RSS Feed

Related Articles

Related Categories

Give growing from seed a go

16th May 2013 Print
Pea 'Kelvedon Wonder'

Now spring is finally here, it’s time to get out in the garden and get growing. First time and novice gardeners are often nervous about trying to grow from seed, thinking it is highly skilled and only for experienced gardeners, but actually it’s much easier than you think and the satisfaction of seeing seedlings push their way through the soil is immeasurable! Start off with fool-proof vegetables such as beans and courgettes and easy to grow annuals. These can be sown directly into the garden and require surprisingly little effort for quick results.

Here Chiltern Seeds list their top seeds for beginners to try:

Vegetables: 
Rocket 
Beetroot ‘Boltardy’ 
Broccoli Purple Sprouting ‘Red Arrow’ 
Pea ‘Kelvedon Wonder’ 
Tomato ‘Gardener’s Delight’ 
Runner Bean 'White Lady' 
Courgette ‘Black Beauty Dark Fog’

Annuals: 
Sweet Pea ‘Chiltern Twilight Mixed’ 
Zinnia 
Calendula officinalis (Marigold) 
Centaurea cyanus `Black Boy' (Cornflower) 
Cosmos bipinnatus 'Purity' 
Eschscholtzia californica (Californian Poppy) 
Nigella damascena (Love in a Mist) 
Tropaeolum majus (Nasturtium)

There are many benefits of growing from seed – Chiltern Seeds share their top reasons to give it a go: 

Growing from seed is cheaper than buying seedlings and far cheaper than buying mature plants. A packet of seeds costs just a couple of pounds and can produce a whole season’s crop. 

Watching nature work its miracle and seeing a plant develop from a tiny shoot to a mature plant is extremely rewarding and nothing makes you feel closer to the cycle of nature. Eating fruit and vegetables that you have grown in your own garden is even more satisfying and makes them all the tastier. 

There is a far greater choice of varieties available if you choose seed, rather than the more limited selection of seedlings and plants most garden centres sell. Chiltern Seeds stocks over 4,000 different types of seed, including many interesting and unusual varieties, so it’s easy to find something a bit different such as heirloom vegetable varieties. 

If you grow from seed, you know exactly what has been put on your plants. So whether you are keen to be organic or happy to use chemicals, you have the peace of mind of knowing what has been used. 

Plants grown from seed in the garden are often healthier and grow better – they haven’t had to endure being transported and transplanted. Quality of seed is important too – better quality seed produces strong, vigorous plants and a better crop.

The 2013 Chiltern Seeds catalogue and VegBook, packed with hundreds of new and exciting plant varieties, are now available. To request a copy and for further information, visit: chilternseeds.co.uk

More Photos - Click to Enlarge

Pea 'Kelvedon Wonder'