In
much of the U.S. of A., the only way to utilize the full growing season is to
start your plants from seeds indoors. In regions where the last frost can be as
late as the end of May, and the first frost as early as the onset of October,
a shortened growing season can mean a stunted garden season and a severe limitation
on plants and flowers which would otherwise flourish.
One
solution is to choose plants native to the region for your garden. But a more
workable solution is to cover a large tabletop or counter surface with newspaper
one day in March, obtain some potting soil, seeds, and pots, and give the upcoming
season a booster shot and start early.
Are
you cheating? Maybe. Oh, but who cares!
Here's
a list of all the things to keep in mind and the stuff you'll need:
Location Your best bet is a room with south-facing windows which receive
direct sun for at least 6 hours per day. If you don't have anything like this
in your house, that's okay too. Fluorescent shop lights are very inexpensive and
quite easy to set up.
Supplies
and Equipment You can buy something called commercial flats at any department
or home supply store for less than five dollars. They are flat trays with individual
compartments designed to hold one seedling. An even cheaper alternative that works
just as well are cardboard egg cartons. Theyre biodegradable while providing
drainage and can easily be cut apart when its time to transplant your seedlings
outside.
Potting
soil is a good growing medium, but if you want to really give your plants a super
start, you can mix up potting soil with compost and peat moss. Or you can leave
the soil out completely and grow in peat moss, vermiculite, and compost.
This
is what Granny did: at the end of each growing season, she dug up several buckets
of rich soil from the garden and baked it in a 300 degree oven for a couple of
hours to sterilize it. In spring, she brought it out to use as potting soil for
new seedlings.
Seeds
Tomatoes, carrots, basil, asters, nasturtiums, marigolds, petunias, and pansies
are all good candidates for starting indoors, but you needn't go only by that
tiny list. You can start practically any plant from seed indoors.
When
to Plant The bulk of garden plants can be started indoors about six weeks
before the anticipated last frost. In most northern states, this means seed planting
time is mid-March. Transplant the seedlings outside when theyve reached
4-6 in height, after the final frost.
My
Granny's Seed Starting Method Loosely fill each egg cup with enough garden
soil until you're just below the top. Do not pack down! Use your index finger
to poke a hole about an inch deep into the soil. Drop seeds into the hole. For
large seeds like beans, use only ONE seed per cup. For tinier seeds, sprinkle
a pinch into the hole, like you're seasoning cayenne pepper powder and someone
coming for dinner doesn't like spicy foods. Rake soil over the seed with your
fingertips to lightly cover it.
Move
trays to a sunny window (or beneath shop lights or grow lights). Water well, but
dont oversoak. Loosely cover each egg tray with a sheet of clear plastic
wrap. Now the most important part: Let them be. Check daily for signs of
moisture, and when the soil is dry, lift the plastic wrap and mist well with a
mister, then recover. Remove the wrap when seedlings have two leaves, or they
touch the plastic. When the seedlings are one or two inches tall, its time
to thin them. In any container that holds more than two seedlings, cull all but
the hardiest so that theyll have the best chance at rooting and growing.
Water and mist frequently until the last frost, then transplant to your garden
outside.
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Throughout this website, statements are made pertaining to the properties and/or
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