Seed seller Rebecca Shelley shares tips for successful sprouting

In the latest issue (Issue 43), we meet Rebecca Shelley, a former vet nurse and mother-of-three who launched a flourishing online seed business from her dining table in Blackmans Bay, Tasmania. Having struggled to source seeds during the pandemic, Rebecca – along with her husband, Robert Knight, and brother, Samuel – launched Veggie & Flower Garden Seeds. Today, the business is best known for selling hard-to-get seeds for cut flowers, including special varieties of sweet peas and the cosmos cultivar ‘Cupcakes Blush’. 

If you love the idea of growing your own cut flowers, but your passion for showy blooms is greater than your gardening skills, Rebecca is here to help. Here, she shares seven things to consider to get those packet seeds sprouting… 

1. Light. Some seeds need light to germinate, others need darkness. Strawflowers, celosia and scabiosa all need light, so cover them ever so lightly with soil when sowing.

2. Planting depth. If the seed is planted too deep, it may not be able to grow to the surface. Be careful when sowing very tiny seeds, such as poppies, snapdragons and thyme, because if they’re watered from above, the seeds will sink too deep into the soil. When in punnets, water from below. The general rule is to sow seeds the same depth as the seeds.

3. Season. Some seeds will only germinate when the soil is at a certain temperature. For example, if the soil is above 25℃, lettuce will remain dormant. Check the seed packet or our website to find out when to sow your seeds.

4. Soil. If the soil is too dry or too wet, the seeds will not germinate. Make sure the soil remains damp and use the best-quality potting mix available.

5. Pre-treatments. Some seeds germinate better after a pre-planting treatment, such as being soaked overnight (this is true of sweet peas). Australian native seeds may benefit from a smoke treatment, which replicates what might happen in the bush naturally to promote germination. Bells of Ireland, Chocolate Lace and Lavender do well with a chill treatment in the fridge for one to two weeks before sowing.

“You will get a better germination rate in a greenhouse-type environment for the first six weeks before transplanting to the garden. I haven’t had much success just scattering seeds. Birds dig them up, ants eat them and carry them off and water washes the tiny little ones away.”

6. Pests. When sowing seeds directly into the garden, there is always a risk they will get eaten by insects, birds or wildlife. To protect your seeds, cover them with netting or better still (in most cases), choose to raise them in punnets.

7. Storage. Unsuitable storage may affect your germination rate. To keep seeds fresh, keep them in an airtight container in a cool area, away from sunlight. Stored in the right conditions, seeds can last between two and five years. Some seeds will naturally have a lower germination rate than others.

REBECCA’S NO-FAIL GUIDE TO GROWING VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS FROM SEED

What you need:

• Seeds
• Seed-raising mix 
• Pots/punnets 
• Marker and labels (Paddle Pop sticks work well)
• Vermiculite
• Watering-can with a fine nozzle 
• Greenhouse (or similar environment) 

  
  1. Make sure you’re sowing your seeds in the correct season. For example, zinnia seeds should be sown in spring or summer. View the seed sowing chart on our website to find out when to plant in your climate.

  2. Fill your pots/punnets with the best-quality potting mix you can afford. I like the Seasol seed-raising mix because it’s fine enough to hold water and prevent seeds from dropping to the bottom. Extra nutrients encourage growth.3. Now it’s time to sow your seeds. Check the packet to find out how deep they should be sown. For example, cosmos seeds should be sown 6 millimetres deep, whereas strawflower seeds need light to germinate so they should be covered with soil very lightly. Larger seeds like beans, peas, corn, cucumber, zucchini, squash and pumpkin are best sown directly in the soil.

  3. Don’t forget to label what you’ve sown. I also like to sprinkle vermiculite over just-sown seeds to help keep the soil moist and prevent mould.

  4. Make sure to keep the soil in your pots/punnets moist — you don’t want it too damp or too dry. A watering-can with a fine nozzle is best as it won’t wash away your seeds. If you’re sowing very tiny seeds, such as snapdragon, poppy and yarrow, bottom water or use a fine mist. 

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To hear more extraordinary stories about women living in rural and regional Australia, listen to our podcast Life on the Land on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcast platforms.