How to sow tiny flower seeds evenly? Find the tools in your spice cabinet and pencil case
Snapdragon, busy Lizzie, lobelia, and many more! When sowing tiny seeds, it’s good to use handy tools you already have at home.
The right tools make sowing tiny seeds much easier. A small brush and a shaker help spread dust-like seeds evenly on the soil surface. Another handy trick is to dab seeds onto the soil with a pencil eraser moistened with water. Tweezers are also useful for placing moderately sized seeds at regular intervals.
One gram of snapdragon seeds can contain about 7,000 seeds, while begonias can have up to 100,000.
Sift the seed tray surface with a layer of fine potting soil so the seeds land at the same depth and germinate together. Tiny seeds may run out of energy if they’re buried too deeply. Also, fine potting soil retains moisture well, which helps with germination.
Mist the surface until it’s evenly moist before sowing. Some seeds, like snapdragon and tobacco, germinate in light. When sowing snapdragon seeds, keep them uncovered or covered very lightly, then mist with water. You can also gently press the soil by hand.
Place the seeds and some sand in a shaker, then give it a good shake. Sprinkle the mix evenly over the soil, both lengthwise and crosswise. This method works for all small-seeded varieties like lobelia, tobacco, begonia, petunia, and busy Lizzie. Cover small seeds lightly, while those that need light to germinate should remain on the surface.
Keep the seed bed evenly moist, as lightly covered seeds can dry out quickly. A uniform sowing also helps prevent seedlings from becoming leggy and makes transplanting easier. Meanwhile, a dense, turf-like cluster (left) may be prone to excessive moisture, which fosters disease.
