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One of the easiest and most rewarding methods for growing your garden is direct sowing, and it’s even easier with the Greenstalk Vertical Planter. This method allows you to skip the sometimes tedious indoor seeding and transplanting process, letting you sow seeds directly into your planter once the weather has warmed up. Here’s how you can get started and why it’s so effective.

Two Ways to Sow Seeds: 

There are two primary ways to sow your seeds:

1. Indoor Sowing: This involves starting seeds indoors before the outdoor temperatures warm up enough for planting. This can help get a jumpstart on the growing season and can be done using the GreenStalk Seed Starter Kit.
   
   

2. Direct Sowing: This is another method where you sow your seeds directly into the planter after temperatures have warmed. This eliminates the need to transplant, and helps your plants acclimate naturally to their environment. Some plants, such as root vegetables, grow best when directly sown because their roots can develop freely, without disturbance. 

Key Tips for Direct Sowing in a Greenstalk

When it comes to direct sowing, there are a few important guidelines to follow to ensure success. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll have a flourishing garden in no time!

1. Follow Instructions

Every gardening zone has its own ideal planting schedule based on temperature and climate. Make sure you follow the planting schedule for your specific zone, so you know the right time to sow your seeds. 

We recommend planting carrots, and other root vegetables, directly into the pocket. 

Also, every seed packet contains valuable information about planting depth, spacing, and other care tips. Be sure to read the instructions on the packet for the best results. 

2. Light and Fluffy Potting Soil

For successful direct sowing, the soil should be light, fluffy, and well-drained. Avoid heavy amendments, as soil that’s too dense can restrict root growth. We like to amend just the bottom portion of the soil to help feed the roots as they grow, but avoid overworking the soil to keep it airy.

3. Watering

Before sowing your seeds, water the planter well to ensure that the soil is moist enough for seed germination.

4. Mark Your Starting Points

Use a plastic spoon or another marker to note where you’ve started sowing seeds. This will help you keep track of which pockets you have already planted and avoid confusion later on.

5. To Soak or Not to Soak?

Some gardeners recommend soaking seeds before sowing them, while others prefer to skip this step. It is not recommended to soak tiny seeds but can be helpful for certain varieties, especially larger seeds like peas or beans. Try it out and see what works best for you.

6. Sprinkle Seeds Evenly

When sowing, be sure to scatter your seeds evenly across the soil. Avoid clumping them together, as this can lead to overcrowding and stunted growth. Once your seedlings have sprouted, you may need to go back and thin them. 

Plant markers are a great way to keep track of plant varieties, dates, and days to maturity. 

7. Cover the Seeds

To protect your newly sown seeds and retain moisture, consider covering the soil with a thin layer of vermiculite. This is optional but will help keep the soil warm and prevent drying out.

8. Mark the Date and Variety

It’s a good idea to label your pocket(s) with the date and seed variety. Plant markers allow you to track growth and provides valuable information if you need to make adjustments later. 

9. Daily Misting

To keep the soil moist and support seed germination, lightly mist each pocket daily. Seeds need moisture, so this helps the outer shell to soften and open up so the plants can emerge! 

10. Provide Protection

Even though the weather may seem warm, late frosts can sometimes catch gardeners by surprise. Since spring can often bring unpredictable weather, consider using the GreenStalk Frost Cover to protect your seeds and young plants during any unexpected freezes.

Turnips we successfully grew from seed

What We've Successfully Direct Sown

We’ve been using this method for years, so here’s a list of some of the plants our team has successfully direct-sown in the GreenStalk:

• Leafy greens & veggies: arugula, lettuce, kale, spinach, radish, turnips, beets

• Beans & peas: bush beans, sugar snap peas, okra

• Root vegetables: carrots, beets

• Herbs: thyme, oregano, basil, dill, parsley, lemon balm, chives

• Flowers: nasturtiums, alyssum, penstemon, African marigolds, regular marigolds

• Fruit & squash: tomatoes, peppers, squash, zucchini, eggplant, watermelon, pumpkins

As you can see, direct sowing isn’t limited to just a few types of plants; you can direct sow a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Watch as GreenStalk's Lead Gardener, Susie, demonstrates this process.

 

 

Direct sowing is a simple, effective way to get your garden growing with minimal effort. Whether you’re new to gardening or a seasoned pro, give direct sowing a try this season. We're ROOT-ing for you - feel free to email us at support@greenstalkgarden.com if you have any questions along the way!