Following just a few simple rules, you will get a great set of plants to jump start the gardening year.
It is getting toward the end of winter and according to the groundhog, spring is just around the corner. Spring equals planting season. Gardeners who need to get their hands dirty before the official start of spring can begin with seeds. By following some basic guidelines for successful seed starting, you will have a great set of plants ready to plant when spring arrives.
- Select the Right Seeds: Seed catalogues are full of wonderful pictures and enthusiastic wording to make you think that you must have every plant. Before you list every single plant in the catalogue though, think carefully about whether they are appropriate for your garden. If you have a cottage garden feel to your garden, then do not look for groundcover material that will take over the garden; if you need a groundcover for a slope, do not look at plants that grow three foot tall and not spread. Also consider if the plants will need sun or shade when they are mature. Plants do much better when they are in the right position.
- The Right Light: All plants need light, even when they are seedlings. For germination you will not always need light, but as soon as the seeds emerge from the soil then you should give them a good source of light. Spindly seedlings are not strong and will not produce healthy plants. For best growth place the light within six inches of the seedlings.
- The Right Timing: Knowing when to sow the seeds is critical to succesful seed starting. Most seed packets will tell you that the seeds can be started indoors a few weeks before the ‘last frost date’. This date is an average for your county and you can ask the County Extension Educator, if you cannot find it online. Many seed packets though will give an approximate date for outdoor planting and hence you can work back from that. In general annuals can be started three to four weeks or so before the last frost date, perennials six to eight weeks. Starting the seed before this time will give you seedlings that grow too big for the pot, and create more problems than you need.
- Protection from Wind: Although the seedlings will benefit from exposure to the elements when they get stronger, it is not a good idea to place tender seedlings straight into spring weather. Winds and raindrops can break the stems. Adjust the seedlings to the outdoors slowly over a matter of days and protect them if violent weather is imminent.
Following these basic steps for successful seed starting, you will be on your way to a great gardening year.
The copyright of the article Seeds - How to be Successful in Plants & Bulbs is owned by Kate Copsey. Permission to republish Seeds - How to be Successful in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
