Starting Seeds at Home Presented by Mick Manfield, Master Gardener. Please turn off your phones or put them on vibrate. Hard questions allowed anytime!
Why? 1.Some plants need a longer growing season so they need to be started indoors. 2.More Economical. 3.More Variety 4.More Satisfying 5.More Organic 6.Just plain fun!
What do I need? Containers Soil Mixture Water Seeds Heat Light Soluble Seed Starting Fertilizer
1. PLANTING CONTAINERS: Any container to start seeds as long as it is at least 2 1/2" deep to allow for roots to grow. All containers should have holes in the bottom for drainage. Disinfect with a mild bleach solution to make sure the containers are very clean.
RECYCLED PLANTING CONTAINERS: Yogurt cups Plastic take-out containers Margarine tubs Milk containers Tim Hortons Cups Egg Cartons Plastic Fruit Containers
PLANTING CONTAINERS
PLANTING CONTAINERS Lee Valley Tray with 4 Pots Self Watering Tray and Pots
PLANTING CONTAINERS
PLANTING CONTAINERS Tims Cups and Milk Cartons Plant Markers
PLANTING CONTAINERS Pot Maker Milk Cartons (4 Pot)
2. SOILESS MIXTURE Contains peat moss (which is naturally sterile), vermiculite and perlite which is light in texture and retains large quantities of moisture while still being well drained.
2. POTTING MIXTURE Contains peat moss (which is naturally sterile), vermiculite or perlite and some form of compost which will feed the seedlings.
3. Water Water can be applied using a watering can with a fine rose (nozzle) or a standard spray bottle. Water should be warm. Water that has been softened will contain salt.
4. SEEDS Vegetables, herbs seed buying/starting co-op with your friends and neighbours CATALOGUES! WEBSITES! Seedy Saturday which is held the 2 nd Saturday in February every year at CMU North Campus. Share packets of seeds, some seeds are easy to save from year to year, Seed can be saved from Heirloom varieties but usually not hybrids as they revert back to the parent plant.
4. SEEDS Everything you need to know about growing the seeds is on the seed packet!
Seed Viability Test Wet some kitchen paper towel so that it is damp. Put 10 seeds on the paper towel and cover. Place the seeds and paper towel in a zip lock bag on top of the fridge and note the seed name and date on the paper towel and the outside of the bag.. Check every few days and see if any seeds have sprouted. If all 10 seeds sprout within the germination period then the seeds are 100% viable.
5. HEAT LOCATION THAT STARTS WARM BUT THEN BECOMES COOL Start seeds warm but grow seedlings cool. Don't try to germinate your seeds on the windowsill, the outdoor temperatures will make this area too cool. Most seeds are genetically programmed to germinate only in warm soil.
5. HEAT Check the seed package for the optimum soil temperature. You can keep the seed trays consistently warm by placing them on top of a water heater or refrigerator. Fluorescent lighting or heat lamps also can keep the soil warm. If your area is quite cool, a seedling heat mat may be your best option.
5. HEAT Seed Heat Mats
6. LIGHT 14-16 hours/day Grow Light Fixtures
6. LIGHT 14-16 hours/day Lack of light is probably the number one reason people get discouraged as seedlings grown in weak light will stretch, have weak stems and often a pale color. Fluorescent lighting or grow lights are the best option. Even if you don't have a store-bought stand, homemade fixtures can be made with pvc pipe or cedar or painted lumber, screws, nails, cords or chains. The best growth will occur under the maximum light you can provide. Mix the types of bulbs used as the cool white provides light in the blue/green range and encourages leaf growth, while a grow light or warm light provides light in the red range, which encourages flowering. This gives a full spectrum of light. New Style T5 and LED lights last longer but are more expensive, ensure that their output is rated at 6400 K
6. LIGHT 14-16 hours/day Home Made Grow Light Fixture
7. Soluble Seed Starting Fertilizer Because some seeds are started in a sterile mix they need to be fertilised with a soluble fertilizer.
