R2104 2.2 Describe the process of growing seeds in open ground

Question 1

Ground prepartion of outdoor site: Weed Control

Answer 1

1. Removed during intial cultivation of digging or rotary cultivation
2. Systemic herbicides - glyphosate can be used - but then appropriate time needs to be allowed before sowing
3. Weeds can be remove by hand or hoeing
4. Hoeing suitable for annual weeds but perennial weeds need to be dug out completely
5. Mulch can be used to supress weeds - either natural or man-made such as plastic sheeting
6. Stale seed bed method - two weeks before sowing prepare the seed bed as normal. This would have brought need weed seeds to the surface. So new weeds have grown on the surface. These are hoed off and seeds then planted.

Question 2

Ground preparation of outdoor site for seeds: Nutrition

Answer 2

1. Seed dont require much but nutrients will be needed for subsquent growth.
2. Amount will depend on plants and how long they will be in the ground
3. May be some nutrients in the ground already from earlier incorporation of organic matter
4. Base dressing will sometimes need to be applied before sowing - done during the final stages of seed bed preparation
5. Band placement - this is applying fertilisers near to developing seedlings, but not close enough to scorch them. A band of fertiliser is spread a few centimetres to the side of a seed drill.

Question 3

Ground prepartion of outdoor site: Levelling

Answer 3

1. Sowing onto a very uneven surface that may have large clods of earth will result in many of the seeds at the wrong depth or being unable to establish a firm foothold as they germinate
2. Forking can be used to help roughly level the ground and provide a finer tilth

Question 4

Ground prepartion of outdoor site: Consolidation

Answer 4

1. To provide a firm surface
2. Can be done by walking up and down the seed bed using the heels to firm the soil and break up large clods of earth
3. For smaller areas the back of a rake can be used

Question 5

Ground prepartion of outdoor site: Tilth

Answer 5

1. Raking can help break down the soil to a finer tilth
2. Avoid over raking which can result in destruction of the soil structure and a dusty layer is created which in turn could form a cap when it rains
3. A good tilth will have good aeration and porosity
4. A finer tilth is required for seed sowing then for planting, and a finer tilth for small seeds than large seeds

Question 6

Sowing methods: Broadcast sowing

General

Answer 6

1. Involved scattering the seed evenly over a prepared area
2. Suitable for lawns, wildflower meadows and green manure crops
3. Seeds scattered by hand or directly from packet

Question 7

Sowing methods: Broadcast sowing

Example: Grass seed mixture

Answer 7

1. Sow mid Aug - mid Sept or in April
2. Late summer sowing ground is warmer and less competition from weeds
3. Preparation: Rake to a fine tilth, stones larger than 1cm to be removed. Base dressing should be used of granular compound fertiliser at about 150/200 g/m squared a few days before sowing. Remove all weeds.
4. Seed is sown by hand or machine. Easier if area is divided into 1 metre squares using canes.
5. Sow at a rate of 35 g/m squared
6. Sow evenly - half in one direction and then half at right angles. Rake in lightly
7. After sowing carefully water with spray / sprinkler
8. Seed bed must not dry out. More likely for spring sowing than autumn sowing. Use sprinkler is necessary.
9. Weed control not possible until lawn is ready to walk on / mow.
10. Do not use selective herbicides on newly sown lawns - weed by hand

Question 8

Sowing methods: Sowing in drills

General

Answer 8

1. Used for vegetable sowing - carrots, spring onion, lettuce etc
2. A measuring rod can be used alongside row for accurate spacing - need for larger seeds, not so much for medium seed

Question 9

Sowing methods: Sowing in drills

Example: Carrot

Answer 9

1. Thoroughly prepare seed bed
2. Drills are made using draw how
3. Canes are used to mark end of each row, which are spaced 25cm apart.
4. A garden line is held taut between the two canes
5. Drill is created along the length of the line 15-20mm deep
6. Sow thinly and evenly to avoid having to thin out too much - carrot fly pest.
7. Weed control is important so emergin seedlings arent out competed by weed seedlings
8. Hand weeding, careful hoeing between rows and mulch can control weeds
9. Thinning may be needed - water rows before and after thinning and do not leave thinnings around
10. Water in dry conditions
11. Sow March - early June

Question 10

Sowing methods: Station sowing

General

Answer 10

1. Useful for some vegetable seeds such as parsnips, beetroot
2. Mark out drills in soil. Mark out more drills at right angles to the first giving a box pattern on the soil.
3. Sow a couple of seeds or a single seed at each intersection
4. Reduces thinning and need to transplant

Question 11

Sowing methods: Station sowing

Example: Parsnips

Answer 11

1. Sow from March-April
2. Prepare seed bed as for carrot
3. Rows are slightly wider apart than carrots 20-30cm. Drills about 15 mm deep
4. Parsnip seed does not remain viable for long.
5. Two to four seeds are sown at each station. For large parsnips space stations 15cm apart, for smaller parsnips 8cm apart
6. Thin to strongest seedling at each station
7. Hand weed / hoe between rows
8. Water in dry peroids - like carrots can be prone to splitting

Question 12

Sowing methods: Trench sowing

General

Answer 12

1. Trench sowing sometimes used for vegetable seeds such as peas

Question 13

Sowing methods: Trench sowing

Example: Peas

Answer 13

1. Sow March to early June
2. Prepare seed bed but tilth does not have to be so fine as seed is larger
3. Sown in deeper drills - 2.5-5cm deep.
4. A wide flat bottomed drill or trench is easier and more productive
5. Row is marked out with a taut line and a shallow trench created with a spade to one side of the line.
6. Trench should be about 23cm wide
7. Peas sown at 5cm apart. Replace soil with a rake
8. Rows should be expected height of crop apart - 60-150cm
9. Do not need thinning
10. Support with pea sticks
11. Protect from birds
12. Water most crucial at flowering stage when pods are forming
13. Hand weeding and hoeing between rows
14. Once established peas tend to smother weeds

Question 14

Sowing methods: Individual

Example: Runner Beans

Answer 14

1. Sow after last frost - May/Early June
2. Can be sown under protection earlier and hardened off
3. Does not need such a fine tilth as seeds are large and planted more deeply
4. Initial soil preparation involves creating fertile and moisture retentive condition by using well rotted organic matter
5. Sown in double rows 60cm apart, 15-25cm between plants
6. Sturdy supports about 2.5m high needed. Erected in pairs to form the double row. Crossed in pairs and then tied to horizontal poles. Individual seeds sown at each pole about 5cm deep.
7. Hand weed, although once established they will out compete weeds
8. Mulching will help conserve moisture in dry conditions, particularly when flowers appear and pods are settling.