March Article for the Cameron Chronicle

 

Hello Friends,

Here is my latest article for the Cameron Chronicle..  

"The Little Paper With Personality."

Seed Starting 101

 

Seed Starting 101

By Carla TePaske of Cameron WI ~ The Little Garden That Could

There is nothing more rewarding than starting your own seeds. The thought of that little seed, growing into a seedling, planting it out in the garden and later harvesting from it, truly is a rewarding feeling.

I will be sharing a few tips for a successful seed starting season.

You will need seed trays, leak-proof bottom flats that support the trays, seed starting mix, clear dome lids or plastic wrap and a sunny window.

Step 1. Moisten your seed starting mix until it is thoroughly damp but not dripping wet.

Step 2. Fill seed trays or pots to the top with soil. Tap them as you fill so that the soil settles and there are no air pockets.

Step 3. Label the tray or pot with the name of the variety you plan to sow and the date planted.

Step 4. Make a shallow hole in each cell using a pencil or chopstick. A general rule is to plant the seed twice as deep as its longest side.

Step 5. Drop 1 seed into your hole.

Step 6. Cover newly sown seeds with a dusting of seed starting mix. Be careful not to bury the seeds too deep. Lightly mist the soil.

Step 7. Set in a sunny window and cover the trays with a clear dome or plastic wrap.

Step 8. Check seedlings daily and water as the soil appears dry, which can be every day or two. When the soil starts to become dry, add water to the bottom of the leak-proof tray, the seedlings will soak up the water from below.

Step 9. Check the trays daily. Once 50% to 75% of the seeds have sprouted, remove the domes or plastic wrap.

Step 10. Check seedlings daily for water. Seedlings can dry out very quickly in a warm sunny window.

Step 11. If seedlings begin to outgrow their trays/pots before you are ready to plant them outside, repot them into larger containers.

Step 12. It is important to harden off young plants before putting them out into the garden. Your plants can be shocked by the sudden change of temperature. To harden off, set trays in a sheltered spot outside, increase the amount of time they are out each day, starting with 2 to 3 hours, then increasing the time outside slowly over the course of a week or two.