Approximate last frost date is May 31st, see Seed Start Dates below. 12 weeks before March 8 th 11 weeks before March 15 th 10 weeks before March 22 nd 9 weeks before March 29 th 8 weeks before April 5 th 7 weeks before April 12 th 6 weeks before April 19 th 5 weeks before April 26 th 4 weeks before May 3 rd 3 weeks before May 10 th 2 weeks before May 17 th 1 week before May 24 th Last Frost Date May 31 st
2 Methods of Seeding Small Seeds Plant all the seeds directly into a flat or pot in soilless mix. When the plants have reached the 2 true leaf stage they can be thinned or separated and transplanted into individual pots containing potting soil. Large Seeds or plants that do not like their roots disturbed. Plant each seed into its own container in potting mix and let it grow without thinning or transplanting. Plant large seeds like melon, zucchini. pumpkin, cucumber and squash on their side not flat.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SEED STARTING ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED TO GROW THE SEED IS WRITTEN ON THE SEED PACKET! ALWAYS FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE SEED PACKET! INFORMATION SUCH AS WHEN TO START THE SEEDS, HOW DEEP TO PLANT THEM,WHETHER THEY NEED TO BE COVERED AND HOW LONG TO GERMINATE! ALWAYS, ALWAYS FOLLOW THE SEED PACKET INSTRUCTIONS!
Labelling your plants Double label whenever possible (Top Tip!) Label the seed tray and individual pots Painters tape is good for seed trays Use a good quality garden marker pen (better than sharpies) Wax crayons and pencils also work well Save the old seed packets as a reference
After Germination THINNING: The new seedlings need additional space to grow as soon as their first 2 "true" leaves appear. Cut unwanted seedlings at the base of the plant. If your seeding is rather dense, do not pull out unwanted seedlings as their roots may be tangled up and damage the root of the seedling remaining. At this point it is a good idea to place a fan on your plants. This will make their stems sturdier and get them ready for outdoors. As well, good air circulation will keep mould and mildew at bay.
After Germination TRANSPLANTING: If you did your planting in individual containers, transplanting is not necessary before you set them outside. Seedlings in seed flats need to be transplanted into 4" containers by the time you have 2 true leaves. This will give your seedlings more room to grow, stimulate the feeder roots and improve ventilation.
After Germination TRANSPLANTING: To transplant, hold the seedling by its' leaves, not the delicate stem. With a butter knife, spoon or fork, gently cut around the seedling root and lift up. Place into a container that contains moist potting soil, slightly deeper than they were in their flats. Firm soil around the seedlings, water immediately. Hint: Plant tomatoes deeply and keep adding soil as they grow - you will get very strong stems
FERTILIZING: After transplanting, fertilize once a week with transplant fertilizer or a half-strength well balanced fertilizer. After about 3 weeks you can start fertilizing at full strength. Over-fertilization can result in leggy seedlings. If your seedlings are starting to look leggy, pinch back the growing tips to promote more branching. This can be repeated every week or so to promote compact, bushy plants.
HARDENING OFF: Hardening off gets your small plants ready to plant outside. At least a week before you plan to set the plants into the ground they need to gradually get used to the sun, wind and various outdoor temperatures. A cold frame, which is a sheltered unheated box with a translucent cover is the best means for this transitional period. The lid can be gradually raised to expose the plants to more sunlight. If you don't have a cold frame, you can also use row covers. You can also place your plants in a shaded, sheltered part of your garden for a few hours each day, gradually moving them into more sun. These unprotected plants will have to be brought back indoors each night unless you know it is going to stay above 50 F/10 C all night long.
Varieties to Try Vegetables/Salads Tomatoes Peppers Squash Pumpkin Zuchini Melon Cucumber Broccoli Cabbage Cauliflower Lettuce Spinach
Websites www.stokesseeds.com www.ttseeds.com www.veseys.com www.sherrysgreenhouse.com www.heritageharvestseed.com www.chilternseeds.co.uk
Books Starting right with seeds Rodales Organic Gardening Veseys Growing Guide Plant Propagation RHS Books Successful Propagation Gardening Which The new seed starters handbook
My home set up
My home set up Grow light set up Potting Table
My home set up Storage Heat Mats
Upcoming Events Grand Forks Gardening Saturday, Alerus Centre, Saturday April 14th Red River College Greenhouse Plant Sale, Thursday April 19 th, Cash only Winnipeg Gardening Saturday, Canadian Mennonite University North Campus, Saturday April 28 th Manitoba Master Gardener Association Garden Tour, Saturday July 21st
ImagineAbility Greenhouse Update
ImagineAbility Greenhouse Update
Thankyou. Question Time!