While I wait a few weeks for the soil to settle and for the temperature to heat up, I am starting my seeds early in the greenhouse. I have already planned out what I am planting and how many plants I need to grow to fill the Backyard Farm. So the first step for preparing the plants is sterilising my propagation equipment. This involves rinsing off the potting trays and the soaking them in a 50:50 mix of white vinegar and water. An alternative is to use a diluted bleach and water solution, but I prefer not to use harsh chemicals where possible. Once the punnets have soaked for about 15 minutes, I give them a rinse in fresh water and dry them off ready to be filled with seed raising mix and seeds.

I’m planting seeds of hugely varying size, from the large ones like zucchini and cucumber to tiny Rudbeckia seeds. Always follow the specific growing on the packs, but generally speaking it is best to plant things like zucchini and cucumber either direct into growing position, or, as I have done, into peat or jiffy pots that mean that the roots won’t be disturbed when replanting. Other seedlings like basil, tomato, eggplant, capsicum and leek can go into punnets. I’m saving the corn, beans and melons for direct planting in a week or two.

I make sure everything is labelled and in order in the sunniest spot in the greenhouse, and keep the seeds moist while they germinate over the next week or so.