Spring is just around the corner here in South Central Texas. The low growing Drummond phlox are already blooming bright red on our county road. The dewberry vines are blooming, the peach tree has blossoms and leaves and the herbs are flourishing.
People at the Farmers' Markets I attend are thrilled with the coming of the new season. They talk to me of their new gardens with such joy and anticipation. It's great to see folks want to grow herbs, flowers and vegetables in their yards. Even if the only space they have is a patio or balcony, there's always room for plants. Aromatic plants, flowering plants or even a pot of tomatoes make any space more inviting.
One of my favorite parts of Spring is planting seeds. I just love to watch them peek out of the soil and start to grow. First come the little cotyledon leaves, with the nutrients that were stored in the seed. Once "true" leaves start to grow out is the time to begin fertilizing lightly so the plant has sufficient nutrients to become a healthy, sturdy seedling.
Lots of people tell me they are either too busy to start their own plants from seed, or afraid they won't be successful. Growing from seed does take some care, but it's not difficult if you follow a few simple rules. Smaller seeds are best started in pots or some sort of container because they can be washed away by Spring rains. Also, if you start seed indoors, you can get a jump on the season and have plants ready to go in the garden when the weather has warmed up and the soil is warm, too.
To grow seeds indoors for outdoor planting, start the seeds 6 - 8 weeks before the average date of your last frost. You can find out your gardening zone and average date of last frost here: http://www.garden.org/zipzone/
Seed packets should have all the information you need to sow the seed such as how deep to plant the seed and whether or not you should cover the seed with the planting medium. Some seeds need light to germinate, mostly smaller perennial flower seed. The majority of seed needs to be covered to germinate. The rule of thumb is the planting depth of the seed should be three times the size of the seed. Smaller seed is therefore planted more shallowly so it can break through to the light more easily.
Planting Mix is important in that you need a light, well-draining mix. Any good nursery will have a potting mix for you. Just ask for a good seed starting mix.
To encourage good germination for your seeds, the planting mix needs to stay moist, but not too wet. If you keep the planting mix too wet, or if the mix doesn't drain well, the seeds can rot before they germinate. If you can keep the soil warm, that will aid germination, too. Most seeds like a soil temperature between 70 - 75 degrees F. for best germination. If you're starting the seeds in your house, the ambient temperature will be enough to keep the soil mix warm. Or, you can put the seed containers on a heating pad set on low. Remember if you're using a heating source, check to make sure the soil mix doesn't dry out. Seeds won't germinate in dry soil.
Once the seedlings have emerged, they will need sufficient light to grow. Many people have trouble at this stage of growing plants from seeds. The seedlings need a light source close enough and strong enough so the plants do not stretch toward the light source and become leggy. A bright window is good so long as you turn the plants occasionally so as they lean toward the light, which they will do, they grow uniformly.
If you are using a grow light or flourescent light, keep the light about 2 inches above the plants. That will allow the plants to grow sturdy stems.
It is very important at the seedling stage not to let the plants dry out. They are delicate for the first week or two. Also, if you have used a heat source to help the seeds germinate, remove the source when the plants have started to grow. Seedlings like a cooler soil.
One problem that can occur at this stage is a disease called Damping Off. This is caused by a fungus that can come from keeping the soil too wet. The symptom of Damping Off is easy to spot. One day the little seedlings look fine, and the next day some are simply toppled over near the soil. If you look closely, you can see a spot on the stem that looks like someone pinched the stem. That is from the fungus.
So, keep the soil moist enough to nurture the seedlings, but not too moist. When the seedlings are about a week old or so, you can start feeding them with about half strength of any good organic fertilizer. The liquid ones are easy to use and measure out. Once every couple of weeks is often enough to keep the plants healthy.
As the weather warms and the plants are strong enough, put them outdoors during the day in a shady spot to "harden off". This allows the plants to gradually become aclimated to the outdoors, fresh air, wind, etc. Bring them back inside at night if the temperature is going to drop.
If you've timed your planting correctly, when the plants are 6 - 8 weeks old it will be time to put your new plants in the garden. What pride you'll feel watching your basil, cucumbers or nasturtiums growing knowing you started them from seed!
I hope this short course in seed starting will encourage you to try and start some of your own plants this year.
Let's Get Growing!
The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself. - Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Until Next Time,
Good Growing to You,
Cindy Meredith, proprietor
The Herb Cottage
442 CR 233
Hallettsville, TX 77964
phone & fax: 979-562-2153
http://theherbcottage.com
http://pubs.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/tcjpp/k04-012.html
More on Damping Off Disease:
Fish Emulsion Stops Damping Off
by Charlie Nardozzi
from the files of The National Gardening Association
The Herb Cottage Seed Selection has an array of easy to start seeds for herbs, flowers and vegetable. I've chosen varieties that will give you good success even if you're a novice seed starter or gardener.
Seeds From The Herb Cottage
Resources and More Information for the March Newsletter