Seed Starting
There’s no place more wonderful than a farm in springtime! It is a time of awakenings and births and joy. We’ve finally survived the long winter! After months of dreaming and planning, we can finally start doing! One of the countless seasonal tasks to be done is seed starting.
First, you need seeds (of course)! From your local hardware and home improvement stores to online shops of all sizes, find yourself some seeds. Heirloom varieties are always fun and have stood the test of time. Second, you need seed starting medium. The simplest way is to purchase a ready-made mix. Third, you need planting containers. This can be anything from planting trays to peat pots to up-cycled food containers to cups of egg shells.
With supplies acquired, it’s time to plant! Fill the container with dirt and add the seeds. Water them well. Some people prefer to pre-moisten the soil, then add the seeds. Seed germination can be highly variable, depending on the plant. Eventually you’ll see sprouts, then seed leaves, then true leaves. The true leaves look like the leaves of a mature plant. When the true leaves appear, it’s time to move the seedlings out of small containers and into big containers! They’ll be needing more room (and soil) to grow. It’s a great time to add some potting mix or other soil, if you started with seed starting mix.
As the seedlings grow, they need lots of sunlight. You can use a sunny windowsill or a grow light. The seedlings also need consistently moist soil. Seedlings growing indoors greatly benefit from having a light breeze from a fan! The still indoor air and lack of rain leads to very leggy, weak plants that can’t stand up to the elements when planted outside. A fan breeze will create stronger, thicker stems.
Summer vegetables started indoors need to be “hardened off” before transplanting outside. Leaving the trays of plants outside in nice weather is the simplest option. The plants will slowly adjust to the wind, rain, and increased sunshine. After all danger of frost and some days outside to adjust, they’re ready to transplant in the garden!
When do you start seeds? For us near Uhrichsville, the last official frost date is around Memorial Day. Tomato seeds need started 6 to 8 weeks before that frost date, which means late March to mid-April. Reference your seed packet for suggested planting dates. Cold-hardy vegetables such as peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, etc, can tolerate a light frost and are best planted directly outside during those warming March and April days. Happy gardening!
-Laura Gray
Flowers from Ivy Rose Flowers, a Uhrichsville Farmers Market Vendor.