Starting Seeds for Maplewood Vegetable Gardens

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1 Starting Seeds for Maplewood Vegetable Gardens Monika Hannemann Green Drinks, February 27, 2012

2 Why start from seed? Selection, Selection, Selection! New, rare, heirloom varieties Save money Lengthen season Organic guarantee Stretch the season

3 Seeds Programmed plant embryo

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5 Where to grow seeds? greenhouse under grow lights windowsills?

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7 When to start seeds? NJ s FINAL FROST DATE (April 31 st /May 1st) check seed packet direct sow vs. transplanting

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10 Which seeds to start early? SLOW GROWERS tomatoes, peppers leeks eggplants broccoli/caulifl. brussel sprouts celery, collards QUICK GROWERS lettuce kale/chard/ cabbage cucumbers

11 Containers Standard plastic containers Cleaned, sterilized (1:10 bleach water mix) Drainage holes Peat pots deep

12 GREEN TIP #1 use recycled containers to start your seeds

13 GREEN TIP #2 vinegar instead of bleach to sanitize containers

14 Growing Medium soilless mix Light and fluffy, porous Sterile; no nutrients Moisten medium before planting Peat moss, fine-grade perlite, vermiculite, milled sphagnum moss

15 GREEN TIP #3 use sustainable coconut coir instead of peat moss

16 BBG s seed starting mix 4 parts peat 2 parts perlite 2 parts vermiculite

17 Special Seed Germinating Treatments pre-soak seeds scarification stratification

18 Sowing Seeds Step-by Step: 1. Pre-moisten potting mix 2. Fill container ¾, tamp, add more mix, tamp, until ½ inch from top 3. Even out soil surface

19 Sowing Seeds Step-by Step: 4. holes - larger seeds, furrows - smaller seeds 5. plant seeds 2x deep as seed diameter 6. smallest seeds scatter & cover lightly (as rec.) 7. label, water, cover

20 Watering Soil shouldn t dry out or be waterlogged Squeeze soil for moisture test Watering can with fine nozzle

21 Temperature F Warm spot in house (fridge, oven) No direct heat source Heating mats

22 After seeds sprout Remove covers, place directly (2-4 ) under fluorescent lights; adjust slowly Lights hours/day (timer) Temperature down to F Fertilize ONLY when true leaves appear Night at least 10 F cooler than day time

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24 Once seeds get crowded: Seeds should be transplanted Gently knock plants out of pots to separate seedlings OR cut off weak plant stems

25 Transplanting All-purpose potting mix (nutrients) Hold leaves, not stems Deep holes for entire roots Firm soil around stems Water seedlings well

26 GREEN TIP #4 add homemade compost to seedling mix compost tea

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28 Ruffle Seeds Ruffle seeds to build strength Air circulation Pinch back centers to encourage bushiness

29 Hardening off Take containers out during the day, bring in at night Start in shady spot, move to sunny spot Slowly acclimate over 1 or 2 weeks

30 Transplanting into Garden Prepare bed: clear away vegetation; loosen soil and mix in compost (2-4 ) Cloudy day; pre-moisten before planting Set plants into soil at slightly deeper level

31 GREEN TIP #5 use mulch in garden to conserve water

32 Direct Sowing Seeds SPRING CROPS carrots beets spinach radishes snap peas SUMMER CROP S beans squash/melons zucchini cucumbers corn okra

33 Preparing Soil Prepare soil Remove rocks, clumps, weeds Mix in compost to loosen soil

34 Seed Tapes for Direct Seeding biodegradable pre-seeded paper Green tip: used newspapers, flour, water, seeds

35 What kinds of Vegetables Grow well in Maplewood?

36 Gardening in Maplewood Zone 6B ( ) Last frost April 21 st 31 st First frost: October th Glaciated triassic lowlands; Loamy clay soil

37 Improving Maplewood Soil Disadvantages: compaction; aeration problems, too wet Advantages: nutrient-rich, many micro-organisms Test soil ph/nutrients (Rutgers CES) Mix in compost to improve soil

38 Raised Beds mystery soil history limited space better drainage square foot gardening mixing garden soil with compost easier

39 Garden Tips 6-8 fence 6 + hrs sunlight Water in a.m. Succession planting every 2 weeks Plant efficiently roots w/ shoots Vertical gardening (trellises, etc.) Companion planting Don t forget flowers!

40 Jersey Fresh Tomatoes Ramapo (heirloom) Rutgers (hybrid) Moreton (hybrid) Cherokee Purple (heirloom) Sun Sugar (hybrid cherry) Brandywine (heirloom) Paul Robeson (heirloom)

41 Seed Type Terms: Heirloom: open-pollinated, non-hybrid variety Hybrid/Cultivar intentionally crossed for selected characteristics Variety same species, different characteristics; differentiated breeding lines

42 Perennial: yrs grown from crowns Harvest in 3 rd year Jersey King, Jersey Knight, Jersey Supreme asparagus NJ breeding program New Jersey Asparagus Farm, Inc. (Pittsgrove)

43 blueberry bush Spartan, Jersey, Clara s Blue Duke Rubel old time NJ cultivars Acidic soil, sun

44 sweet Jersey corn Golden Bantam sweet corn Silver Queen sweet corn Space, warm soil Fertilizer Sun

45 lettuce Summer Bibb green, red oakleaf Parris Island Cos Ruby Salad Bowl 50 days Start in greenhouse

46 strawberries Jerseybelle Raritan Loamy, clay soil Cut back yearly

47 swiss chard Fordhook Giant Bright Lights Overwintering Long season

48 Kentucky Wonder Provider Royal Burgundy Blue Lake Romano pole vs. bush Direct sow trellises beans

49 carrots Scarlet Nantes Napoli Yaya, Purple Dragon Royal Chantenay companion planting Spring, fall, winter

50 Butter Blossom Scallopini Gourmet Globe Sundrops Trellis vertically Separate from other squash, melons summer squash

51 Additional Links