Seed Starting for Beginners

There is so much interest in growing your own food these days that

many people are starting their own gardens from seed. Soil, light,

air, temperature, moisture and timing together provide the right

conditions for success in starting your own seeds. Unless you have a

heated greenhouse do not start your seeds as a beginner before April

1st.

While some make their potting soil, it is far easier to purchase

seed starting mix (not potting soil) from area garden suppliers. Be

sure your flats and pots have been washed in hot soapy water with a

dollop of bleach to prevent introducing diseases to you new seedlings.

Lighting is crucial. Plants need light from all sides and top of the

plants. Grow lights for 12-16 hours per day are recommended and they

must be 1-2 inches from the tops of the plants for them to have full

advantage of the lights and from getting too leggy which results in

weak stems. Some brands of lights are sold as “grow lights,”

designed to provide light in specific ranges required by plants, but

standard fixtures with two “cool white” fluorescent tubes per

fixture also give plants adequate light and are inexpensive.

Interestingly, plants become hardier when exposed to moving air by

strengthening their stems. Try a fan by them so they can catch a breeze.

Indoor starts need to have warm bottoms and air temperature of above

60 degrees. A windowsill is not a good location for starting seeds.

Window sills can be the coldest place in the house, especially at

night, and then the hottest during the day. A space that can house

grow lights and can be temperature controlled is best. There are

electric seed stating flats available from garden suppliers locally

or on-line.

Please check your seed packages to determine the optimal temperature

that plant germinates. For example; broccoli germinates at 60-75

degrees and tomatoes germinate at 70-80. All seeds do not have the

same germination temperatures nor the same planting depth. Always a

good idea to read instructions, right?

Even watering is important. Before planting your seeds in the

flats, water the flat thoroughly then wait for a day or two until it

dries out a bit. Soil should not be wet. Then keep the soil evenly

moist, watering only when necessary. These tender seedlings are

susceptible to a fungus called damping off disease. This is caused by

wet soil and cool temperatures. One day you will see all your little

seedlings drop over. If you look closely the stems at soil level,

they will look like they have been choked. Peat in the soil has

natural fungicidal properties and therefore is perfect for seed

starting.

Generally, starting seeds eight weeks before planting is prudent.

Placing tender plants in the garden before June 10th is not a good

idea although I do this and have suffered the consequences.

Temperatures get low, close to freezing and these plants get set

back. I am talking about plants started from seed indoors. If the

package says the seeds will be fully ripe in 90 days that means from

the time you put plants outside in the ground, not from the time you

start the seed indoors. Good luck.