Cover the seeds evenly with a thin layer of compost and water using a watering can with a fine rose A little more detail to answer the questions above - The survey appears in the current Jan/Feb 2013 Which? garden magazine. The survey was conducted from spring 2012 to find the best buy composts for growing seeds and young plants.

You can easily make your own seed compost if you have a compost heap or bin, and access to leaf mould and some sand to aerate the mixture. And admittedly so; germinating strong, healthy plants from grains can be a daunting prospect. But as you’ll soon find out, there’s never anything wrong with the seeds – the problem usually involves where and how you plant them. The best seed compost improves all aspects in the germination process including drainage, aeration, pH, and nutrition to help even the fussiest perennials and shrubs to sprout. Key Features to Look for When Buying Seed Compost i. Organic

The best peat free compost was Miracle - Gro concentrated enriched compost with a test score of 73% with Vital Earth multipurpose compost 2nd with a test score of 65% Take the cutting by making a sloping cut, with a sharp knife, in the stem and removing all of the bottom leaves

Seed compost is typically finer than standard compost, meaning your seeds don’t have to struggle so hard to get through the soil. First put on a pair of gloves and rework the compost between your hands to reconstitute. Then you’re all set.

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They then tried to raise 12 pots of marigolds and basil seeds from each compost ( 3 from each bag bought from the 4 different areas in the country) Apparently basil does not germinate well if there is a high level of dissolved nutrients in the compost and marigolds will not thrive if the nutrient levels are too low! They counted germinated seeds and the size and quality of the seedlings.