Growing Vegetables from Seeds

Growing Vegetables from Seeds

This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.
  1. When cabin fever sets in on you, and the long cold winter is near the end, you can begin to plan and start your garden by growing the plants you desire from seeds. Make a plan to gather all the items you will need before any seeds are planted. Seeds need a warm, moist environment to sprout, so it is a good idea to find a bright, warm, sunny indoor area to place the seed greenhouses in your home or work area. Grow lights can also be used to warm and grow baby plants. It is best to use a florescent or small wattage light to start seeds so the light is not too strong and may burn the baby seedlings as they poke through the soil. Plan your shopping list and go to a popular home improvement center to purchase most of the popular items. Some of the tools you need to purchase to start seeds at home are as follows: Several Mini Greenhouses with peat pods included, seed starting potting mix, a variety of seeds as planned for your garden harvest, plastic sheeting, a gentle grow light, a spray bottle, a small watering can with shower type spout, an appliance timer and a surge protecting power strip.

    Set up your grow area to be as waterproof as possible, lined with plastic and a firm base, and place your greenhouse trays in a very accessible area so you can reach them and tend to their needs. Use one greenhouse for each variety of seed or use popsicle sticks and a permanent marker to write the name of the seeds so you know what seedling is what when they begin to grow. Gently place 3 or 4 seeds approximately 1/2" deep into the peat pods in the greenhouse. Cover the top of the seed hole with seed starting soil. Fill all the peat pods with seeds and have them properly covered with soil and labeled before you water the pods. When the greenhouse is ready to water, use your watering can and use lukewarm water to gently fill each pod with water. The pods will expand and raise up in the greenhouse when they have enough water. Keep your pods moist and warm at all times to help the seeds germinate, and keep the greenhouse lid on to seal moisture and warmth inside when not being tended to. When using a grow light it is a good idea to keep the light on 24-7 until the plants have grown several inches tall and have developed a good root base. In several days to a week most seedlings will begin to show themselves by gingerly poking through the soil of the peat pod, and at this time they are very sensitive. Please refrain from touching them or trying to remove a seed that may be clinging on to the edge of the plant, as time goes by the seed shell will fall away to allow the plant to grow to its fullest potential.

    Check and spray mist the seedlings daily and water the pods as needed. Do not over water and allow the pods to float in excess water, keep them fully moist but not dripping wet. Most seedlings start off with two small leaves, and as they develop, a second set of leaves grow that resemble the plants proper leaf form. In a few weeks as the seedlings grow into plants, the lid to the greenhouse may be removed, and the lighting reduced to 18 hours on and 6 hours off to help adjust to the spring outdoor season.  When the plants are thriving, it is not unusual to see the roots start to grow through the sides and bottom of the peat pods, at that time the growing plants, peat pod and all,  can be transplanted into larger size grow cup so their roots can grow long and strong.

    Once the threat of frost has left your area, and the plants have grown to at least 6", the plants can gently be transferred into your garden about 6" deep in the soil and spaced accordingly. Your friends and family will be amazed at the beautiful garden you have started and you can proudly stand back and tell all of your admirers that you grew everything yourself from a tiny seed!

Leave a Reply