Avant Gardener: The calendar says it's seed-starting time

  • By Kyle Valentini
  • February 21, 2012
  • 350
                        
Summary: It is time to prepare for the first spring seed-starting duties. Break out the flats and lower the shop light so seeds get off to a good start. It won’t be long before they will be headed to the garden where they will flourish to provide you with four seasons of food. The peculiar weather that might include sideways rain, giant snowflakes and balmy temperatures in a 24 hour period is doing nothing to remind us that seed-starting time has arrived. The wall calendar, however, confirms we are mere weeks away from the time to start a few flats of seeds. I always say I am going to start more plants from seeds each year but it takes up space that I don’t have and usually results in failure perpetrated by the feline residents of the house. Fortunately supply and demand has created a bigger market for a broader variety of plant starts and you can find some decent options at many family-owned nurseries and garden centers if you don’t want to start any plants from seeds. There is something to be said about seeing the first hint of green emerging from the soil as it reaches instinctively for the light of the spring sun, or in the case of the indoor seed-starting operation, the cool white light of a florescent tube. Seeds don’t need fancy grow lights to sprout. A typical florescent tube light from the hardware store, hung as close to the seedlings as possible without touching them make for ideal conditions for seed-starting. Young seedlings will prefer about 16 hours of light a day as they are becoming established. The soil or in some cases, soilless seed-starting medium you choose is important. Soil is heavy and even heavier when it contains organic matter and moisture. When starting seeds indoors choose a soilless mix that is specific to the task. Make sure your seed-starting medium is pasteurized to prevent damping-off and other fungal conditions from killing young seedlings. Seeds like warmth. If your house is on the cool side consider buying a heating pad to place under the seed tray. Plant heating pads are available but you could just as well use one from a pet store used to keep amphibious pet habitats at the proper temperature. Once seeds have sprouted the use of a heating pad is no longer required and will only dry out the soil, or in this case, the soilless seed-starting medium. Seedlings, surprisingly like cooler temperatures. Keeping them in a well-ventilated area with temperatures ranging 55-70 degrees will produce compact bushy plants that will do well once planted in the garden after a period of hardening off. Seeds like water. Too much water can be as bad as too little water. Water can disrupt tiny seed that have yet to set roots. Water from below for the best results. This can also help prevent common fungal issues from developing. Everything the seed needs to sprout and develop the first set of true leaves is contained within the seed itself. Once those first true leaves have developed the plant will need vital nutrients that cannot be found in a soilless seed-starting medium. You can supplement the plant with a liquid organic fertilizer such as compost or manure tea until it is time for the plant to enter the garden. Not all seeds need to be planted at the same time. The little charts on the back of seed packets will, in most cases tell you exactly when to start your seeds. If you are unsure there are numerous reliable resources at your library, online or by calling an extension office.


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