Kate, have you ever tried winter sowing? I think that would be a
really good article for this section next week. Winter sowing makes
starting spring seedlings so easy! I hope you will look into it!
In My Garden Blog
Northern & Central Midwest
February 1, 2007
By
Kate Jerome,
Pleasant Prairie, WI
Does this luscious lettuce tempt you to start seeds now for early spring?
Start Those Seeds!
Are you as eager as I am to start seeds for the spring garden? This is a good time to review what seeds need to germinate and grow successfully. The two most important considerations for growing successful transplants are viable or fresh seeds and an appropriate environment for germination and growth.
Checking Seeds
Seed viability is fairly easy to determine. If you are purchasing new seeds, simply check the "packed for" date to be sure they're fresh. If you're using old seeds, germinate a few in a damp paper towel for about 10 days to see whether it's worth your time to use them. If few germinate, it's time to buy new seeds.
Treat Them Right
Once you know your seeds are good, get the growing environment ready. A seed's first step in germination is to take in water. You have to provide the moisture for this to happen. The water fills the cells, the seed goes through physical and chemical changes that start embryo growth, and the root and shoot emerge.
Sprinkle your seeds on moist, sterile seed-starting mix and then monitor the soil to keep the moisture levels fairly even while the seeds begin to germinate. The seeds will die if the soil is allowed to dry out during the germination process, and soil that is too wet may cause disease problems. Wet soil also prevents the newly emerged root from getting the soil oxygen it needs for growth.
Use sterile potting mix to prevent diseases. The worst problem with germinating seeds and growing seedlings is a fungal disease called damping off. This occurs with dirty pots or potting mix that isn't sterile. My favorite insurance is to cover germinating seeds with a light covering of milled sphagnum moss (found at the garden center), which has natural fungicidal qualities.
The depth at which you plant your seeds can affect germination. If you plant a seed too deeply, it will be inhibited from growing. If not planted deeply enough, the seed will dry out. A general rule is to plant seeds at a depth that's twice their diameter. So, you can see that very small seeds should be planted almost on top of the soil.
Some seeds need light to germinate and should be placed right on top of the soil without any covering. Most vegetable seeds need some covering, though.
Once your seeds are planted and lightly covered with soil or sphagnum moss, you should cover the flat or pots with glass or plastic covers. This also helps regulate the moisture and keep them from drying out.
Now you must monitor temperature. Most seeds need temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees for germination although some of the cool-season plants (lettuce, spinach, and many other greens) like it cooler. In order to warm up the seeds, you can use a heating cable beneath the seed flat.
If you germinate your seeds in a spot without light, such as on top of the refrigerator, you need to watch carefully for the first sign of germination. As soon as you see that first little seedling poking its head above the soil, remove the cover and move the plants into light.From there on, they need as much light as possible to grow sturdy and strong.
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Comments on Start Those Seeds!
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We welcome your questions and comments about this column. If you have gardening questions unrelated to the column, please ask them on our message boards.
Martha / Ohio
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CHRIS
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Is it recommended to start corn inside or better to start directly
in the garden? what seeds are recommended to begin indoors? thanks!
Kate Jerome
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Hi, Martha - yes, you are right that winter sowing is a great thing
to give you a start on the garden. I've had great luck with spinach
and lettuce and would like to try more. I can't get it in for next
week - deadline's come and gone, but I'll certainly address it in
another column.
Thanks!
Kate
Kate Jerome
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Hi, Chris --
Corn is best started outdoors when the soil is plenty warm. It
doesn't transplant well and will be set back enough to get a really
slow start if you start it indoors. The usual seeds to start indoors
are the cold weather crops such as broccoli, cabbage, onions,
lettuce and all other types of greens. Also, warm season crops such
as eggplant, tomato and peppers are easily started indoors, and then
they will be ready to put out when the weather and soil have warmed.
Good luck!
Kate
Sandy Jones
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I live in Denver (zip 80220) and would like to know if you feel it
is better to start California and Icelandic poppy seed inside as
opposed to direct (soil in garden) planting. Thanks for any advice
you have to offer, as these are some of my favorite flowers and I
have quite a few seed to "start" soon.
Kate
Hi, Sandy -
Both types of poppies can do well when started outdoors or indoors.
Indoors assures that you have reasonably sturdy plants to set out,
but you must care for them until they are ready to tolerate
transplanting. If you start them outdoors, nature does the care for
you, but you risk not having as many of them take well. It just
depends on what your capabilities and time are. I've even had luck
doing winter sowing with poppies - tossing them out on the snow. Of
course, then you don't know exactly how many you will get. Good
luck!