My main way of preventing this is by sowing most of my annual seeds in late spring – very few seed packets are opened until the middle of April. This is because I can then put all my seedlings outside each afternoon as spring properly takes hold.
A cosmos sown in March wouldn’t be able to go outside for weeks, but one sown in the middle of April can have visits outdoors from the off and it will be all the stronger for it. These plants soon catch up with an earlier sowing, as light levels and change of season are now more on their side.
I see myself as nursemaid to my little spring plant crèche. I don’t go away much during April and May as my charges need attention daily. I have them on trays and they all go outside as much as I can manage. Light and fresh air ensures healthy and strong growth.
I do have a few cold frames and small glass cloches that are vital to protect the delicate seedlings from the elements. These I place on garden tables and chairs, raised up and away from any slugs and snails.
My garden is on full view so a pop-up plastic greenhouse would be a visual hell! Mini cold frames of painted wood or recycled old glass window frames also work well in a truly small garden.
I always bring my seedlings back inside at night until the end of May in case of a fatal frost. If the weather during the day is especially cold or windy then they stay inside, but I turn their pots and seed trays several times a day so that they don’t elongate towards the window. I treat potted-up plugs like this too.
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How to grow plug plants
I used to think that only the most common bedding plants could be found as plugs but nowadays there is far more choice on offer.
Anything that is tricky to germinate, stupidly tiny as a seed or liable to damping off – in other words, a faff – I order in as plugs now. The seedlings arrive with their roots well grown and their first adult leaves.
Most seedling plugs will be sent in cells that are around 3cm wide by 3cm deep. Provided they are potted up with haste, they will grow quickly. I order between seven and 15 of each of my selected plug varieties.
Order your varieties of plug plants now to ensure you get what you want. People are using mail order nurseries more than ever, so stock can run out. Place an order now and you’ll receive the plugs between late March and the end of April to grow on.
Upon arrival, each seedling needs to be potted up into a 9cm pot so that it grows on strongly. Certain seedlings, such as zinnias, resent root disturbance so pot them up into cardboard pots that can be planted into the soil along with the plant.
