Seed starting has begun!

After my first year of flower growing, one of the changes I wanted to make was an earlier start to the season. Spring bulbs like tulips and daffodils are great for the month of May, but last year I had a lull until early July. Having flowers in June means starting seeds earlier and planting varieties that can go in the ground earlier (because I don't have a greenhouse - yet!). Hardy annuals are a group of plants that can tolerate a bit of cold weather and even prefer those temperatures. These include snapdragons, bells of Ireland, calendula, and nigella (or love in a mist). I'm starting these seeds about a month earlier than I did last year and hope to have blooms in mid-June.

For starting seeds, I'm using soil blocks this year. These are an alternative to the plastic seed starting trays that are more typically used. Soil blocks are compressed blocks of planting medium that are formed using a mould. The planting medium has to be high in moss or peat, in order to ensure the block holds together until the roots are established. The moulds come in several sizes: I'm using a 3/4" mini block to start small seeds and then these get potted up into a 2" block where they will grow until planting out. Soil blocks provide advantages for the seedlings, including more space to grow, air-pruned roots, and lower transplant shock. For me, they mean I don't have to invest in plastic trays and I have more flexibility with how many seeds I start -  I can keep making more blocks! Now I just have to make sure I don't start more seeds than my garden beds can handle...