You could be making a soil mistake that stops your seedlings from growing.
If you’re a gardener who likes growing things from seeds rather than buying established plants from garden centres, then you’ll know all about sowing seeds in trays on your windowsill and waiting until your seedlings have grown before planting them outside.
But according to one gardening expert, there’s one thing that some gardeners get wrong when it comes to planting their seeds in trays. And it’s such a colossal mistake that it could actually hinder your plant’s growth.
Toby Buckland shared a video on TikTok where he stressed the importance of getting your soil levels right when you fill up your pots. He said you may think that you’re saving money by skimping on soil, but not filling pots up to the brim could have dire consequences for your seedlings.
He said: “When sowing seeds, always fill your pots right up to the brim.
“I know loads of gardeners who save a few pennies by leaving the compost halfway up the sides of the pot. But you see, the rim of the pot shades the seedlings, and that means they stretch towards the light and they grow a bit like cress.
“They’ll never recover from that. So, top them right the way up so it’s level.”
Toby also said you should give the pot “a good flood” with a watering can until the compost is soaked all the way through. He claimed you should know it’s watered enough when it’s “really heavy”.
He added: “If you make sure it’s completely saturated all the way through, you won’t need to water that again until your seedlings are up.”
Once your pot is fully watered, it’s time to sow your seeds. Toby explained they should be sown “thinly” over the top of your soil, before sprinkling a small amount of soil on top to cover.
And the gardener also had a hack for evenly distributing your final sprinkle of soil. He recommended taking another pot and using the holes in the bottom of it as a “sieve” to gently shake soil onto the pot you’re using.
Commenters on the post thanked Toby for his advice, although some said it unfortunately came too late as their seedlings have already sprouted and are showing signs of stunted growth.
One person said: “Oh no! Great tip, but my seeds already sprouted, and are leggy.” Another added: “Game changer! I’ve been gardening for nearly 50 years, every day’s a school day.” And a third wrote: “Fountain of knowledge!”