Sowing seed in autumn
As I sit here filming on a wet and blustery autumn day — Storm Benjamin roaring outside — it’s clear this isn’t a time for outdoor gardening. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do! Days like this are perfect for one of my favourite autumn jobs: sowing seed.
Watch the video and read on for more details:
Sowing seed in autumn is a brilliant way to grow new plants for free, saving a lot of money compared to buying mature plants from a garden centre. You can fill your garden with a wide variety of beautiful plants while keeping costs down — all while making the most of the season’s natural rhythms. Here’s how I do it, and why it works so well.
Why autumn is the perfect time for sowing seed
When you sow seed in autumn, you’re mimicking what happens in nature. Think about how plants behave in the wild: they drop their seeds at the end of summer, and those seeds lie on the soil surface all winter long. During that time, they’re exposed to rain, frost, and cold — conditions that help to break down the seed coat.
That natural process, called cold stratification, triggers germination when temperatures rise in spring. By recreating this simple cycle, you can grow strong, healthy plants with minimal effort — and no heated propagators required.
What you’ll need for sowing seed
Here’s what I use when sowing seed in autumn:
- Seeds – I’m sowing Angelica gigas today (a beautiful, architectural, deep-purple flowered perennial), but the same process applies to many hardy perennials and wildflowers.
- 11cm square pots – Square pots fit neatly together and won’t topple when grouped.
- Peat-free compost – I use Melcourt SylvaGrow Peat-Free Multipurpose Compost. It has great structure, holding both air and moisture — perfect for healthy root growth.
- Horticultural grit – This goes on top of the compost after sowing to keep the seeds in good contact with the soil and deter moss.
- Labels – Essential for keeping track of what’s what.
- Mushroom crates – The sturdy plastic ones that farm shops use to sell mushrooms are perfect for holding pots securely.
Step-by-step guide to sowing seed in autumn
- Fill your pots
Fill each pot right to the top with compost, then lift and drop it lightly a couple of times. This firms the compost without compacting it. Use your hand to level off the excess, leaving the compost flush with the rim. - Create a small gap
Using another pot, gently press the surface down to create about a 1cm gap between the compost and the top of the pot. This will later be filled with grit. - Sow your seeds
Scatter your seeds evenly across the compost surface. Try not to crowd them — too many seeds can lead to fungal problems and difficulty “pricking out”. - Add grit
Sprinkle a 1cm layer of horticultural grit over the top to cover the seeds evenly. This keeps the seed in place, even during heavy storms. - Label your pots
Write the plant name and date on a label — for example, Angelica gigas, 24 October 2025 — and pop it into the pot. - Arrange and protect
Place your pots snugly into a mushroom crate (12 fit nicely in a 3×4 arrangement). This stops them from falling over in strong winds. Put the crate outside for winter, ideally on a table or bench to deter rodents. If that’s not possible, cover the pots with a piece of chicken wire.
What happens after sowing seed?
Leave the pots outside all winter. The rain, frost, and cold will work their magic, and when spring arrives, you’ll begin to see seedlings emerging.
Once they’ve germinated, you can prick them out into individual pots to grow on — I’ll be sharing a video on that process in spring!
Why sowing seed is worth doing
Sowing seed in autumn is one of the most cost-effective and rewarding gardening tasks you can do. Buying mature plants for a naturalistic border can easily cost £20–£50 per square metre, but when you grow from seed, it costs only pennies.
It’s a simple, sustainable, and deeply satisfying way to fill your garden with diverse, wildlife-friendly plants — and to reconnect with nature’s own timing.
Are you sowing seeds this autumn?
If you haven’t got any seeds to sow yet, it’s not too late to order. I like Chiltern Seeds.
I’d love to know what seeds you plan to sow, so please leave a comment below.
Happy sowing.
Joe
Joe Vary Dip. Hort (Wisley), MCIHort, CMTGG
I'm a gardener, educator, consultant, and planting designer. Learn with me 1-to-1, or join my mentoring group and community.
This Post Has 4 Comments
Thank you Joe, you have inspired me to collect seeds from Helichrysum ‘Eternity Mix’ which I planted in my garden for the first time this year. They went well so I want more next year! What is best to sow the seeds? and when. The method you used in your great video (with the Angelica gigas), wait until spring or straight out now in the garden bed?
Hi Fidelma,
Thanks for your comment. I’m so pleased you enjoyed this video and that it has encouraged you to save seed from your Helichrysum.
I think there’s a typo in your question so I’m not entirely sure what you meant to ask… but let me have a go 😊
With Helichrysum, they’re actually good to sow in late winter/early spring indoors as they don’t need exposure to the winter weather to germinate. They can then be “grown-on” indoors and planted out when frost has passed.
Personally, I haven’t grown Helichrysum before (or at least not for a long time), so I’m a bit unsure of the intricacies but I imagine they’re similar to other tender plants grown as annuals (like many vegetables and cut flowers).
Helichrysum are what I would call annuals or potentially tender perennials. Coming from warmer climates, they are not as reliant on cold and wet winter weather to germinate in spring. But the method I show in the video works very well for hardy plants in particular.
Hope that helps, and just let me know if I’ve misunderstood the question.
Joe
Hi Joe
Great videos very informative on doing things ‘properly’ as I do cut corners.
Can you please tell me where I can buy the compost you use.
Thank you
Hi Val,
Thanks so much for your comment. I’m really glad the video was helpful.
I know you’re local so I can tell you exactly where I buy my “Melcourt SylvaGrow Multipurpose 100% Peat Free” (a long name but I type it in full as they have a few products with similar names and not all are as good as this one).
I buy it from Wingham Country Market. It’s currently £9 per 40L bag or 2x for £17.
I know that Blue Diamond in Chartham also sell it.
Hope that helps 🙂
Best wishes,
Joe