The traditional gardener's gardener grows plants from vegetable or flower seeds. Nurturing plants from the earliest germination to full bloom is a wonderful experience. Children love to get involved and watch the flowers grow... I've included links to easy-to-grow seeds lower down. Alternatively, with little time, difficult flower seed perhaps needing heat, or too late in season, you can find more information on this link about growing from live plants - potted, plugs, bedding strips, supplied direct.

You get the biggest choice of flowers by using flower seed packets, including the latest prize winning blooms for you to grow at home. Advice on sowing and growing is further down this page.

New Method
The easiest (or laziest) way to grow seeds is from Pre-Seeded Mats and tapes - detailed below. The range can be somewhat limited but, American gardeners have quite a lot to choose from. Small mats are available for growing herbs in pots. Bigger mats can be cut to size and shape for borders. Seed tapes are for plants grown in rows, like vegetables and Sunflower...

AMERICAN GARDENERS Seed Tapes & Seed Mats with Herbs, Flower Collections & Individual Varieties. - now this is easy!

Bird & Butterfly Collection

Zinnia Patch Collection

Seed Tape Collection includes Herbs...

Shade-Loving Flower Collection

Old Fashioned Cottage Garden Collection & more to choose from on this link...

For easy seedling transfer use the ROW TRAY shown below. << See links in text

Easy to Grow from Seeded Mats & Tapes
& easy to grow seed varieties

SMALL SEED MATS FOR POT HERBS & VEG
Couldn’t be easier. Just fill pot with compost, place the mat on top and water. Available for pot grown herbs and vegetables. For the U.K. find Grow Easy Seed Mats for Pot Herbs & Seed Tapes here . American flower seed collections for borders and themed gardens see side bar >>>

ADVANTAGES OF PRE-SOWN MATS

• Flowers are spaced out correctly to avoid need for thinning
• Easy and simple for children to use
• Mats can be cut to any size or shape
• The mats are natural and biodegradable
• The seeds get off to a good start - but you must keep the mats well-watered
• Mats available for attractive flower mixes & small flower gardens chosen around a theme
• Seed tapes are good for growing in rows.

Also on these links you’ll find flower seed varieties that are in fact easy to grow – hence the name; available in both America and U.K.

More Plants From Flower Seeds

When starting seed to transplant into rows, I recommend the row tray. Unless you already happen to have a spare piece of clean guttering to make do with, the row tray is a real handy piece of kit.
Row Tray available in America on this link

Row Tray available to U.K. gardeners here

TRADITIONAL SEED
Flower seeds in packets usually cost you far less per plant than live plants. They are the best choice wherever a mass of color is needed and seed can be broadcast. Herb gardens and wild flower patches for birds and bees are examples.

To easily cultivate the fine crumb soil needed to germinate seeds, I fully recommend the Soil Mill. There's nothing quite like it.

Ordinary seed is often dusted with a fungicide to reduce disease attack. But you can get organic seeds in U.K. of more resistant varieties harvested from organically grown plants and the seeds not treated with chemicals.
Organic Flower Seeds are available in America here

Remember: Seed Compost or Multi-Purpose Compost generally provide more consistent germination conditions than typical soil as long as you maintain moisture – also 'no-dig' gardeners and 'mulch users' may prefer to plant out.

Propagators & Trays - U.K. Gardeners	Propagators & Trays - America
Harrod Horticulture Ferndale Lodge	Gardeners Supply Seed Starting Park's Seed Starting

The cost of seed compost, modules, trays, or pots is especially worthwhile when using more expensive seed.

F1 HYBRID SEED
These seeds grow into plants that are particularly attractive for one reason or another. Each time they are produced by hand pollination of the chosen parents, and this makes them more expensive. F1 seed packets may contain fewer flower seeds but the plants they grow are prized by gardeners for superior qualities such as appearance, vigour and disease resistance.

Live plants are often a better option with hard to grow seeds, seeds requiring heat, or for those exquisite and refined dot plants not offered as seeds.

PELLETED OR COATED SEED
These are easy to see and handle which is especially good for small seeds. They are less attractive to pests such as birds. The coatings may contain plant stimulants but previously I have found they need to be well watered.

This may come in handy: Lawn seed protection mat protects seeds from bird attack & binds new lawn surface - great for small lawns - biodegradeable.

Easily break rough soil down to the fine crumb seed bed essential for sowing outdoors with the Soil Mill for U.K. gardeners on this link.

Available to American gardeners as the Wolf Garten Soil Crumbler on this link .

More Gardening Information
SUTTONS SEEDS - comprehensive & innovative range of flower seed & plants for UK organic gardeners U.K. GROWING GUIDE - when to sow, transplant & see flowers & harvest.	....
On Flower Gardening - see also ... Gardening Perennials - care for herbaceous borders and the like Prepare a Good Seed Bed - important for germination and choice of flowers Companion Plants - discover how some flowers assist growth in neighbouring plants Flower Award Winners - a few of the best flowers Organic Garden Design - a personal view The Eternal Garden - a natural approach brings all-year-around interest The Winter Garden - it can be the most beautiful season ^ Top of page
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