Time To Start Seeds

It’s early April, so it’s time to get the garden going. While there are only a handful of plants I can place in the ground now, I can start many of my summer crops inside from seed.

Many gardeners prefer the ease of going to the nearby garden center and picking up cell packs of vegetable plants, but I would rather start my plants from seed. It gives me the opportunity to try interesting varieties that I would never be able to find at my local nursery and I love seeing the whole life cycle of a plant, from germination of a seed, through growth of the plant, formation of the flower, and development of the fruit. Of course then I get to eat what I’ve grown!

When we first moved into our house almost 10 years ago, I set up my basement so that I could start many of my plants from seed. I made some simple tables (with the help of my son) from old plywood and 2 x 4s left over from a renovation, and I purchased simple fluorescent lights for about $20 bucks a pop. While now I read about the benefits of using full spectrum LEDs, I still rely on my lights, which have served me well for years.

I save old cell packs, yogurt containers, and small flower pots so I can use them to get my plants going. They require cleaning once a year – a good soak in water mixed with a little bleach.

I’ve developed a schedule of when to start all of the different types of vegetables that I grow. Usually I plant my seeds six to eight weeks before I transfer them to the garden. While my peppers and eggplants have been growing for a few weeks now, this past week I started basil, Thai basil, six varieties of tomatoes, and four types of winter squash. Next week I’ll plant tomatillo and zucchini seeds. The cabbage, kale, leeks, and parsley that I started in late January are now ready to go out into the garden, after a week of acclimation or getting adjusted to the full sun.

With a little space and the right lighting, it is quite easy growing plants from seeds. There are only a few rules I recommend following to get started.

1. Use seed-starting soil made specifically to germinate seeds. It provides the right consistency, is disease free, and contains nutrients that newly-germinated plants will need. Make sure to fully moisten the soil before you put it in pots or cell packs and plant the seeds. I wet the soil in 3-inch deep plastic containers that can be purchased at any hardware or general merchandise store.

   

2. Do not start seeds too early. You don’t want them to grow too tall or “leggy,” and starting them too early may result in just that. Different plants go into the garden at different times, so make sure to start seeds accordingly.
3. Give your newly-sprouted plants enough light by keeping it only a few inches above the level of the plants. They will grow toward the light and if it is too far away, they will get “leggy.” Make sure to rotate them, if necessary, so they grow straight up. I use cheap timers to give my plants about 15 hours of light a day.
4. Give them enough water – but not too much. Every few days is fine. Allow them to almost dry out between watering, that way the roots will not rot.

   

5. Transplant to a larger container if necessary, especially if it’s going to be a while before they go out into the garden. Yellowing leaves usually indicate a nutrient deficiency, and this can sometimes be solved by transplanting and adding some new soil. Otherwise they may need a little nutrient boost.
6. Harden off the plants. That means acclimating them to the outdoors and full sunlight over the course of at least a full week. There’s nothing worse than spending weeks growing plants, only to have them burn in the sun. Take advantage of a couple of cloudy days and the shade of a tree, and if you have to put them in full sun, start with only an hour on the first day, and increase their exposure slowly over the course of the week. Don’t forget to bring them inside if the temperature is supposed to fall at night.

Starting your own plants from seed is exciting and rewarding. Even if your garden is small or you’re growing a few plants in pots, it is a great way to welcome spring – and the rewards make the extra effort worth it!

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