Seed Starting

With a little planning, you can get an early jump on the planting season by starting seeds indoors. The back of most seed packets will provide general information on how long the seed will take to germinate and how long to grow indoors before transplanting to your garden. Check to make sure you can provide the basic requirements of warmth, light, and water before you start your project.

Choosing the right containers for your seedlings is easy as long as they are clean and have good drainage. Plastic seed starting trays are ready to use and may come with a clear dome that acts as a miniature greenhouse to hold in moisture.

Peat Pots are another option and can be planted directly in the ground when the time comes. Jiffy 7 Peat Pellets are water expandable peat pots that have the planting medium already inside.

The seed starting soil is extremely important. Choose a light, spongy mixture that is well drained such as Pro-Mix Potting & Seeding Mix. Use a sterile mix, not one that has been used over and over again, to minimize disease problems. Wet the seeding medium and allow it to drain before sowing the seeds into it.

Sow two or three seeds at the appropriate depth in each individual container. Seeds generally need a soil temperature between 65-75 degrees to germinate. If this is a problem consider using a seed heating mat. Keep soil evenly moist with a gentle watering, making sure

not to dislodge the seeds. When seedlings emerge remove any plastic dome or cover so it doesn’t get too hot and injure the plants.

After the seedlings begin to form true leaves (usually the second set of leaves to emerge) pinch off the smallest seedlings, leaving only the most vigorous plant in each container.

As soon as the true leaves develop, it is essential to have a good source of light. This may be as simple as a sunny window or preferably a grow light fixture. Grow lights are available in fluorescent tubes and spotlight bulbs. Seedlings need 10-12 hours of good light to become sturdy plants. Anything less may result in a weak and leggy plant.

Begin fertilizing seedlings with a water-soluble plant food at half strength.
Provide weekly feedings until the seedlings have been transplanted outside.

If seedlings have outgrown their pots before the weather permits planting outside, consider gently transplanting them to slightly larger pots.

Do not transplant seedlings to the garden before being hardened-off. This is the process of acclimating plants to the different temperature, light and humidity of the outdoors. First begin by placing the plants outside in a shaded area for a couple hours. After a few days of this, increase the time spent outside and offer some morning or evening sun. This process helps insure an easy transition from inside to out for your seedlings. Now you are ready to plant your garden.

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