How to grow from seed

Published on 1 January 2025

Winter might feel like a quiet time in the garden, but it’s actually the perfect time to sow some seeds and get a head start on your garden. With a little planning, you can enjoy fresh veggies, beautiful flowers, and fragrant herbs later in the year. Plus, growing from seed is a fantastic way to save money and do your bit for the planet— your Millbrook minis will love it too!

Why grow from seed?

There are so many reasons to grow from seed:

It saves you money: A packet of seeds costs a fraction of the price of mature plants, leaving you more to spend on your garden’s finishing touches, or more plants!

More choice: Seeds open up a world of possibilities, from organic vegetables to unusual flowers.

Less waste: Growing your own plants from seed reduces the carbon footprint of your garden and doesn’t involve plastic packaging, or transporting plants

It’s really magical! Watching tiny seeds transform into flourishing plants is one of the best bits of gardening.

Tips for successful sowing

Read the packet: Ensure your seeds are sown at the correct depth. Different seeds come with different instructions so it’s always a good idea to read the seed packet before you start sowing. If you’re not sure – just ask our friendly plant team for advice.

What to sow seeds in: Seeds can be sown in many different types of pots - from seed trays and modules to small pots – you can even make your own out of newspaper. Generally, smaller seeds can be scattered thinly into seed trays, and larger seeds can be sown individually in modules or pairs in small pots.

Choose the right compost: Selecting a specialist seed sowing compost will give your seeds the right nutrients to thrive, but any good quality peat-free compost will get them off to a good start.

Keep them warm and cosy: Seeds need light to grow, so if you don’t have a greenhouse place trays in the sunniest spot you can find. They also germinate best in warmth, so a windowsill near a radiator or a propagator with a lid is ideal.

Don’t overwater: Keep the compost moist but not soggy—it’s all about balance. We recommend misting your seeds once a day.

Label your seeds: It’s easy to forget what you’ve sown where!

Watch Sharon’s handy video on how to sow seeds here.

What to sow - 3 easy ideas for beginners

While it’s too early for most outdoor planting, you can sow lots of seeds indoors to give them a head start. If you’re just getting started on your seed sowing journey, here are 3 ideas for what to plant.

Sow your own veg. Be inspired by our team and start your own veg patch from seed. Start with some easier to grow crops like broad beans, radishes, leeks and winter lettuces. Winter is also a good time to start growing chillies and peppers – they have a long growing season, so the earlier you sow the better. Talk to our plant team in-store for more advice and inspiration on what seeds to plant now.

Sow Summer flowers. Spend a bit of time sowing some flowers this Winter and you will really benefit your garden and your pocket in the months ahead. Grow your own cottage garden or start a perennial flower patch from seed. Remember to include flowers the pollinators will love too. Here are 10 of our favourite flowers to grow from seed.

Sweet peas: Winter is the perfect time to sow these pretty, fragrant flowers indoors. Watch Sharon’s tips on how to sow sweet peas.

Scabiosa: Delicate perennial blooms loved by pollinators.

Antirrhinum (Snapdragons): Vibrant, cheerful flowers that are a hit with bees.

Lobelia: Compact plant ideal for hanging baskets.

Delphiniums: Bring height and colour to your borders with these classic blooms.

Echinacea: Beautiful, bee-friendly flowers that last for months.

Hollyhocks: Perfect for creating a cottage garden look, and cut flower arrangements.

Astrantia: Intricate, star-like flowers ideal for shady spots.

Lavender: A fragrant favourite that’s great for pollinators.

Aquilegia (Columbine): Quintessential cottage garden flowers. Easy to grow and self-seeding, so perfect for more natural gardens.

Sow your own herb pot. There is nothing better than the taste of fresh herbs, and especially if you have grown them yourself. These 5 herbs are easy-to-grow, taste delicious and will benefit the wildlife in your garden too. After a few months of growing, you can plant your herb plants in a stunning cascade pot like this one.

Basil: Start your plants now, and you’ll be making fresh pesto in no time.

Parsley: A versatile herb that’s easy to grow in pots or beds.

Chives: Really easy to grow and perfect for adding a mild onion flavour to salads, soups, and omelettes.

Rosemary: Rosemary is a woody herb that can grow for years and years with pretty little purple flowers for pollinators. Mix it with flowers for fragrant indoor displays.

Oregano: The flowers will attract numerous pollinators. Highly nutritious.

Planting seeds is one of the simplest ways to get your gardening fix in January. Plus, it’s so rewarding to see those first little shoots appear. So why not give it a go? Start with your half-price seed reward*, and other gardening rewards in-store this month.

Happy Sowing!

(*Millbrook family members only. Not a member yet? Just ask to join at the tills and start saving on your garden today.)

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