Just starting out...

[Akumos]

Hi all

I'm brand new to gardening and hav just bought my greenhouse. Going t sow some seeds tomorrow and just querying some of the instructions Whats do the following actually mean:

Firm gently? Keep moist? (what's moist? If i'm growing a veg in seed tray, does thi mean water daily?)

Thanks for your help

-- Akumos

[KC]

Press down with your hand until the soil compacts a small amount.

Don't let it dry out. Surface dryness is normal but under the surface should be damp. Try this: put some soil in your hand and squeeze it. When you open your fist, if the soil stays in a ball, it is damp/ moist. If it crumbles, it is dry.

Depends on the size of the seed tray, but light watering every 3rd day would probably do it.

KC

[Akumos]

brilliant! thank you KC for you advice! It's much appericiated

-- Akumos

[3dgonzo]

Moist means water when needed, not on a set schedule!

You will find that some plants really suck up the water during certain stages in development. Check your seedlings/plants daily. Personally, I water my seedlings when the soil on top looks dry. I usually don't actually check it - dry soil is a different color from damp. And moist, I'd say, is dryer than damp :)

Firm gently for me means getting good contact between the seed and the moistened soil. I like to use warm water to wet the sterile potting mix, then make a small divot in the top with a pencil or spoon - about

4-5 seed diameters deep, so not really deep. I cover the seed by pushing the seed in and smearing my finger over the hole, which puts some of that moist mix on top of the seed. I usually don't press any harder than that.

With bottom heat provided by a heating pad, you can expect seedlings in 3-7 days.

Don't forget to harden off your plants when movign them from greenhouse to outdoors!