Growing From Seeds

Yesterday was a good day to garden. Even though there is still snow on the ground covering the garden, the first of February marks the time to start seeds for next spring’s planting.

Seeds need warm, moist conditions that can only be found indoors or in the greenhouse at this time of year. With visions of planting out pots of healthy tomato and pepper plants in spring – April in lower valley areas, May at higher elevations – I carefully sowed the collected seeds of favored veggies grown in the 2011 garden.

Seed packs will tell you exactly when to sow seeds. For sow times of 8 to 12 weeks before the last frost – March 29 to April 15 in lowland valleys; April 15 to May 1 in higher elevations – sow the seed in January and February respectively.

At this time of year, cool season crops that can handle a few light frosts after planting can be sowed. Cauliflower, broccoli, kale, cabbage, lettuce, onions, peas and spinach seeds can be started now. These crops are not as picky about germination requirements.

Soil temps of 50 to 60 degrees are ideal, so heating pads, cables or benches are not necessary, but they do need a sunny window with good light for germination.

Warm season crops need consistently warm soil – 65 degrees minimum – to germinate, so these types need bottom heat. Start tomato and pepper seeds this month to have established potted plants to set out after the last frost. Other crops such as melons and summer squash grow quickly to transplant size so don’t need to be sowed until the month prior to planting.

Follow the directions on the seed package or in the seed catalog for sow times and for successful germination.

Use fresh seed from a reliable source. Packaged seed is harvested fresh and carries a guarantee that the seeds in the pack represent the plant shown on the front of the package.

Using fresh packaged seed ensures a successful germination yield. Ballard’s Nursery packages seed in larger packs that accommodate large beds and successive sowings. Ali’s Organics in La Verkin offers seed from Baker Creek, specialists in heirlooms.

Use a light, well-drained sterile soil mix. Packaged potting mixes have organic matter in them, which causes them to hold more water for longer periods of time. You want an airy, light mix for seed germination.

If you use the packaged potting soil mix, then buy a bag of perlite at the same time to incorporate more perlite into the mix – use two parts potting soil to one part perlite.

Planting depth is important – if you plant too deep, the seed doesn’t get the necessary light for germination. Planting too shallow causes young roots to fail to anchor in the soil, so they dry out and the seedling fails.

A general guide is to plant the seed at a depth equal to twice the diameter of the seed. For small seed, mix the seed with sand, sprinkle on the soil surface, and cover with a thin layer of vermiculite.

Provide consistent moisture so that the seed can absorb moisture and expand, causing the seed coat to crack. Don’t allow the soil to dry out during the germination process and while plants are young seedlings. I cover my flats with a piece of bubble wrap to hold in soil moisture, then remove it as soon as I see growth.

Keep the soil warm to encourage germination. A heating pad works for a few packs but if you want to germinate more seed, invest in a growers heat mat. Buy a soil thermometer to monitor soil temps.

If recommended soil temps are maintained the seeds will germinate but the soil temperature needs to be consistently within that range.

If you are not ready to grow your own from seed, then don’t despair. Ali’s Organics Nursery in LaVerkin offers healthy seedlings beginning in February with the brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi), onions, assorted greens (lettuce, spinach, arugula) and strawberries. She will offer other veggies and fruits that require planting after the last frost in March.

Visit www.alisorganics.com for a complete list of her products and access to her blog on gardening topics.

More like this