Chalet Garden Center
3132 Lake Ave.
Wilmette
www.chaletnursery.com
Register now for:
Great Gardens of Southern England with Tony Fulmer
Featuring Hampton Court Flower Show
July 5-15, 2010
Seed Starting Top Tips:
March/April good time to start
Seedlings need light to stretch
Follow packet directions for watering
Starting vegetable seeds indoors in early spring is satisfying. You can grow the vegetables your family enjoys. You can also start specific varieties that may not be available later as transplants from your local garden center.
There are a number of peat pots and specialty containers on the market. Make sure they are clean before you begin.
No two seeds are the same. Read the back of the seed packet carefully and strictly observe instructions. Some seeds require light for germination. Others don't. Some seeds require soaking.
Soaking duplicates moisture the seed would experience in the ground, causing it to start breaking down so the seed "wakes up." It is one way to get your plants to germinate more quickly. Presoak larger seeds for 12 to 24 hours in warm water the night before you want to plant. Drain the seeds, pat dry and plant immediately.
Handling some seeds requires a technique called "scarification," which simply means nicking or scraping the seed coat to speed germination. Notice the number of days to harvest indicated on the seed packet. This date means from transplant to harvest not from when the seeds are first started indoors.
You'll want to use a seed starting mix because they tend to be lighter in weight than standard potting soils. That's important for tender little roots as they begin breaking through the seed coat.
The seed packet also will provide specific instructions for planting depth and watering.
Once you've planted your seeds, cover the container with a "hood" of some sort. You probably won't have to water again until things start germinating. Once 50 percent or more of the seedlings have made their appearance, remove the cover to reduce the humidity and increase air circulation. Once plants have one set of "true leaves," they should be transplanted and fertilized.
For more information on gardening in March and April, please visit www.chaletnursery.com.
3132 Lake Ave.
www.chaletnursery.com
Register now for:
Great Gardens of Southern England with Tony Fulmer
Featuring Hampton Court Flower Show
July 5-15, 2010
Seed Starting Top Tips:
March/April good time to start
Seedlings need light to stretch
Follow packet directions for watering
Starting vegetable seeds indoors in early spring is satisfying. You can grow the vegetables your family enjoys. You can also start specific varieties that may not be available later as transplants from your local garden center.
There are a number of peat pots and specialty containers on the market. Make sure they are clean before you begin.
No two seeds are the same. Read the back of the seed packet carefully and strictly observe instructions. Some seeds require light for germination. Others don't. Some seeds require soaking.
Soaking duplicates moisture the seed would experience in the ground, causing it to start breaking down so the seed "wakes up." It is one way to get your plants to germinate more quickly. Presoak larger seeds for 12 to 24 hours in warm water the night before you want to plant. Drain the seeds, pat dry and plant immediately.
Handling some seeds requires a technique called "scarification," which simply means nicking or scraping the seed coat to speed germination. Notice the number of days to harvest indicated on the seed packet. This date means from transplant to harvest not from when the seeds are first started indoors.
You'll want to use a seed starting mix because they tend to be lighter in weight than standard potting soils. That's important for tender little roots as they begin breaking through the seed coat.
The seed packet also will provide specific instructions for planting depth and watering.
Once you've planted your seeds, cover the container with a "hood" of some sort. You probably won't have to water again until things start germinating. Once 50 percent or more of the seedlings have made their appearance, remove the cover to reduce the humidity and increase air circulation. Once plants have one set of "true leaves," they should be transplanted and fertilized.
For more information on gardening in March and April, please visit www.chaletnursery.com.
