Raising annuals indoors From Bedding Plants Choosing pots and trays For most gardeners it is extremely wasteful to sow seed in seed trays unless very large numbers of plants are needed. Do you really want to raise 500 antirrhinums? Plastic pots 3in (8cm) or 4in (10cm) across, preferably square ones, will enable you to raise all you need while being as economical of space as possible; if you do need an especially large number of some plants, sow in two or three pots. For the later stages of growth I also prefer square pots, as these not only provide the flexibility to fill every inch of space without the awkward wasteful gaps sometimes left by the seed trays, but offer individual plants more root room, so that they suffer less disturbance when planted out. I tend to grow small quantities of a large range of plants, but if you prefer to raise large numbers of relatively few genera, pricking out into trays is probably more sensible. If you use trays, the extra root room provided by deep trays is invaluable; the plants will be of better quality, while the extra compost gives them a larger water reserve, invaluable if you go away for the weekend and the weather turns hot. Although such trays are more expensive, they are usually made of stouter materials so last longer. Recently, I have found propagating trays a very useful alternative. These plastic trays are divided into small cells, each of which accommodates one young plant. Seed is sown individually or in pinches in the small-sized cells and then each plug of compost with its germinated seedlings is moved to a larger cell or pot with no root disturbance. This minimizes root damage and prevents setbacks in growth. The advantages of a greenhouse Raising plants on a windowsill Using a propagator or heated mat Compost/Potting soil Seed sowing technique After sowing the seed Pricking out the seedlings Looking after seedlings Planting out   Raising annuals indoors Annual Manual ©copyright 1999 Graham Rice. All Rights Reserved. All Images Digitally Watermarked.