Timing
Timing is critical for growing good transplants. Check charts and “count back” to establish a seeding date. For example frost tolerant plants may be set into the garden in our area in the first part of April . Susceptible plants shouldn't be planted until June unless protection is provided.
Planting mix
The best soil for starting seeds is loose, well drained, fine-textured and low in nutrients. To prepare a soil having these properties blend equal parts, sand, vermiculite or perlite, and peat moss. For small gardens just buy a seed starting mix.
If you use soil from your garden to start seeds it must be sterilized to prevent fungal diseases. Place dirt in shallow pan and bake 175 degrees for 30-45 min. This makes your house stink so if you can – just buy soil parts!
Preparing to plant
Fill containers with moistened soil mix.
Container choices:
*Label your plants because you will forget!!!
If you recycle flats or pots or containers – clean them well. Soak pots
in water and scrub them well to remove dirt and fertilizer crust. Sterilize them by soaking in a solution of one part chlorine bleach and 10 parts water. Allow to dry thoroughly before filling them with soil.
After planting, cover with plastic wrap or plastic lid. Set them where they can be kept between 75 and 80 degreed unless otherwise specified. The containers need no further water until after the seeds have germinated. * Do not place them in sunlight you will bake your seedlings and kill them
Can use seedling mats placed on top of a water heater or use a space heater to warm one room in your house.
Once the seeds germinate and pop up you must remove the plastic.
Peat pots or Jiffy 7's are useful for cucumbers, and melons. Those plants transplant poorly if roots are damaged. Read instructions and plant 2 or 3 seeds to each pellet and cover with plastic as above.
Raising Seedlings
As soon as the seeds germinate, remove plastic sheeting and place seedlings in the light.
Placing containers in a window sill is usually unsatisfactory. The light only comes from one direction and if you have too many cloudy days your seedlings won't mature into strong plants.
For best results grow seedlings under closely controlled lighting conditions. Florescent light on a timer placed right above seedlings is adequate 2 inches above foliage. Turn lights off at night plants need to rest too. Do not buy expensive plant lights. A shop florescent light works just fine. Keep it close to foliage.
After initial germination expose seedlings to lower temperature 55 at night and 65-70 in the day for husky development. Spindly plants are caused by too little light, high temperatures, and lack of fertility.
Watering and fertilizing
After the plastic is removed, the new plants must be watered frequently and they must be fertilized. You can do both at once by using a solution made by mixing one tablespoon of soluble fertilizer in one gallon of water or use ½ strength. Water carefully and do not wash out seedlings. When they are small use a mister or spray bottle to apply solution in fine mist.
Make sure the soil can drain do not let seedling sit in water.
Transplanting
When seeds develop 2 true leaves thin into individual pots or cell flats.
Using a knife or spatula dig deeply under the seedlings in the container and lift out a group of plants all at once. Let the group of seedlings fall apart and pick out individual plants. Handle them only by the leaves do not pinch the stem, do not touch the root.
Poke a hole in your cell with a sharped pencil deep enough to allow the root to be vertical in the cell then press the soil around the baby roots. No air pockets as this will dry out the root and kill the seedling.
Continue watering and fertilizing until time for transplanting.
Hardening Off
About 10 days before transplanting in the garden, gradually expose plants to cooler temperatures and slightly less water. Protect plants from freezing and wind.
I like to start with a few hours a day outside and increase it. Then make a triangle frame using PVC and plastic to cover at night ( if there is wind tie down your frame.)
A stocky transplant with dark green color should be the final product. The day before transplanting: water with a full-strength water soluble fertilizer. When plants are set in the garden, water with the same fertilizer mix.
Damping off
If your seeds rot or seedlings collapse and die you probably have contracted a fungal disease known as damping off. To prevent damping off, use sterile soil and containers. You can also treat the seeds with a powdered fungicide. Coat seeds before planting and read instructions. If damping off appears in your seedlings despite precautions, throw away seedlings, soil and containers then start over.
Using the seed germination table
Light requirements for seeds vary. Some seeds require light to germinate while others require total darkness. Those seeds needing a light requirement to germinate can be sown directly on top of the soil and kept moist. Those that do not require light are covered with soil so that light does not penetrate. Temperatures also vary for good germination.
The following germination groups are based on the seeds' environmental requirement for maximum germination. This does not mean that seeds will not germinate under different conditions from those indicated but that germination is best under these conditions.
The number of days to germinate indicates the approximate number of days required for proper germination. Time may be lengthened or shortened depending on watering practices and soil/air temperatures.
Total crop time indicates the number of weeks needed to obtain a plant suitable for transplanting into the home grounds when grown at 60 degrees.
Comments
This lets you know how much light the seedlings need to thrive and other helpful info.
Seed Saving
Seeds are living hibernating embryos. They have a lifespan and survive longest if kept cool, dark and dry.
Self-pollinating flowers Some flowers on plants have both male and female parts. These types of plants often self-pollinate before the flower even opens (the flower getting bumped or blown in the wind and the pollen falling on the stigma.) Others open and need insects to help fully pollinate.
Monoecious other plants like squash and melons have separate male and female flowers and to ensure a true pollination it is recommended to hand pollinate these for purity. Otherwise our little bee friends will give you a surprise and you will have cross-pollinated offspring
Dioecious some plants only produce male flowers or female flowers (like spinach) and need the companion plant to pollinate properly
Root to seed some root veggies like carrots and beets are harvested or mulched then covered in the garden in the fall and replanted in the spring. The root will produce flowers and seeds in the second year.
Hybrid Seeds come from pollination between genetically distinct or different parents. Hybrid seeds can be very beneficial in a garden as they often are more disease resistant and more prolific. The disadvantage of hybrid seeds can be complete sterility so that they will not produce offspring.
In a survival situation, I would save my seeds from hybrids and plant them because if something does grow it will be edible.
Open-pollinated variety or Heirloom seeds
These are seeds that are not hybrid and result from pollination between the same or genetically similar parents. If you want to save your seeds you need to start with this type of seed. They are usually labeled heirloom seeds in the catalogs.
If you know you want to save certain seeds read the info before you plant because some plants need to be really far away from your other plant varieties to keep the seeds pure.
How do I identify male and female flowers?
Always gather seeds from the fruit that has the qualities you want. Remember you are playing genetic engineer and you can even develop strains of plants with the qualities you want them to have, Bigger fruit, shorter development season, fruit color, flavor. I have a great uncle who even creates his own flowers and names them after his sisters. When you get comfortable the ideas start flowing!
A great resource for short growing season plants or high-altitude gardening is www.seedstrust.org they are great to work with and you can download the complete book on seed saving off their web site. There is a vegetable section and a wild flower section. Ever wanted to have Indian paint brush in your flower garden? Well it's in there.
