Part 1: Propagation by seed

11. Nutrition

Freshly watered seedlings in individual orange plastic pots.

Pixabay / Licence

Seedlings need to be fed as they grow and there are many options for this.

Activity

Choose a plant that you would love to grow from seed.

Write out a plan of how you would grow this plant from seed including:

  • Where you would source the seed and how much it would cost.
  • What type of container or what outdoor position you would grow it in.
  • What compost would you use or how would you prepare the soil.
  • How you would sow, what density and to what depth.
  • How you would provide aftercare.
Composted green waste
  • Breaks down slowly providing nutrition for a long period.
  • Releases all nutrients essential for plant growth.
  • Can be used in containers or as a soil improver.
  • Is never 'too strong' or 'too concentrated' for seedlings.
Manure
  • Breaks down slowly providing nutrition for a long period.
  • Releases all nutrients essential for plant growth.
  • Can be used as a soil improver.
  • Can often be sourced for free from local farms or stables.
Organic processed fertiliser
  • e.g. blood, fish, bone, hoof, horn, seaweed pellets, chicken manure pellets etc.
  • Breaks down quite quickly releasing nutrients for one or two seasons.
  • Releases all nutrients essential for plant growth.
  • Rarely too strong or too concentrated for seedlings.
Controlled release fertiliser
  • Releases at prescribed rate for a prescribed period.
  • Usually contains most of the nutrients essential for plant growth.
  • Low run off rate.
  • Length of release e.g. 6 months, 12 months or 24 months can be chosen.
Liquid fertiliser
  • Usually in powder form which is dissolved in water or liquid form which is diluted.
  • Usually put through the irrigation system.
  • High run off rate unless water is recycled.
  • Very fast release rate so gives plants an immediate boost.