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EP312 Getting Prepared Before Sowing Seeds Next Month: Seed Readiness, Not Seed Sowing Yet

Master My Garden Podcast

Chapters
0:00
Setting The Stage For Seed Prep
1:10
Injury Update And Schedule Shift
1:14
Monthly Sowing Plan And Scope
1:45
Why January Sowing Is Too Early
2:25
Audit Your Seed Box And Viability
3:21
Germination Standards And What They Mean
5:20
Simple Home Germination Tests
6:01
Seed Age, Vigour, And When To Bin
7:34
Dates, Decline Rates, And Exceptions
10:19
Open Pollinated Vs F1 Hybrids
13:30
Trays, Modules, And Propagators
16:16
Heat, Light, And Avoiding Leggy Starts
18:15
Why Mid‑February Beats January
21:03
Essential Gear: Nice To Have Vs Need
22:40
Compost Choices: Peat And Peat‑Free
26:12
Making Your Own Seed Mix
28:00
Sowing Methods: Prick Out And Thin
30:03
Multi‑Sowing For Productivity
31:06
Watering Right And Preventing Damping Off
33:04
Airflow, Recap, And Next Steps
36:08
Workshops, Booking Details, And Closing
Master My Garden Podcast
EP312 Getting Prepared Before Sowing Seeds Next Month: Seed Readiness, Not Seed Sowing Yet
Jan 23, 2026 Episode 311
John Jones

Seed success starts long before the first tray is filled. We’re laying down a practical, no‑nonsense prep plan that saves you time, cuts waste, and sets your early crops up for real momentum once daylight returns in mid‑February. From testing old packets on kitchen paper to choosing the right trays and compost, we go deep on the details that quietly deliver stronger seedlings and bigger harvests.

We talk through the realities of germination rates, why seed vigour matters even when sprouts appear, and when to be ruthless about binning tired stock. You’ll hear a clear comparison between open pollinated and F1 hybrid seed—where resilience, seed saving, and flavour meet reliability, pest tolerance, and uniformity—so you can choose with intent. On kit, we separate “nice to have” from “need”: rigid seed trays and modules earn their place; heated propagators help with tomatoes and peppers; grow lights are optional if you time sowings for rising natural light.

Compost can make or break a sowing day. We weigh up peat’s consistency against peat‑free variability, call out premium peat‑free options that perform, and share a simple DIY seed mix: fine, mature compost or leaf mould for structure, perlite for air, and a light nutrient lift from vermicompost and seaweed. Then it’s technique: dense sowing with gentle pricking out, thinning to the strongest seedling, multi‑sowing spring onions for efficient beds, and watering that keeps media evenly moist without drowning roots. Airflow, patience, and timing bring it all together—wait until mid‑February and you’ll have more light, steadier temperatures, and somewhere sensible to move plants on.

Ready to start strong and skip the leggy mistakes? Listen now, get your seed box, trays, and compost lined up, and join us next week for the full February sowing guide. If this helped, follow the show, share it with a grower friend, and leave a quick review to help more gardeners find us.

Why not come along to my Grow your own workshops where you will learn all about seed sowing and growing your own food. 

https://subscribepage.io/growyourownfoodworkshop

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Until next week
Happy gardening
John