Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Tiny seedlings need special care!
I share all the tricks I have learnt.
An extra one is the additional heat required for germination, and how that does not need light, except for celery and celeriac. So I germinate seeds in my house, where it's warmer at night than the greenhouse. You can do this even with trays stacked on top of one another, because light is not vital at that stage.
Then as soon as you see seedling leaves, bring trays to full light, or as full as possible to prevent them growing thin, leggy stems. That's the point at which this video really kicks in, and I hope that my understandings help you to succeed your seedlings.
Details of distributors of my CD module trays, UK and International - charlesdowding.co.uk/blogs/no-dig-resources/recommended-products
In the UK, containerwise.co.uk/product-category/charles-dowding
In the US allaboutthegarden.com/collections/charles-dowding-seed-trays
My 2026 Sowing Calendar, PRINT – charlesdowding.co.uk/products/charles-dowding-s-calendar-of-vegetable-sowing-dates-2026?variant=53843592642883 and DIGITAL – charlesdowding.co.uk/products/charles-dowdings-calendar-of-vegetable-sowing-dates-2026-digital
Sowing Timeline webpage with Southern Hemisphere Sowing Guide – charlesdowding.co.uk/blogs/no-dig-resources/sowing-timeline
Seed collections with Premier Seeds Direct: premierseedsdirect.com/charles-dowding-home
How To Grow video series: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7WDfop74y-k93pWQweVmJckHFq6TJZA6
Filmed in one take by Carly Dutton-Edwards on 27th February, music by Heidi Theaker, the Homeacres song.
You can join this channel by paying a monthly fee, to support our work with helping gardeners grow better, and to receive monthly videos made only for members:
youtube.com/channel/UCB1J6siDdmhwah7q0O2WJBg/join
00:00 Introduction
00:43 Module trays - no need to clean
01:21 Multisown onions, germination in conservatory for warmth
02:31 Starting seeds on hotbed
03:57 Making the hotbed, polythene to protect seedlings from gases
04:59 Beetroot, Boston variety
05:44 Spinach, germination differences - two types of compost
07:03 Lettuce - pricking out
07:55 Timing for planting out
08:22 Options for sowing directly into the ground
08:55 Carrots and parsnips - sown direct
09:15 Carrots sown in a pot
09:36 Celery - how to to sow, and cabbage
10:26 Size of tray for sowing
11:05 Watering seedlings in trays - when and how much, and watering can recommendations
14:20 More propagation resources
15:46 Hardening off - no need
#seedstarting #growingvegetables #germination #nodiggardening #earlyspring #propagation
Tiny seedlings need special care!
I share all the tricks I have learnt.
An extra one is the additional heat required for germination, and how that does not need light, except for celery and celeriac. So I germinate seeds in my house, where it's warmer at night than the greenhouse. You can do this even with trays stacked on top of one another, because light is not vital at that stage.
Then as soon as you see seedling leaves, bring trays to full light, or as full as possible to prevent them growing thin, leggy stems. That's the point at which this video really kicks in, and I hope that my understandings help you to succeed your seedlings.
Details of distributors of my CD module trays, UK and International - charlesdowding.co.uk/blogs/no-dig-resources/recommended-products
In the UK, containerwise.co.uk/product-category/charles-dowding
In the US allaboutthegarden.com/collections/charles-dowding-seed-trays
My 2026 Sowing Calendar, PRINT – charlesdowding.co.uk/products/charles-dowding-s-calendar-of-vegetable-sowing-dates-2026?variant=53843592642883 and DIGITAL – charlesdowding.co.uk/products/charles-dowdings-calendar-of-vegetable-sowing-dates-2026-digital
Sowing Timeline webpage with Southern Hemisphere Sowing Guide – charlesdowding.co.uk/blogs/no-dig-resources/sowing-timeline
Seed collections with Premier Seeds Direct: premierseedsdirect.com/charles-dowding-home
How To Grow video series: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7WDfop74y-k93pWQweVmJckHFq6TJZA6
Filmed in one take by Carly Dutton-Edwards on 27th February, music by Heidi Theaker, the Homeacres song.
You can join this channel by paying a monthly fee, to support our work with helping gardeners grow better, and to receive monthly videos made only for members:
youtube.com/channel/UCB1J6siDdmhwah7q0O2WJBg/join
00:00 Introduction
00:43 Module trays - no need to clean
01:21 Multisown onions, germination in conservatory for warmth
02:31 Starting seeds on hotbed
03:57 Making the hotbed, polythene to protect seedlings from gases
04:59 Beetroot, Boston variety
05:44 Spinach, germination differences - two types of compost
07:03 Lettuce - pricking out
07:55 Timing for planting out
08:22 Options for sowing directly into the ground
08:55 Carrots and parsnips - sown direct
09:15 Carrots sown in a pot
09:36 Celery - how to to sow, and cabbage
10:26 Size of tray for sowing
11:05 Watering seedlings in trays - when and how much, and watering can recommendations
14:20 More propagation resources
15:46 Hardening off - no need
#seedstarting #growingvegetables #germination #nodiggardening #earlyspring #propagation
