Starting Seeds for Maplewood Vegetable Gardens Monika Hannemann Green Drinks, February 27, 2012
Why start from seed? Selection, Selection, Selection! New, rare, heirloom varieties Save money Lengthen season Organic guarantee Stretch the season
Seeds Programmed plant embryo
Where to grow seeds? greenhouse under grow lights windowsills?
When to start seeds? NJ s FINAL FROST DATE (April 31 st /May 1st) check seed packet direct sow vs. transplanting
Which seeds to start early? SLOW GROWERS tomatoes, peppers leeks eggplants broccoli/caulifl. brussel sprouts celery, collards QUICK GROWERS lettuce kale/chard/ cabbage cucumbers
Containers Standard plastic containers Cleaned, sterilized (1:10 bleach water mix) Drainage holes Peat pots 2.5 3 deep
GREEN TIP #1 use recycled containers to start your seeds
GREEN TIP #2 vinegar instead of bleach to sanitize containers
Growing Medium soilless mix Light and fluffy, porous Sterile; no nutrients Moisten medium before planting Peat moss, fine-grade perlite, vermiculite, milled sphagnum moss
GREEN TIP #3 use sustainable coconut coir instead of peat moss
BBG s seed starting mix 4 parts peat 2 parts perlite 2 parts vermiculite
Special Seed Germinating Treatments pre-soak seeds scarification stratification
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
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
Watering Soil shouldn t dry out or be waterlogged Squeeze soil for moisture test Watering can with fine nozzle
Temperature 70 75 F Warm spot in house (fridge, oven) No direct heat source Heating mats
After seeds sprout Remove covers, place directly (2-4 ) under fluorescent lights; adjust slowly Lights 12 14 hours/day (timer) Temperature down to 60 75 F Fertilize ONLY when true leaves appear Night at least 10 F cooler than day time
Once seeds get crowded: Seeds should be transplanted Gently knock plants out of pots to separate seedlings OR cut off weak plant stems
Transplanting All-purpose potting mix (nutrients) Hold leaves, not stems Deep holes for entire roots Firm soil around stems Water seedlings well
GREEN TIP #4 add homemade compost to seedling mix compost tea
Ruffle Seeds Ruffle seeds to build strength Air circulation Pinch back centers to encourage bushiness
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
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
GREEN TIP #5 use mulch in garden to conserve water
Direct Sowing Seeds SPRING CROPS carrots beets spinach radishes snap peas SUMMER CROP S beans squash/melons zucchini cucumbers corn okra
Preparing Soil Prepare soil Remove rocks, clumps, weeds Mix in compost to loosen soil
Seed Tapes for Direct Seeding biodegradable pre-seeded paper Green tip: used newspapers, flour, water, seeds
What kinds of Vegetables Grow well in Maplewood?
Gardening in Maplewood Zone 6B ( - 5-0 ) Last frost April 21 st 31 st First frost: October 11 20 th Glaciated triassic lowlands; Loamy clay soil
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
Raised Beds mystery soil history limited space better drainage square foot gardening mixing garden soil with compost easier
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!
Jersey Fresh Tomatoes Ramapo (heirloom) Rutgers (hybrid) Moreton (hybrid) Cherokee Purple (heirloom) Sun Sugar (hybrid cherry) Brandywine (heirloom) Paul Robeson (heirloom)
Seed Type Terms: Heirloom: open-pollinated, non-hybrid variety Hybrid/Cultivar intentionally crossed for selected characteristics Variety same species, different characteristics; differentiated breeding lines
Perennial: 12-20 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)
blueberry bush Spartan, Jersey, Clara s Blue Duke Rubel old time NJ cultivars Acidic soil, sun
sweet Jersey corn Golden Bantam sweet corn Silver Queen sweet corn Space, warm soil Fertilizer Sun
lettuce Summer Bibb green, red oakleaf Parris Island Cos Ruby Salad Bowl 50 days Start in greenhouse
strawberries Jerseybelle Raritan Loamy, clay soil Cut back yearly
swiss chard Fordhook Giant Bright Lights Overwintering Long season
Kentucky Wonder Provider Royal Burgundy Blue Lake Romano pole vs. bush Direct sow trellises beans
carrots Scarlet Nantes Napoli Yaya, Purple Dragon Royal Chantenay companion planting Spring, fall, winter
Butter Blossom Scallopini Gourmet Globe Sundrops Trellis vertically Separate from other squash, melons summer squash
Additional Links www.nj.gov/jerseyfresh www.njveggies.org http://njaes.rutgers.edu/extension http://essex.njaes.rutgers.edu/default.asp http://www.historyyoucaneat.org/ www.maplewoodgardenclub.org mohannemann@yahoo.com