How do you plant seeds/bulbs?

i want to start a bit of gardening to show my son how to do it- gives him something to do and im truying to show him how they grow.



but i dont know anything about planting. if i was to plant seeds in a plantpot do i put the compost in first and sprinkle the seeds- then water or do i dig a hole? not sure.



also, with bulbs do i place compost into a pot and dig a hole, place bulb, cover up and water?



which plants/ flowers do i keep in the shade and which do i put in the sunlight? and how often do i water them.



growing vegetables do you really need a glass house or will they grow in a shed if i bring them out into the sun through the day- please hepl, i know nothing

How do you plant seeds/bulbs?
Have a look at UKTVgarden it should answer most of your questions. I'm new to gardening too and have found it a great help.

good luck
Reply:We have a group for folks like you at Yahoo Groups called therookiegardener. Lots of experienced and inexperienced gardeners that share projects and advice.

Would love to have you. Report It
Reply:first dig a hole in your garden.then put the seeds/bulbs what ever it is into it.then close it with mud.do watering daily.sunlight is must.see that u put good fertiliser after they grow.
Reply:Your son is not going to learn a lot from you is he?The sort of knowledge you are seeking is possessed by many people who have acquired it after many years of horticultural trial and errors.You are trying to do too much too soon.My suggestion is you firstly get one or two simple gardening books, they can be quite cheap,and could even be written for children.Visit a local garden centre or gardening dept. of a DIY store.Purchase a small sized bag of seed compost,a medium sized bag of potting compost, up to 6 small quarter sized seed trays,a couple of dozen 3" plastic pots and 3 or 4 packets of easy to grow seeds. Follow the instructions on the seed packets. Some seed need to be slightly buried ,other seeds should be exposed to the light to germinate. The packet will tell you this.(By the way when at the garden place I should have said get a small watering plastic can.) Also refer to the books. Seed should be in moist seed compost and kept warm, possibly on a window ledge,and when the seeds start popping up keep them in a good light to prevent them getting drawn, but not in hot bright sunlight.Keep the compost moist but not soaked.After about two weeks the seedlings will need to be transplanted.Thieis is where your plastic pots and potting compost come in.Fill some pots to about half an inch from the top.Using a plant label or dibber or a tea spoon handle gently lift a seedling from the seed tray keeping as much soil as possible round the root ,make a hole in the soil in the pot and gently ease the roots of the seedling in to the hole and cover with compost. Compress the soil with your fingers to make sure the roots are firmly bedded and the plant is supported by the soil and will not fall over.Water and leave to grow.This is a bit tricky but with practice it becomes quite easy.Carry on the same with the other plants and seedlings.You will get to know what differents plants need and which ones you prefer growing.Iv,e left bulbs to last. These are treated differently to seeds.Bulbs are either spring or summer flowering which will determine when they should be planted.Some in the autumn and others in early spring.Bulbs are usually planted in the containers,or ground, where they are to flower, and are perennial ,which means they will grow and flower every year..The soil for bulbs is probably best to be a soil based compost as the bulbs will be in it for a number of years and there is not enough nourishment in multipurpose composts.The packets that the bulbs come in will tell you how deep to plant them, up to 4" usually, and when to plant. Bulbs vary enormously in size so the containers or pots need to be big enough to accomodate them. Many bulbs ,providing they are hardy, and can stand the winter temperatures are better off grown in the garden.I could go on for ages,but it should be fun for you and your son to be learning together.Just one tip, don't try to grow anything too exotic or difficult at first. Stick to easy things like marigolds or busy lizzy's or pansies to begin with.
Reply:Best advice is to start with the easy things first, then you will be encouraged to try more challenging plant materials as you gain knowledge. Remember gardening can be part trial %26amp; error even for experienced gardeners, so don't be discouraged if you have a few fatalities. One of the most important things to keep in mind is the right plant for the right spot. Potted plants %26amp; seed packets will describe how much shade/sun and water a plant requires( make sure you plant accordingly. A few easy to grow shade plants are hostas, astilbe,ferns and impatients. Stella de oro daylilly, lavender, shasta daisy,begonia, and sedum are a few easy to grow sun loving plants. Most plants need watering about twice a week. Remember to read you tags though, some need less %26amp; some always need to be moist.

When planting seeds I have found the best ways is to plant them directly outdoors after danger of frost is over, this way you don't lose a lot of your seedlings because they don't have the shock of transplanting. Here again plant things that are hardy %26amp; grow fast. As a rule generally large seeds grow the easiest. Try sunflowers, morning glories, %26amp; hollyhocks. Be sure to plant things according to the ZONE you live in, this will be on the back of your seed package, usually in the form of a small map of the U.S. and follow the directions for how deep to plant the seeds. Don't use 100% compost as it may be too rich for seedlings, mix it with topsoil and possibly peat moss to retain moisture if topsoil is poor.

Bulbs can be planted in a pot or in the ground. If planting in a pot, fill 1/3 with dirt, place bulb sprinkle in some bone meal then cover with dirt. Many bulbs are planted outside in fall so they can bloom in the spring/early summer, there are a few bulbs that will bloom in the fall if planted in the spring.

If you want to plant veggies think simplicity yet again, Don't start with things that have a long growing season %26amp; have to be started in a cold frame(plastic/glass house). I made a raised bed. Lay several layers of newspaper(with vegetable base ink) on the ground where you want your garden. Then I got 4) 10'x8"x2"'s sawed a foot of from 2 of them then nailed them together to make a 10' x 9' rectangle %26amp; filled it with topsoil,compost and peatmoss. Then I divided in into quarters. I used one fourth for a few tomato plants, In the next section I made a mound and planted some pumpkin seeds(a small variety). In the next quarter I made 2 short rows for carrot seeds and planted an oregano, basil, garlic and chive plant. The last quarter I made a mound and planted cucumbers.

For any seeds just make a row the depth that the seed is to be planted then space the seeds as directed and then sprinkle dirt over the top, pat the row lightly, then water well. Remember if only 10 seeds germinate and of those only 5 mautre you still only spent about $1 for those 5 plants... so NO need to morn the weaker seeds that did not make it! Have FUN with gardening!!!