Seed Starting Basics

Material List

• Seed starting trays are excellent for starting vegetable and flowers plants indoors. Use a clear plastic greenhouse dome to keep essential moisture in and maintain temperatures for even germination.
  
  
• Seed starting mix. Mixture should be lightweight, fine in texture, and have a basic nutrient charge to start plants growing quickly.
  
  
• Fresh seeds. Look for the date stamp on the back of every package of seed. It should indicate that the seed has been freshly packed for the current year.
  
  
• Plant markers. Mark each tray with the name of the seeds you planted so you won't forget when it comes time to transplant.

As a general guide, sow flower seeds 8-10 weeks before the outdoor planting date in your area; vegetable seeds require 4-5 weeks of indoor growing before they are ready for the garden.


Step by Step
Before you start: If equipment has been used for gardening before, make sure it is thoroughly cleaned with a solution of 1 part household bleach and 8 parts water. Leave the solution on for 30 minutes then rinse with clear water. That will kill any harmful bacteria living on the equipment. This includes, trays, pots, and tools.

• Fill each individual tray cell with pre-moistened soil, if your tray does not already contain seed starting mix. Run a straight edge across the top of the tray to level the soil off.
   
• Create a small dibble hole in each pot with a pencil.
   
• Drop two seeds in each dibble hole. Germination rates vary from seed to seed, so it's best for new gardeners to be cautious and sow more than you need. If both seeds germinate, the second seedling can be transplanted into a cell of its own.
   
• Lightly cover the seed with mix to twice the thickness of the seed. (Tiny seeds need very little soil covering them).
   
• Water the seeds in with a light spray of water taking care not to disturb the seeds. At this point some gardeners use an all-purpose fungicide to prevent root diseases such as "damping off". Damping off occurs when a fungus which thrives in cool or over watered soil causes the seedlings to turn black at the soil line, collapse and die. It can affect a whole tray of seedlings in one day.
  Always read and follow directions on any chemical.
  
  Seeds need constant moisture and warmth to germinate. Once given moisture you must water frequently enough to maintain a consistently moist (not wet) soil. If you pre-moistened your seed starting mix, the soil should have enough moisture in it until germination. Keep the humidity up and the soil surface moist with a light watering when needed. A spray bottle works well for this purpose. When you spray the seeds the mist will not dislodge the seeds from the soil but it will provide enough moisture for germination. If seeds dry out, they are not apt to grow. A germination temperature of 68-70 degrees is ideal for indoor growing.
  
  Once Your Seeds Have Germinated
  
  Once seeds have germinated, allow plenty of fresh air to circulate over the tray by removing the "greenhouse cover" from your seed starting tray for several hours a day. Maintain a constant temperature, and provide filtered sunlight. If plants are in direct sunlight they may get "sunburned". The rays are just too strong for seedlings. Seeds do not need sunlight before they germinate but it is a necessity after they have sprouted. Place the tray in a sunny window or under a grow light for 12 hours a day. Seedlings may need to be watered as frequently as once a day if they are exposed to very dry heat. Check them every day for moisture. Once the second set of true leaves appear, fertilize with 1/2 strength solution every two weeks.

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