If you want to know how to plant seeds of any plant, either because you want to have your own orchard or garden, or simply because you want to have a plant inside your home, then we are going to explain everything you need to know to do it.
Table of Contents
To plant seeds, you need to know what they are, how they germinate, how to plant them and how they grow, as well as other additional information that we are going to give you and that will help you carry out this task in the best possible way.
Types of seeds
Before starting with the explanation of how to plant seeds, it is important that you know the types of seeds that there are so that you can grow them in your garden. There is infinity of them, although we are going to talk about the most common seeds below:
- Creoles: They are those capable of adapting to the environment. This considerably reduces the depletion of the farmland, while at the same time optimizing resources.
- Creole: These types of seeds are those that, although they are not native, over time have become acclimatized to the conditions of the region.
- Improved: These are the seeds that are selected based on controlled pollination techniques and processes. They have the advantage that they are highly resistant to pests and diseases, in addition to being easily adapted to all types of regions and offering high production.
- Hybrids: These are obtained by crossing two plants of different species. This crossing takes place to optimize the yield of the crops, although for this the crossing must take place between two varieties with similar characteristics. They offer faster growth and greater resistance in stems and roots, with higher quality fruits and greater robustness. They are sterile. Within the hybrid seeds we find two types:
- Determined growth: The stem delimits the formation of nodes and the height that the plant in question will have.
- Free-growing: In this case, the formation of nodes remains above the stem and the height continues to increase.
- Transgenic: These seeds do not exist in nature. They have been created by man through genetic engineering and are designed to improve the properties of plants and thus have a greater ability to resist pests and other adverse circumstances. In this case, they must be purchased at each new planting, since the new generation seeds are sterile.
- Ecological: As its name indicates, they come from ecological plants. This means that they have not been treated with chemical fertilizers or fertilizers.
- Baby: These are seeds that have received a treatment to stop their development, but managing to maintain the nutritional value and quality of the fruit.
- Depending on the type of crop: Depending on the type of crop, we can classify the seeds into edible seeds, vegetable seeds, flower seeds or fruit seeds.
How to get the seeds:
Beyond being able to buy them in specialized stores or supermarkets, you can get the seeds in other ways. The seeds are obtained from the fruit, and must be collected, in the vast majority of cases, once the fruit has reached maturity, before the dissemination process begins.
The most advisable thing is that you obtain the seeds directly from the plants, so that you can get to obtain seeds of a higher quality. Keep in mind that it is important to acquire the best possible seeds in order to enjoy the best plants. Some basic indications for obtaining the seeds are the following depending on the type of plant:
Seeds for tomatoes
- First of all, you must extract the seeds, allowing the tomatoes to complete their maturation, allowing them to soften a little before extraction.
- Then you must place the seeds in a bucket of water for two days. After this time it will have fermented. You should keep in mind that the healthy seeds will go to the bottom of the container, while the bad ones will float.
- You must take the healthy seeds and put them to dry in the sun, placing them on a paper napkin for about a week. Make sure to cover them at night.
- Finally, you must keep them in a suitable container so that they are ready for planting.
This process is similar for other fruits.
Seeds for legumes
In the case of legumes, such as broad beans, beans, chickpeas or peas, you must follow these steps:
- First of all, you should leave the most vigorous plants harvested.
- Once the plants have dried, they must be pulled out. Then you should leave them in the sun to finish drying. On a very sunny day you should shell it and put them in the wind to remove the chaff from the seeds.
- To finish you must keep them in an appropriate container.
Seeds for herbaceous or vegetables
In this last case we make references to the seeds that are not inside any fruit, but after being pollinated, the flowers leave space for the new seeds.
- First of all, you must let the plant spike and flower. You try to protect it from potential threats like birds and other predators.
- Once the plant is dry, you should cut it and let it air for a few days, until it has finished drying.
- Taking advantage of a very sunny day, the plant should be spread out on a cloth. Take the opportunity to crumble the flowers.
- To finish you will have to manually select the seeds and store them in a container for conservation.
How to save the seeds:
The vast majority of seeds can be stored for several years, although this depends on each particular species. However, as a general rule they should be kept in a dry, cool and dark place.
For this, it is advisable to use certain containers such as cloth bags, paper bags, and plastic bags with closure or airtight jars.
Instructions for planting seeds
- First of all, you must check the conditions that the seed requires in order to grow, that is, its needs. To do this you must take into consideration the weather, dates, temperature, humidity, acidity, etc. Try to find the most favorable conditions so that they contribute to their growth and development.
- Next you must choose the type of sowing that you are going to carry out. This can be direct in the soil, indirect, with the use of organic seeds, etc. Opting for one or the other will depend on each person and the chosen plant.
- Later you must check the conditions of the substrate, so that you can know the ventilation, climate, space, acidity, etc.
- Once the above is done, it is time to proceed with the cleaning of the land. To do this, you must extract the weeds that may be present in it, as well as the different remains that may have remained from previous crops or any other type of residue. Remember that you must extract all the plants from the root to prevent them from growing back.
- Before starting sowing, you need to moisten the soil, which will minimize the chances that the seeds will end up being expelled as a result of the force of the water.
- Add natural fertilizers by mixing them into the soil at a depth of about 5 cm.
- At that time the ground will be prepared to receive your seeds. For this reason, it proceeds to introduce the seeds into the soil according to the specifications of each one of them. Take into account both the indicated depth and the distance you must maintain between the different plants.
- When you have already introduced them into the ground, you should give them away depending on the variety of plant you have chosen to place in your orchard or garden.
- From that moment you will have to wait for the seeds to germinate, and then transplant the sprouts in the event that you have chosen to initially sow them in seedbeds.
- For greater protection of the plants, it is recommended to use mesh, so that they can be safe from predators, something very important, especially in the early stages of growth and development of the plant.
- Use natural fertilizers regularly according to the needs of each type of plant and crop in particular
- In the case of some trees or plants, it is necessary to use guides so that they grow upright, thus favoring their ventilation and the use of light.
- It is important that you check the plants to make sure there are no diseases or pests on them. This review must be regular, as well as irrigation, which must be according to the needs of each crop.
- If necessary, prune your plants. Sometimes it is necessary for the flowering and fruiting process of some plants. This step may be optional on many plants.
- Finally, remember that crop rotation is important. Before carrying out the sowing you must make sure which plant associations are the most favorable and detrimental for your crop.
What do you need to plant seeds?
- Suitable land for planting.
- Water.
- Sunlight.
Tips for Planting Seeds
- Before sowing you must prepare the soil in the appropriate way, having to till the land when it is not very wet. You must also leave the substrate in the necessary conditions for the type of crop you are going to carry out.
- You must assess the type of soil necessary for each seed, looking for the most appropriate for each particular case.
- It is important that you always remove the weeds from the land where you are going to sow the seeds.
- Find out in the proper way about the plants you want to have in your garden or orchard, knowing the necessary conditions so that the species you want to cultivate can develop successfully.
