous video. Very much appreciated.

[@shanlynwebb]

Wonderful. Thank you.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Our pleasure!

[@austinconnor5297]

Shanlyn Webb, good evening how are you doing? How's the pandemic situation over there in your country?.

[@Sharon-kp7lc]

This is a great one, I learned a lot, Thanks a lot!!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@austinconnor5297]

Sharon.. Hello good evening

[@aly_b]

Sweet peas really don't like me. I'll definitely try this method, thank you.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I sometimes forget to keep dead heading which means they go over too quickly.

[@lizzybudden6791]

A really useful video thanks. Great to have some tips for people who don't have a green house or cold frame. I have collected some seeds from my annuals this week (very pleasing!) Should I keep them in the fridge?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I think just somewhere dark, dry and cool (as cool room temperature rather than fridge)

[@fredfredrickson5436]

Love your content. Very inspiring for me, even if I do have a small garden (though it's large in the context of the rabbit hutches in our area (50's council house.))

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@melfordhorrocks3327]

That was really very interesting. I’m extremely useless at growing seeds at least at getting them to germinate and have to resort to buying plug plants. Thanks, Mel

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@beckyscheller9358]

Great tips love her ideas. And shoebox.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you like them!

[@austinconnor5297]

Becky Scheller, good evening how are you doing? How's the pandemic situation over there in your country?.

[@tanyastephens3187]

Good advice......great video....thanks.

[@alisonvanwyk4348]

Thank you I learnt a lot

[@Flower_hoarder]

🌱🌿🌱GOOD INFO ‼️🌱🌿🌱

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@anitamurray5619]

This was very helpful.

[@austinconnor5297]

Anita Murray.. good evening how are you doing? How's the pandemic situation over there in your country?.

[@pozzee2809]

Question about dahlias- Wouldn’t it be better to not cut back the stems if leaving in the ground so that the hollow won’t be exposed? And of course still mulch for zone 8.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I've always wondered this myself, but I've cut the stems back as far as I can and covered the hollow. That's usually worked (although nothing in gardening works 100% of the time). With cannas, some people fold the frost-damaged foliage over on top of the crown, so it could be worth trying this with dahlias and seeing what happens.

[@austinconnor5297]

pat, good evening how are you doing? How's the pandemic situation over there in your country?

[@rebekahodowd1469]

This is such a great video! Thanks so much. Sorry if someone is already asked this, but I’d really love to know what the trick is to get Larkspur to germinate? None of mine germinated last year. Sue mentioned something about the fridge? Thanks😊

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Sue has just sent me this: Sow your larkspur seeds thinly in a small tray or pot…cover the tray/pot with clingfilm and put it in the fridge for 2-3 weeks. This will vernalise the seeds. Then bring into the warmth and remove the clingfilm. Hopefully your seeds will germinate a few weeks later. Don’t overwater them!!

[@rebekahodowd1469]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Thank you so much 😊

[@twotales7337]

Very helpful, thatnks. I struggle with watering seedings once out of the propagator. How often, how much, from the bottom or the top...?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Hope it goes well!

[@James-se4rg]

'most seeds need light to germinate aswell'. I thought it was heat and water not light, according to Charles Dowding anyway. Only after they have germinated do they need the light ? Also lots of people water from the top ?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Some seeds need light to germinate, many don't. But I think from where this was in the video, she really meant seedlings. But as seeds turn into seedlings quite quickly, when they would die without light, then it's generally safest to put your trays of seedlings in light unless specifically instructed otherwise. And as for watering from the top - as you say, many people do. And gardening is always about finding out what works for you. I personally find it's easy to over-water when spraying from the top, and the points about damping off when seeds and seedlings are watered from the top also resonate. See which works for you best.

[@folee_edge]

Thanks!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@leonrasorrell6770]

B n

[@buggybill2003]

I`m desperate to know if and when to start violas ? but can`t find anything. I`m in the UK Midlands

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It seems to be March/April/May and August/Setember, but as it's so early you could try a few seeds now. If you only plant a few at a time, you'll always have some left over if the first batch doesn't work out.

[@buggybill2003]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden thank you

[@thegreenwoodelf8014]

Brilliant gold std content.. thank you A and S.. I would love to know what is in the other sections of the Flower by Month filing cabinet 🗄 👌🏻🌺🌸🌻🌹🌷💐🥀

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I'll ask Sue!

[@patriciarussell1177]

Would you give me a source where I can get fresh seeds in usa?

[@lulajohns1883]

Eden Brothers

[@lulajohns1883]

Baker Creek Heirloom seeds

[@jennifersauer3257]

Johnny’s Select Seeds, and Floret are very good

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Excellent advice from US based commenters, better than mine!

[@jennifersauer3257]

Oh! I forgot to mention Select Seeds!

[@ivanconner8183]

Hello

[@pamd1861]

Can these hardy annual seed trays sit in a sunny but cold enclosed porch? And if the plants keep getting bigger do you just keep moving them to bigger pots?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I think that would be fine - they'd need a propagator or heat mat to germinate, but after that, maybe just put a propator lid on them but no heat, just to protect from draughts. It's worth a try, certainly.

[@lesliekendall5668]

I've never understood why annual seed packets say to wait until it's warm to sow annuals since in nature ALL annuals drop their seeds before winter. I even asked a nursery online and they never responded to my question. Why put them in the fridge when you could just sow them already? 🤷‍♀️. I can understand why this particular person on the video wants an early start but most people aren't growing flowers for a business.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That's a good point. The putting in the fridge is to mimic a normal winter. I think the difference is in the hardiness of the plant - a hardy annual would drop its seeds in autumn, then it will survive winter and start to sprout when the weather gets warm enough.But the seeds of a half hardy annual wouldn't survive our winter outside when they drop, so they would never germinate in spring. Those are the ones we have to plant when the weather gets warm enough or under cover. The half hardy annuals are the plants that really belong (and will self seed) in a climate with warmer winters than we have. Various organisations, such as the RHS, Sarah Raven and Monty Don (I think!) have done tests on whether it's better to sow some hardy annuals under cover in autumn and they got better and earlier flowers from sweet peas sown in autumn. I think many people (certainly me) have more trouble getting plants to germinate from seeds sown in the ground than under cover...anyway I hope that helps!

[@lesliekendall5668]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden THANK YOU! I never even considered that some seeds that fall in autumn are doomed because they're not naturally a zone 7 plant. And one of my fridge crisper drawers is designated solely for my seeds so I won't mess up and forget. Did I already tell you that when I first started planting and it said to cold stratify, I actually put the seeds in pots and had all these seeded dirt filled pots in my fridge!! 😆. What a mess. Live and learn.

[@blaithinstuart-kelly149]

No nonsense information ..

[@scootosan]

Greetings, for the curtesy to your quest, perhaps may you ask for subscribers and acknowledgements at the final?... I enjoy your videos.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you. It's a courtesy to explain who you are early on in a conversation and just as in real life, most KZbin channels do it - but I also create 'chapters' so you can jump to or skip parts according to what you want to know. Run the cursor along the bottom of the screen or check the 'show more' description below for time-stamps.

[@bewoodford2807]

seed info was great, laughing at animals eating poisonous seeds was NOT!