I must admit, I can’t boast much success in growing seedlings in autumn. Either damping-off disease weakens the thyme, or I end up overwatering basil, or chives flat out refuse to sprout.
In autumn, it’s necessary to follow rules that can sometimes be ignored in summer:
- Sow seeds shallowly, and for small seeds like thyme, spread them across the surface of the soil.
- Water very sparingly, and if the pots are placed near radiators, put a small bowl of water nearby to increase air humidity.
- The soil must be sterilized . If the home is cool, mold and fungus won’t take long to appear. It’s best not to neglect this rule.
- Cover the sowings with a plastic film dome until the first true leaves appear. Let them breathe during the brightest time of day.
- If the air is very dry because of heating, spray the sowings with a mist sprayer.
- A little trick: how to accumulate light. Place aluminum foil in the pot in a semicircular shape. It will reflect light from the window, and in the evening, you can turn the pot toward the light from your indoor lamps.
- Supplemental lighting using grow lights or daylight lamps.
Sowing herbs in autumn is a real challenge for any home gardener. It is easiest to grow cress , arugula , or propagate plants purchased from the supermarket.
