George Irvine on how best to grow plants from seeds

Seeds from your plants can be used, but fresh seeds can be purchased from many retail outlets, such as nurseries and garden centres.

Seeds are best described as embryos, and they come in all shapes and sizes, from the very small to the much larger.

The smallest embryos appear to be almost dust-like, while the large the larger are to be found in the form of bulbs and corms, and the job of the gardener is to convert these into sustainable plants.

Planting fresh seeds offers the gardener the best prospects of success. (Image: Jonathan Kemper/Unsplash.com) No matter what form the embryos begin, there are a number of natural factors which affect the growth of the embryos, and these external influences are often beyond the influences of the gardener.

All these contribute to growth, and include air, water, heat and light.

We start off with the seed or embryo having enough nutrient within it to keep the embryo able to sustain itself in its very early days, and the natural influences help to get growing on the move.

Other outside bodies have an effect of the growth of embryos. Air helps the embryo into life and feeds the roots, and air is also absorbed through the leaves by a process called photosynthesis, where the leaves take in oxygen and emit carbon dioxide.

Heat is normally obtained from sunlight, but some artificial heat is often obtained by means of devices such as greenhouse heaters.  

One thing that is important is the insulation needed to prevent loss of heat, whether that loss is from natural heat or artificial forms.

Because heat is so important to us, we need to use a thermometer to tell us what is going on around us. The best type of thermometer is the maximum/minimum thermometer, which will inform us of the highest and lowest heat reached during a given period.

Enough heat and suitable insulation are vital when growing seedlings indoors during the winter. (Image: Iulian Pana/Unsplash.com) It is a good idea to check the weather forecast each day, and programme your heating requirements accordingly. Insulation can be achieved by using gardening fleece or several layers of newspaper to keep the heat in and the cold out. The application of this technique can be used in both the greenhouse and the cold frame.

Heating in a greenhouse can take the form of a heater fired by paraffin, or by electricity, or even a gas cylinder. In days of yore, many gardeners used solid fuel, including wood, coal or other combustible material, but this proved pretty messy. It is important that elements of the wick are kept clean and trimmed regularly to prevent the formation of a sooty build-up.

Electric heaters need to be serviced by a qualified electrical contractor, and it is best to have a circuit breaker installed for safety of the appliances. When using paraffin heaters keep a bucket of sand to hand too, in case of fire.

Candles can be placed under seed trays placed on the bench to sustain bottom heat, or alternatively you can use an earthenware pot with a candle placed inside it to create a warm interior to help keep seeds from getting too cold.

Dealing with water when propagating plants, we need water to help both germination and growth of the embryos, but it is essential that care is taken not to use too much. Too much water can be detrimental, as water will fill the interstitial spaces within the compost, displacing air.

Don't use too much water on your growing seedlings. (Image: EllyEndeavour/Unsplash.com) The compost used is now peat-free, though so far there is still a lot to learn about what ingredients are best in peat-free materials. It has been said that germination is not good when peat-free compost is used as this affects the water balance of the water involved in the process. Another example of when too much water may be detrimental.

Lastly, we deal with the influence of light, which affects the entire growing process. We rely on the sun for our source of light, and it is often obvious when not enough light is getting to your seedlings; the leaves of even small seedlings can become elongated when light is too sparse.

Photosynthesis, which I mentioned briefly earlier in this column, is also affected by light, and therefore we must do all we can to ensure our seeds are getting the light they need to grow.

As we all know, light levels vary a lot between summer and winter. One simple thing gardeners can do to make the most of what natural light is available in the autumn and winter is by cleaning the glass in our greenhouse – both inside and out.

There is quite a lot involved in dealing with cultivating plants, and the points I’ve set out above are by no means everything that there is to consider. More will crop up as we proceed with the process.

Remembrance Day

Poppyscotland is urging everyone to wear their poppies this week and as they make their way to the local cenotaphs this weekend for services remembering the fallen of the two world wars and other conflicts over the years.

Be proud to wear your poppy, and remember those who gave their life that we might live.

The poppy became a symbol of remembrance when the flowers began to grow in the battle-scarred fields of northern France during the First World War. (Image: Kimdaejeung/Pixabay.com) Poppies are almost a kind of wild flower; indeed, they became a symbol of remembrance because they were among the first plants to grow in the midst of the war-torn battlefields of northern France during the First World War.

They will self-seed and will pop up again next year. They are everlasting flowers, real but not artificial, and bring with them the message to live and give, and let us live in peace with nature.

Plant winter heathers

Winter heathers are the ideal plants to purchase and plant now. They will bring a bit of colour to the garden all through the winter.

Winter heathers tolerate acidic soil and can be dotted among other plants and spring bulbs.

With a little care, winter heather can last for many years. (Image: Nancy Hughes/Unsplash.com) Putting the effort in now to brighten up your garden will focus your attention through winter and the early days of spring, and you will be glad to see the effect they have.

With a little bit of care, winter heathers will last for many years to come. Just don’t let them get too woody.