Seed Starting for Spring Planting 2016

Seed Starting

There are several reasons gardeners like to use seed starting as a part of their gardening routine, it will lengthen your growing season, gives you a greater choice of plant varieties, saves money and its fun.
It has become much easier to find just about any seed you want; if they are not here at Lowe’s there are companies on line that can fill your seed needs.

Starting Seeds for the Best Result

Seeds need air, water and light. It’s that simple. The seed packets will supply you with essential information, seed depth, spacing and germination timing. Here are a few more important items for healthy seedlings.

* If you are using recycled containers make sure to clean them with a 1 to 10 mixture of water and bleach
* Growing medium; use seed starting soils, or peat pellets; garden soils and native soils are way too heavy for good germination,   and they are free of disease and other issues inhibiting success
* Water with a mister until the first sprout appears, then water gently
* Using a seed starting tray is a great way to keep the moisture level correct, it’s much easier
* Use a heat mat until the seeds emerge and start to grow, and then remove it

Planting seedlings in the garden
* Once the seedlings put on multi leaves the first leaves will drop off, this is normal
* Before planting you need to harden-off your plants – this is a gradual acclimatization over a period of 7 to 10 days
* Set plants outside in partial shady spot for 2 to 3 hours a day, make sure to bring in at nigh
* Be careful not to disturb the roots, they are growing fast making them very tender
* Once planted protect them from wind until they get larger – stake, cover or screen until they begin to put on size   

Sowing Seeds directly into the ground

Because we live in what is classified as a short growing season sowing seeds directly into the ground has challenges, the exceptions are cool season varieties. Most cool season varieties can germinate when the soil is as cool as low as 40°; or 2 to 3 weeks before the last frost, check the package for the specific directions. The second issue is watering; the soil needs to stay moist, which means daily monitoring.
Work organic matter into the soil a week or so before you plant. This will allow the organic material to start to break down, enriching the soil for a healthy crop.
When the day has come to plant your seeds, work the soil again. For root crops such as carrots make sure the soil is loose 8 to 12 inches deep and make sure it drains well; this will ensure you don’t end up with stubby carrots

Topic #3 Seed Starting: It's not as difficult as you think

Here is the 3rd posting for my winter gardening series, enjoy.
Starting your edibles and annuals from seed for spring planting is not as hard are you think; here is what I know works. 

The reason gardeners start seeds are many; some of the reasons are, lengthening the growing season, more plant choices, saves money and will be fun. 
Weather in the high desert is so unpredictable, making gardening interesting to say the least. Our growing season is only about 90 days, so getting large healthy seedlings in the ground long enough to produce food or blooms is difficult. 

Here's what has worked for me.

Seeds need air, water and light. It’s that simple. The seed packets will supply you with essential information, seed depth, spacing and germination timing. Here are a few more important items for healthy seedlings.

 *   When using containers make sure they are clean

*    Growing medium; I like the peat pellets for easy use and are easily planted directly       into the ground
*    If you want to use soils, buy good seed staring soils, they are clean and developed for seeds to germinate

*    Using a seed starting tray is a great way to keep the moisture level correct.

*   Watering (mist until the first sprout appears, then water gently)

*   Place in a warm area – full sunlight all day (daytime temperature, 70-80°

     nighttime temperature, 60-65°. You may want to use a warming pad to get started

 Planting your seedlings

*   Before planting you need to harden-off your plants – this is a gradual acclimatization

     over a period of 7 to 10 days. Set plants out with indirect light during the day; bring them in at night

*   Disturb the roots as little as possible when planting

*    Protect plants from wind and cold– stake, cover or screen until they begin to put on size

Sowing Seeds directly into the ground

Because we live in what is known as a short growing season the only seeds that we can directly plant in the ground are the cool season vegetables, such as carrots, beets, lettuce and peas.  Most of these seeds can germinate when the soil is as cool as 40°; or 2 to 3 weeks before the last frost. Check the package for the specific directions. Work organic matter into the soil a week or so before you plant. This will allow the organic material to start to break down enriching the soil for a healthy crop.

When the day has come to plant your seeds, work the soil again. Root crops especially carrots need soils that 
drain well, loosen soils at least 12 inches. 

Here are a couple of covers for crops if needed due to the weather.