If you want to be sure that your seeds are truly organic or you want to have your seeds ready by the time planting season comes, you can start your seeds indoors. For some people, it’s more motivational and satisfying to watch your plants grow from the seeds you planted.
You can start your seeds between four and eight weeks of the average date of a killing frost in your particular area. You can check the seed packages to find out for sure. If you start your seeds too early, this could result in spindly and weak plants.
You can just about any type of container as long as there are drainage holes in it. Styrofoam cups, tin cans, ice cube trays, milk cartons and pots are some of the more common types of containers that people use. You can buy trays and pots to start plants in at any garden supply center.
Always make sure that the soil is rich and that it drains well. You can buy potting soil for house plants to start your seeds in since these don’t have any kind of weed seeds in them. The only problem with this soil is that it is more expensive than making your own. If you do use soil from your yard, make sure that it does not contain a lot of clay.
You can find the best soil around older trees and shrubs. Add some sharp sand and sphagnum peat to a ratio of 1/d of each. Mix thoroughly.
If you buy soil and it has weed seeds in it, fill cookie sheets or baking pans and place into a 250 degree oven for 45 minutes. This will also eliminate any damaging fungi that might be in the soil. Make sure the soil is moist for best results.
After cooling the soil, fill the containers firmly but don’t pack. Fill the container to 3/4 of an inch from the top. Place the seeds directly on top of the soil. Using an old flour sifter or screen, sift soil on top of the seeds and cover to the depth that are on seed packet instructions.
If you use trays that have compartments in them or peat post, put two or three seeds in each compartment or pot. It’s important that you don’t cover it too deep or you could prevent the seed from germinating.
So you don’t wash the seed away, spray a fine mist so they float to the surface of the soil. After covering the trays with panes of glass or plastic sheets, put the seeds in a 60 to 65 degree room that doesn’t get direct sunlight. You won’t have to water the plants again until they germinate if you follow these directions. You should still monitor it closely so that it doesn’t dry out completely. Depending on the plant, it could take anywhere from a couple days to 8 weeks.
Once the seeds start germinating, gradually move them into the brighter light. Usually over two or three days. After the first true leaves develop, which are above the “seed leaves,” thin down to one plant for each container or compartment. Instead of pulling them by hand, use a pair of tweezers to pinch off the seedlings you don’t want so that you don’t disturb the seedling you want to grow.
If you planted your seeds in large containers, you can either transplant each seedling into its own container or just keep them in the large container but thin them out. Leaving them in a large container would not be the most efficient way to use your space.
Be careful when watering your seeds. It has to be just right. Too much water and you could kill the plant and not enough water, the soil dries out quickly.
Approximately one week before planting the seedlings in your garden, take them outside to expose them to the outdoors. Don’t take them outside if the temperature is below 50 degrees. Reduce how much you water too. Keep it to a minimum but don’t let the plants wilt. This prevents the plant from being shocked when it’s time to plant.
Carefully pull the seedling from its container. Be sure you are keeping the roots intact. Dig a small hole and gently place the seedling into it. The roots should be covered entirely and soil should be up to the bottom of the leaves. Pack the soil and then water. You now need to tend the garden and keep the weeds out. Very soon, you’ll be harvesting delicious and healthy veggies that you started from a little bitty seed.
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