For many gardeners , the easy way to grow veg and yearly is to start with seedlings . Tomatoes , peppers and mad apple , for good example , develop slowly from seed and often wo n’t mature before the first frost if planted from semen in the garden . Annuals planted from seed seeded outdoors may not flower until late summer , and few of us require to wait so long for heyday .
Nurseries and garden nub extend many choices of vegetable , herb and yearly plant , but once you ’ve earn some gardening experience , you ’ll belike require to start your own . Starting plants from seed indoors is not unmanageable and you ’ll save a lot of money . cum are normally available in a corking variety than seedling , as well , especially if you buy from a catalog or on-line source .
To set out seeds indoors , you ’ll need container , a lightweight pot medium and plenty of lovingness and moisture . Seeds vary in germination and originate time , but plant life most seed six to eight weeks before you desire to implant them out of doors . Stock up on some seeds and let ’s get part !
CC flickr photo courtesy of stevendepolo
Seedstarting Supplies
Although any container will mold , plastic flats with small individual cells shape well for starting germ . Some citizenry prefer peat pots that can be engraft flat in the background . These are more expensive than formative trays , and ca n’t be re - used . However , they work well for crops that do n’t transplant well , such as cucumbers and pumpkins .
Buy a mellow - tone , lightweight seedstarting metier made from a compounding of perlite and vermiculite . You may be tempted to expend ordinary garden dirt , but start up mediums play much better because they are sterile ( so untried seedlings are less likely to encounter plant diseases ) and lightweight ( allowing immediate sprouting ) .
Seedstarting Basics
Once you ’ve get your supplying , occupy the trays with the start medium . Moisten the grunge more or less with a spray nursing bottle filled with water and found the seeds concord to package direction . little seeds may call for only a idle dusting of land to germinate . Plant larger seeds , such as pumpkin seed , ¼ to ½ inch deep .
Spray the start medium again if it is wry to moisten it . nebuliser as involve to keep it evenly moist , but not soggy . If the grease dry out out , the seeds wo n’t germinate ; if it is too wet , the ejaculate may rot . Cover the seed trays with a sheet of credit card wrap and place them in a tender location , such as the top of the icebox or radiator . Most semen germinate best at land temperature between 65 and 85 degree Fahrenheit , although a few , such as spinach or poppies , prefer cool temperatures . Monitor soil moisture day by day .
Remove the plastic wrapper once the seedling egress and set the tray in a sunny localisation . Most seedling favor 10 + 60 minutes of direct sunlight , so if you do n’t have a Confederacy - facing window , look at using grow light to supplement the natural light . irrigate them on a regular basis so the soil does n’t dry out . Plant the seedlings once they resist 2 to 3 inch high and outdoor temperatures are suitable for the finical plants you are growing . Most annuals and vegetable do n’t tolerate rime and should be engraft at least two weeks after the average last frost escort .
For Further Reading about Starting Seeds
University of Missouri – Starting plant Indoors from seed
Johnny ’s Selected Seeds – Interactive Chart for Calculating When to set forth Seeds Indoors
