Seed starting: more details
Starting your vegetables from seed can be a lot of work, no question. And there are plenty of ways it can go wrong.
But the advantages include variety -- infinite variety -- and a sense of accomplishment.
Check out the column for your first steps in starting seeds. Here is some more advice:
The timing on your seed starting depends on the vegetable...and your hardiness zone.
Maryland is in Zone 7, which means, generally speaking, seed starting should begin in mid-February.Calculate the date of last frost in your area of Maryland with the help of this chart, and back out the seed starting from that date.
For example, tomatoes, eggplant and peppers and many of the herbs should be started eight weeks before the date of last frost. The seed packets will help you determine when to start your seeds, too.
Seeds for salad greens - spinaches and lettuces -- can go right into the ground. I start mine here in Annapolis every year on my daughter's birthday: March 16.You might be tempted to start your seeds in a sunny window instead of investing in a hanging fluorescent light and setting up a seed-growing shop in the basement. Don't.
That fluorescent light, adjusted to remain just six inches above the plants, keeps the seedlings short and stocky, not leggy and weak.That light should be on 14-16 hours a day, and you aren't going to get that many hours of sunlight from a window at this time of year. (Buy a timer and save yourself some trouble.)
You might be tempted to use recycled yogurt cups or some such for your seedlings. But the seed-starting kit I talk about in my column, from Gardener's Supply, with its self-watering system is a smart investment.You won't be using potting soil to start your seeds. Purchase special seed starting mix that does not actually contain any soil.
Fill the cells with the starter mix to within an inch or so of the top. Fill the reservoir with water and allow the mix to moisten over night
Press a seed, or two, into each cell. If you are lucky and both seeds germinate, you can simply snip off the weak sister.
Make sure you mark your seedlings, with Popsicle sticks or even plastic spoons or knives, because you won't remember what is planted in with cell!
Comments
This really discourages starting from seed. The lights alone start in the $35 range. Adjusting the height of the light - What? How? I have no idea what the seed starting kit costs but I, for one, think having to track the thing down - not to mention the special seed starting soil - sounds like a collossal pain.
Sorry. If I were a Seedling Seller, I would do whatever it took to be sure that every potential customer read this article & post.
BTW? The chick with the 20,000 seeds started? What the devil is she going to do with 20,000 plants??
It is daunting, Eve. But you can buy the seed starting kits, and just about everything you need, at a lawn and garden center, a hardware store or a big box store. And Susan sells most of those plants! And plants the rest in her fields to sell as cut flowers. -- Susan
Posted by: Eve | January 28, 2010 1:11 PM
if you are looking for more detailed information on USDA plant hardiness zones, there is an interactive USDA plant hardiness zone map at http://www.plantmaps.com/usda_hardiness_zone_map.php which will allow you to locate your USDA zone based on zipcode or city.
Thanks for the link, Peter! --Susan
Posted by: Peter | January 29, 2010 9:13 AM
Can I buy seed propagation soil online? I live in northwest connecticut. I have everything I need except that (or fertilizer). We have cocnut coir, popagation trays, AND tons of great heirloom seeds!
Check out www.gardeners.com -- Susan
Posted by: gillian | February 24, 2010 10:05 AM
The lights alone start in the $35 range. try $15 counting the florescent bulbs.
Posted by: mark feron | February 28, 2010 11:11 PM