How can something as small as a seed strike fear in the hearts of beginning gardeners? Whether itap a seed for an annual, perennial or biennial plant, each contains everything it needs to sprout and grow.
Instead of courage, gardeners need more patience. Thatap one key to seed starting, says Patty Buskirk, a plant breeder, owner of Seeds by Design and president of the Home Garden Seed Association.
Because many seeds can take two weeks or more to germinate, gardeners need persistence to wait for the first signs of life to push up from the soil.
Some seeds are started indoors, others are best sown directly in the garden soil and some don’t care where they’re planted. Seed planting saves money and gives gardeners a bigger choice of plants; buying transplants from the garden center is less economical, but speedier for the impatient.
The easiest seeds to start indoors include broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. Other seeds for indoor starting include tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, culinary herbs, onions and annual flowers.
Surprisingly, specialty peppers and many perennial herbs can be a challenge to start indoors because of their long germination time, Buskirk says.
The seeds that grow best when sown outside include arugula, beans, beets, carrots, cilantro, corn, dill, parsnips, peas, radishes, spring onions and turnips.
Seeds that work well whether started inside or in the garden include basil, chard, cucumber, kale, lettuce, melons, nasturtiums, spinach, squash, sunflowers and zinnias.
Buskirk’s top tip for seed-starting success is timing. “Many people begin their seeds too early and then transplants are too old when the correct interval comes to set out in the garden.”
Avoid this problem by studying seed packets to know when plants are ready for the outdoors. Most seeds need to be started indoors 4-8 weeks before the last average frost date (typically May 15-May 31 along the Front Range, or use Mother’s Day as a rule of thumb). Count back the number of weeks from transplanting to know when to start seeds.
For indoor seed starting, use a sterile soilless seed mixture and containers. Trays and cell inserts, biodegradable pots or clean, recycled plastic containers with drainage holes are all good options. Before planting, moisten the planting mixture to the consistency of a wrung-out sponge. Follow packet instructions for spacing seeds and thinning.
Light, heat and moisture are important ingredients for healthy seedlings. Sometimes a warm sunny location isn’t enough, and seedlings need supplemental lighting from fluorescent lights or special grow lights. Place lights 2-4 inches above the seedlings for 16 hours a day and raise lights as they grow.
A heating mat provides bottom heat to help speed germination.
Seedlings are susceptible to damping off, a fungal disease that causes new seedlings to die at the soil surface. Too much soil moisture, poor light, high temperatures and poor air circulation can cause this dreaded disease. Some gardeners use a small rotating fan to keep air moving around seedlings.
For more seed starting tips visit the HGSA website
