It’s that time! The start of the growing season. To those of you who have never started your own garden plants from seed, it might seem a bit early to be talking gardening, but if you want to start from seed, now is the time to do it.
The advantage of starting your own plants from seed is that there is a wider variety of plants to choose from. When you buy plants from a local nursery, you will probably be limited to a couple types of marigolds or maybe one type of Roma tomato. But there are many varieties out there to experiment with and by buying the seeds from a favorite seed company you will be able to try less common types and decide on your own favorite.
If it is important to you also to grow in an organic fashion, starting your own seeds is one of the best ways to be sure the plants you raise are grown without chemicals.
There are really only four things you need to know about to grow your own plants from seed; soil, heat, water, and light.
When you start you seeds, you want to use a sterile soil medium. This prevents the seeds from contacting some fungus or virus that will destroy them before they even have a chance. You can simply buy a sterile seed starting medium or you can mix up your own. Simply mix one part sphagnum and one part vermiculite or one part sphagnum, one part vermiculite and one part perlite. To add a special boost to your mix, also mix in a tablespoon of bonemeal to each gallon of soil.
HEAT
Most all seeds will show better and quicker germination if kept warm. Read the seed package for specifics, but most seeds prefer a soil temperature of 70-80 degrees F.
The best way to provide this warmth, is from the bottom, but there are many ways to achieve this. My personal favorite is a electric heat mat that is designed specifically for this use. You can find them in most garden supply and seed catalogs. But other methods include heating cables that are buried into the soil or simply setting the pots on top of the water heater or refrigerator.
WATER
All seeds need water to germinate, but too much water will result in a common disease called damping off. A good way to supply your seeds and seedlings with the moisture they need but prevent disease is to supply the water, again, from the bottom. Set your pots in an inch or two of water and let them soak up what they want for about 15 minutes. Then remove the pot from the water. This will help stop soggy soil and prevent young seedlings from getting moisture on them which can promote fungus disease. Good air circulation also helps prevent damping off.
LIGHT
With most seeds, you don’t need to worry about a light source until their little green heads push through the soil. However, there are some seeds, such as impatients, that require light to germinate. Again read your seed package for directions. If it states your seeds require light to germinate, only press the seed lightly into the top of the soil without covering and place the pot in a well-lighted area.
While a sunny window may work for a short time, I think you will find that such light will encourage your plants to become leggy as they reach up for the light source. A better method is to use a shop light with either regular flouresant bulbs or perhaps a grow light placed no more than 4 inches above the plant. This will mean that you will need a way to adjust the height on a regular basis as the plants grow. I hang my lights with chains so I can easily raise and lower them as needed.
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