News For This Month: Seeds
Handy Tips for Plant Seeding Success
A good way to start gardening as the season sets in is growing plants from seed. Provided you have the right light and some basic tools, growing from seed to harvest is easy. Here are more specific tips to guide you:Below are specific pointers that can be helpful:Here are specific tips to guide you through:
Pick the right containers.
You can start seeds in nearly all kinds of containers that are at least two to three inches deep and have drainage holes. For DIY enthusiasts, those milk cartons, plastic cups and paper cups can do the job. Of course, the convenience of seeding trays is still undeniable. These trays are easy to fill, the watering system make sure moisture is always there, and you can move them without trouble.
Invest in preparing your potting soil.
Go for potting soil specifically made for growing seeds, and your starting mix should be fresh and sterile so as to maintain healthy, disease-free seeds. The mix should be moistened with water before being placed in the containers. Also see to it that the soil is packed firmly and there are no gaps. Keep in mind that most mixes hardly contain nutrients, so feed the seedlings with liquid fertilizer in the weeks following germination, and don’t stop until you have moved them into the garden.
Begin planting.
Read the seed’s label to know the required depth for planting. Some of the tiny ones could be sprinkled all over the soil surface. The bigger the seeds, the more they need to be buried. For the seeds to be accommodated, each pot should have divots. Go back and cover the seeds after dropping them in the divots, and then moisten those seeds gently with water. To hasten germination, keep everything moist by covering the pots entirely with plastic wrap or dome. As soon as you see anything green, take off the cover.
Water and feed consistently.
Use a small watering can to moisten the soil without making it soggy. The soil should be left to dry slightly in between waterings. Set up a fan so there is good air movement and disease can be prevented. A good idea is to plug the fan into the same timer as your grow lights. And remember to feed the seedlings with liquid fertilizer (should be mixed at the manufacturer-recommended rate) on a consistent basis.
Let there be lots of light!Have lots of light!Let there be abundant light!
We all know the golden rule: for a plant to grow, there should be light. Remember photosynthesis?Does photosynthesis ring a bell?Remember photosynthesis? But note that seedlings need darkness too. Set your light timer for 15 hours per day.
Gradually move the seeds outdoors.
Finally, after a few weeks, those seedlings will need to harden off, and this is done by moving them gradually to the outdoors. The keyword is gradually. Just like people, they need time to get used to a new environment.