Soil-based composts are ideal for raising herbs, but most of the quicker germinating kinds ultimately make better plants if they start life in peat-based soil-less compost. The lack of fertilizer ensures that there is little likelihood of the tender seedlings being ‘burned’ and helps to dissuade the establishment of troublesome mosses and liverworts that frequently invade the surface of seed flats. Seed composts differ from potting soils in that they have few plant nutrients in them. The plants that are raised will directly reflect the quality of the compost in which they are being grown. It should not be hampered by poor compost. Herb seed is full of vitality with the main aim in life being to germinate and produce a healthy plant. Even though such soil may look quite reasonable, it is likely to be of too poor a structure for use in flats and pans, and also be infected with pathogens that cause problems like damping off disease. It is foolish to go out into the garden and scoop up ordinary soil for seed raising. Seeds being raised indoors should always be sown in flats or pans of good seed compost. The ratio of light to temperature is so variable and out of balance that the seedlings never make satisfactory progress.
The seedlings quickly germinate because of the warmth provided in the room, but with the poor daylight that is a regular occurrence during early spring, they become drawn and scrawny.
This problem is particularly acute when a window ledge is used. When conditions are not suitable it is preferable to wait a couple of weeks until things improve.Īlthough the resulting plants might not be quite as large, they will be healthier and better balanced. It is important with all species to ensure that at the time of sowing the ratio of heat to light is balanced, otherwise sickly, etiolated seedlings will be produced. A few, like peppermint, benefit from a long season of growth and can be sown earlier if conditions are suitable. Most popular herbs can be raised from seed sown indoors during early spring. Herbs make the difference in a meal and there is little to beat fresh herbs picked from the garden. This article, from respected author Philip Swindells, gives some valuable guidance on growing herb seeds indoors to steal ahead of the season.
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