Every June, our nursery team gathers for a planning meeting to design the garden beds for the season ahead. It’s a moment of collaboration and creativity, where ideas take root - literally. Soon after, seed orders are placed and usually arrive within a week. With the seeds in hand, we draw up a sowing schedule to guide the process.

🌿 Sowing and Germination

Seed sowing begins in July and often goes through to early September. Once sown, the trays are placed on heating pads to encourage germination. When the first leaves appear, they’re moved into our larger greenhouse and positioned under the misters to maintain the ideal humidity. As soon as the second set of leaves emerges - a sign of healthy growth - the seedlings are ready for their next big step.

🌱 Pricking Out: A Delicate Transition

From mid-August onwards, the team begins pricking out the seedlings from their propagation trays and transplanting them into individual plug trays. This gives each plant more space to grow strong roots. It’s a careful, hands-on process that continues for several weeks. Our largest garden beds - like those at Archery Club and Twin Oak Drive - receive over 2,500 seedlings each year, so this stage is no small feat.

🛠️ How We Prick Out Seedlings

Here’s a peek into our transplanting process:

Prepare the tray of seedlings

Set out empty plug trays

Fill each plug tray with soil

Water the soil thoroughly

Create small planting holes in each plug cell

Carefully prick out each seedling and transplant it

Done!

Each tiny plant is handled with care, ensuring it has the best chance to thrive in the garden beds that will soon burst with colour and life.