I’ve been sowing seeds in all sorts of ways through the years, and have settled on a lazy way that does seem to work for almost everything – with minor adaptations.

• Get a decent seed compost – and note that the “seed” part is essential, don’t cheap out and buy bags of “mystery mix” with unknown composts included.
• Get sand and/or gravel and/or moler clay cat litter and/or perlite.
• Get plenty of 9cm perennial pots, plastic labels and a good pencil or non-fading permanent marker.
• Get a bricklayer bucket or similar for mixing

Mix the seed compost with anywhere from 1/4th to 3/4th cat litter/gravel/perlite. My standard is 1 part moler to three parts compost for nearly everything, unless we’re talking high alpines demanding better drainage or aeration (Rheum nobile got 1 part compost to three parts moler cat litter).

If it’s December or later: Surface sow the seeds, cover with moler, give them a decent watering from above, throw them outside in a shaded, covered bench and forget about them till early spring comes with warmer temperatures.

Moist packed seeds should always be sowed immediately on arrival; and the same is true for lilies with “delayed hypogeal” germination, peonies and most large tree seeds. When it comes to dry seeds of perennials it’s often better to store them in the fridge until it’s winter and normal sowing time.

Being in Denmark moler cat litter is widely available and cheap – the clay is sourced here after all. I’ve been using it both to add structure to seed pot mixes, and as a cover above the seeds. If you cannot find it locally or cheaply where you are, then just replace it with perlite, sharp gravel or sand. Just don’t use perlite for covering seeds, it floats and makes a terrible mess…

When spring arrives keep the lids wide open, most perennials – and certainly what we offer for sale – do better, and germinate better, if they’re not overly coddled. Water when needed, and move the pots where you have germination together, so that you are able to pay closer attention – and start giving diluted fertilizer with every watering.

Many seeds will germinate in their first year – other could take 3 years or more. Having space issues I do tend to empty seed pots into the garden after 3 years, but if you have room it could be worth saving them for another year.

The exceptions to this process… Dust like seeds, tender and half hardy stuff, as well as annuals. Begonias are better sown inside in sterilized compost, some annuals/half-hardy stuff benefit from an early start – while other annuals, like most Papaver, do far better sown directly into the garden in late winter or very early spring.