The Gardeners Almanac

The place to find out what to do in the garden this week
My Back Garden

Sowing Insitu Outdoors


Related Links

Week Numbers

Compost

Fertiliser

Soil Preparation

Watering

When to Propagate

Preparation:

For outdoor sowing the most important factor is the preparation of the ground.(see related links)

The soil is best dug in autumn and left rough to allow the winter weather to act upon it, particularly heavy soil such as clay.

Frost action can help to break up any large clods of clay, thus creating better conditions for eventual root growth.

Adding copious amounts of organic matter such as farm yard manure or compost derived from your on site compost heap will also help the breaking down of heavy soils.


On a dry day in early spring, break up any large lumps on the plot with a fork, and remove any stones and weeds, then rake the soil to produce a fine tilth.

Some pundits say that the soil should be compacted at this time, but the writer believes that;

If the winter weather has done its job, then the soil should be sufficiently compacted by planting out time, thus rendering this task unnecessary!


Prior to sowing, rake the bed/s thoroughly,adding a general fertiliser at 60grams (2oz) per sq.metre as you progress.

Don't add the fertiliser at this stage if the surface is sticky, wait until the surface has dried to a drier tilth.


View of newly excavated soil
Dry lumps on soil
Fertiliser spread over tilled soil
Soil tilled & fertilised
View of raking process
Raking in Fertiliser
Sowing Seeds: