[mushroom]

Hi folks, I have the following problem.

Purple sprouting broccoli seeds are tiny. I sowed the contents of a packet into a 40-pot seed tray, about a week ago, and now have loads of seedlings. Thing is, because the seeds were so tiny, I ended up sowing $random_number seeds per pot. Unsure if I should seperate them into individual seedlings or treat each clump as an individual plant, because of course I lost the packet.

Is there a way, or is there a tool, that allows easy dispensing of individual tiny seeds, so I can avoid this problem in future? If so, what's it called?

[Aidy]

try using a fine paint brush, just wet the tip and pick each seed up and pop it in the compost.  

[WG.]

Your seedlings must eventually be planted out singly, approx 18" apart in final position.  Re-pot the extras or, if you've got loads, simply thin them out.

[Stevens706]

I bought from Ebay a "TENAX DIAL SEED SOWER" for £1.70 inc P&P, it helps for small seeds. You select the correct hole for the size of seeds, you have keep tapping it to get the seeds through the selected hole.

[richyrich7]

There's a couple of seed sowers on this site which may do you.

Or get a piece of paper fold in half, un fold pour some seed into the crease, and hold the paper in one hand to form a V tap gently and they will fall out one at a time.

[mushroom]

thanks people for all your replies. I'm not arthritic or anything, just clumsy i guess  :oops:
On a good day I'd manage with folded paper, and i really should have thought of that, serves me right for not having 3 cups of coffee before thinking. might invest in one of those seeders though

cheers

[richyrich7]

Little seeds can be very hard to handle, I've often thought of buying one of those suck/blow seeders myself ideal for bedding plants into plug modules etc.

[brucesgirl]

Oh gawd! I got given some fourth hand purple sprouting plants a while ago, and they had got spindlier and spindlier as they had been passed along. So I planted them in clumps!!
They seem to be doing all right though.

[starmoonlilly]

You can also mix fine seed with horticutural sand, that way you can see where the sand is and know the seed is spread evenly too  

[mushroom]

You can also mix fine seed with horticutural sand, that way you can see where the sand is and know the seed is spread evenly too  

Is there a difference between "sharp sand" as sold in a builder's yard and the horticultural sand you refer to?

[starmoonlilly]

Yes there is mushroom, you cant use builders sand as it contains something horrid the plants dont like (please dont ask me what it is:oops: )

You can buy small bags of horticultural sand, so it doent work out expensive or leave you with loads of the stuff left over

[jaycee]

I wonder what the horrid bit is. Could it be sterilized I wonder? Builders sand showing in-between  the paving stones seems to be an ideal medium for weeds to sprout up and grow in!! But then weeds grow in everything.
Bought compost (can I name it here?) and I had more tomato seedlings growing in it than the seeds I sowed!

[richyrich7]

I always thought that small quantities of lime was added to sharp sand ?

[starmoonlilly]

Im not sure Jaycee, it could be lime as richyrich7 said.

Yeah your right about the weeds, they will grow anywhere like you say. Bet if you wanted to cultivate them they'd be awkward as ya like though