Because it is not really safe to plant out tender (frost-tender) plants until the end of May here I do not sow the fast-growing, large-seeded vegetables until the end of April. So the next few weeks will see me sow squashes, sweetcorn and beans, direct into cell trays.

Squash seeds vary hugely in size. These big ones are for an American giant pumpkin and the small ones from a smaller, Japanese variety.

Today I sowed all the squashes including summer and winter squash and pumpkins. I always sow them in 6-cell trays so they can be planted straight from these into their growing positions in about a month. Most take one to two weeks to germinate and it is best to plant them out while they are still young and before they get too big or stunted in the pots. If the packet is generous I sow two seeds per cell and pinch out the weakest of the two seedlings if both germinate but with some varieties you only get a few seeds so these are sown singly and if there are gaps I put up with them.

For speed I fill the trays (I have sown 20 different types today) and then push the seeds into the compost. I hold them and push them in on their side with the pointed end uppermost. This allows the root to grow down when it emerges and the seedling to lift the two seed leaves above the compost easily. I am sure this doesn’t matter too much but it is not a problem to do and gives the seedling the easiest start in life. The seeds will be about 1cm below the surface and a shake of the tray usually covers them. In theory I would then put them in a heated propagator but because of a technical problem this year and the lack of power in the greenhouse they will have to make do with ambient temperatures, enhanced by the bubble wrap enclosure.