Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Starting Seeds


After a winter of frozen fingers, I’m looking forward to getting my hands dirty again, and the great, gushing Northeast thaw finally seems to be happening.  Most of the materials for starting seeds can be found around the house  - the only thing I needed to buy is  seed starting mix.  Why use seed starting mix instead of potting soil?  It retains water better and is easier for roots to penetrate.  It’s free of weed seeds and fungal spores and has a smoother texture. It usually contains a mixture of peat moss, vermiculite and perlite.

One day I’d like to invest in one of these cool gadgets that Hook Mountain Growers is using to make soil blocks.  For now, I’m using  recycled materials like yogurt cups, nursery flats and pots, poking  a hole for drainage in the yogurt cups.  I always wash recycled pots well to remove traces of fungus, even run them thru the dishwasher on sani-cycle.   

In the past I’ve also used peat pots and paper towel rolls for seed starting.  These pots have the advantage of  having the ability to be planted directly outside without disturbing the seedling roots, so they may be a better option for plants that don’t like to have their roots disturbed, like cucumbers.   However, my schedule doesn’t always allow me to check on my plants every day – especially if they’re in the school greenhouse.  I’ve found that they dry out quickly and didn’t always break down quickly enough once planted for the roots of less aggressive plants to penetrate.  In fact, I’ve extracted these pots completely intact from soil at the end of the summer.  Much depends on the location, irrigation and type of soil. 

Once the seed starting mix is moistened with water and the cups are filled, I use a pencil to create a seed hole, then spray with water. The more delicate the stream of water, the less possibility there is of disturbing the seed.  In the school greenhouse, we also underwater by placing the pots in trays and filling the tray with water.  The water seeps into the bottom of the pot and encourages the roots to grow down seeking the moisture source.

Covering with plastic or a lid of some kind until the seeds sprout is helpful.   I've tried starting the seeds at home near a sunny window and in my closet under flourescent lights, but the greenhouse gets the best results, and I try to move most of my seedlings there once they've sprouted.   The constant temp there of 70-75 is preferred, and air circulation is also helpful in preventing fungal growth. 

Once the seedlings are bigger, they're hardened off by being exposed gradually to lower temps and sun outside. 

So far I’ve started onion, cherry tomato, pepper, sugar snap pea, cleome, cardinal vine, black eyed susan vine, sweet william, sweet pea, and lunaria. 

On Friday, our afterschool enrichment class will be starting seeds in the school greenhouse.  We have 16 students this time, ages K-5th grade.

Are you starting any seeds early this year?


11 comments:

meemsnyc said...

I'm so excited that it's finally March. I'm planning on starting more seeds tomorrow. I've already started celery and onions.

Malay-Kadazan girl said...

good luck with all the seeds. We in southern hemisphere are busy sowing seeds for autumn planting for cool season crop.our main will be many brassica and root vegetable.

tina said...

Starting seeds early, yes indeed. I've been hardening some off and awaiting still others. So great spring is near. I admire your use of recycled items for pots.

Stacey said...

WIll you come start my seeds? I'm trying it this year for the first time. My broccoli was a little leggy (I started them in newspaper pots) and just last week transplanted them to the cold frame.

tut-tut said...

sugar snaps are in; greens going in later this week. We had quite a heavy weather incident last night, so glad we waited. Our local farmers' market has been small but mighty all winter; making the effort to get down there on an (for me) inconvenient Wednesday late afternoon.

tut-tut said...

hey, what's up with Squirrel?

Joanne said...

It's hard to believe that Spring and Summer will EVER arrive in the northeast :/

I don't start my plants from seed, at least not yet. Maybe some day. I buy my seedlings already started from a local farmer, in May. All my veggies come from the same farmer, who has such healthy plants, I'm going to have to double the height of my tomato stakes! Can't wait ...

TALON said...

I just read a weather report warning that our region is going to be having a delayed Spring this year - ugh! - so I haven't started anything yet. But just the thought of having things sprout and be ready to got out into the garden gets me so excited, I know I won't be able to resist much longer.

Skeeter said...

Recycling at its best! I never have luck starting anything from seed. I do think my watering is the issue. I dont care to start seeds inside as it is such an issue with my nibbling In-House only cats. Love those fur babies so they come first :-)

Hook Mountain Growers said...

You've got a great headstart Jen. I'm also starting dianthus and the really picky difficult to germinate herbs like epazote, tulsi and parsley. Peas and favas are also waiting to germinate hopefully in time for the new planting areas.

Patti Lacy said...

Jen, you so inspire me but with my writing/teaching schedule, i am going to have to live vicariously through u.

Blessed be your spring.
P