March is in full swing and there are signs of spring to be seen all around. Crocuses, daffodils and nettles are beginning to make an appearance and the pointed leaves of wild garlic are beginning to show their green abundance in hedgerows and woodlands.

It's easy to forget the importance that these first greens would have had in the diets of our ancestors - they were not just a relief from the less than fresh stored ingredients that had been sustaining them throughout the winter, but also sources of nourishment and medicine. This medicine was not just for the body but also for the soul in the promise of the coming of spring.

March is the busiest month for seed sowing, we are in full swing! For a list of what to sow in March click the button below.

Apologies to anyone who has not been able to get the seeds they want in our shop.

We've been having some issues behind the scenes with our database/stock management system which has resulted in some varieties showing incorrectly as 'out of stock'. We are on the case!

Thanks in advance for your patience as we try to resolve these issues.

Fred and Ronja go to America!

What a blessing and a privilege it was to be able to attend the Organic Seed Growers conference in Oregon last week. We (Fred and Ronja) took a trip across the pond to go to this amazing gathering of around 500 seed-nerds.

It had been on our radar for a long time and this year we decided to take the plunge!

The conference was held at Oregon State University in Corvallis, in the beautiful Willamette Valley, one of the worlds top seed growing regions.

The day before the conference was a farm tour where we visited 4 different farms/ projects working with seed and precious genetic material. It was great to see examples of seed production in a climate where everything can be produced outdoors with no need for polytunnels or glasshouses.

We had an adventure when the bus got stuck in the mud while trying to turn around and had to wait 3 hours for a replacement to come and pick us up!

The conference days were packed full of interesting presentations and keynote talks. The food was delicious and the company was even better.

We were blown away by how friendly everyone was and what a vibrant seed growing scene they have over there. It was great to meet some of the folks from seed companies we have been inspired by over the years and to make new connections too.

Luckily, we had an extra day at the end to see a bit of Oregon and went hiking in the beautiful forests.

We have come back feeling very inspired for the growing season and affirmed that we are doing the right thing with our time!

How to prick out seedlings

Pricking out is a great technique used to transplant young seedlings from seed trays into individual modules or pots. Starting seeds in seed trays is a great way to save space in a crowded propagation bench and make sure that only the best seedlings are chosen to grow on further.

For seeds that spend longer in pots before planting out like tomatoes, chillies, peppers and aubergines, it’s a great way to ensure that they have enough nutrients.

Seeds can start off in less nutrient dense seed compost and be moved into potting compost with more available nutrients to help them grow into established plants with healthy root systems before they're planted out.

Pricking out should be done once your seedlings have developed their first true leaves. True leaves are the second pair of leaves that emerge after the first cotyledons. They resemble the true leaf shape of the plant once established.

How to prick out seedlings:

• Prepare your module tray / pots by filling with fresh organic potting compost
• Loosen the soil from the underneath the seedling
• Use a fine-pointed tool such as your finger, a pencil or a specially designed ‘pricker’ to lift the seedling out of the soil, holding delicately by the leaf and not the stem. Make sure to keep the roots intact
• Using a pencil, dibber or your finger, make a small hole in the potting compost in your chosen module / pot
• Delicately place the seedlings inside, ensuring the roots are going straight down and covered with soil. Firm the soil around the plant gently
• Write your plant label
• Either water the newly planted seedling with a gentle mist from above or place inside a waterproof garden tray to water from underneath
• Keep the seedlings in your heated propagator or on a heated bench in your polytunnel/greenhouse to grow on further.

Hardy Annuals to sow now

Cut flower enthusiasts! Early Spring (March - April) is a great time to get your hardy annuals off to a great start.

If you have under cover protection you can start your seeds in either seed trays (to be pricked out) or module trays. Otherwise wait until the frosts have passed to sow them directly in the soil outside.

As their name suggetss they are much more 'hardy' to the frost and can withstand colder temperatures compared to slightly more delicate half hardy blooms like dahlias, sunflowers and zinnias. Wait to start sowing these until the end of March/beginning of April.

We've got a great selection of hardy annuals to choose from:

​Calendula​

​Cornflowers​

​Ammi Majus ​

​Ammi Visnaga​

​Ornamental Carrots - Dara​

​Phacelia

​Nigella​

Visit our flower shop by clicking the button below:

Enjoy!

All the best and happy seed sowing :)

Chloe and the rest of the team

P.S. Don't forget sow your tomatoes! Grab your seeds here.