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sowing seeds indoorsUsed with permission of Ohio State University Extension, Master Gardener Volunteer Manual. Sowing seed indoors is the easiest and least expensive method of producing vegetables, annual flowers and some perennial plants. Plants with extremely small seeds or those that need a long growing season make excellent candidates for starting indoors. Very small seed is difficult to plant outdoors because of size. Plants that require a long growing season may not have enough time to reach maturity unless started indoors in winter or early spring. Supplies needed for indoor seed sowing include fluorescent or grow lights, disinfected containers with excellent drainage, pasteurized (sterile) seed-starting medium and a location with proper temperature and ventilation. Choosing seeds When considering seed not packaged for the current year, remember that the germination rate of most seeds drops dramatically after the first year. Seed catalogs are not only helpful in purchasing seed, but they are also excellent references for cultural information. Catalogs and seed packets may provide information on country of origin, bloom time, specific germination requirements, cultural requirements and disease resistance. Some seed packets indicate if seeds have been chemically treated to prevent disease. Read packets and catalogs thoroughly and follow their recommendations. The more information the gardener possesses, the greater the chance of growing plants successfully. Growing media Seed-starting media are usually low in fertility. This means that a regular fertilization program is very important once seedlings emerge. Containers Peat and clay containers tend to dry more quickly than plastic containers because they are very porous. Sowing seed An acclimation period before placing seedlings directly into the permanent growing site must be included. However, readiness for outdoor planting will vary with how quickly germination occurs, the growth rate and weather conditions. Quality and quantity of light, temperature and nutrients affect the growth rate. Seed catalogs and packets provide information on days to germination and weeks needed to reach transplant size. How to Once seedlings germinate, remove the container from the plastic bag. Place the container in a location that has high light intensity and cooler temperatures. Use the following rules to sow seed, depending upon seed size. Sow very small seeds by sprinkling on top of the medium and pressing in. Use a fine mist of water to gently wash seed into the growing medium. Sow medium-size and larger seed in rows 1 to 2 inches apart, and 1/8 to 1/4 inches deep. If no depth is specified on the seed packet, use the general rule of planting the seed at a depth twice the diameter of the seed. When sowing in a tray or flat, sowing in rows is preferred over scattering seed. This method provides better air circulation than scattering of seed. When seedlings are crowded, they may become tall and spindly. To avoid the need to transplant seedlings from a seed flat to pots, you may sow seeds directly into cell packs or peat pots. Plant two or three seeds per cell or pot. When they germinate, remove the two less vigorous seedlings. Transplanting Use a pencil, small stick or other narrow tool to lift seedlings from the seed flat. Plant each seedling in its own small pot filled with pasteurized growing medium. The new container should be no larger than a 2-1/2- to 3-inch pot. Hold the seedlings by a leaf between the thumb and forefinger. Handling by the leaf avoids damaging the fragile stem, which would kill the seedling. If a small leaf is lost in transplanting, the plant can recover and grow normally. Expose seedlings' roots to air as briefly as possible. Lightly firm the soil around the seedling. Transplanting temporarily slows or stops the growth of seedlings. Sowing into cell packs bypasses the need to transplant the seedlings. Watering seeds indoors Bottom watering helps prevent damage to the seedlings caused by a hard stream of water. Bottom watering also encourages deep root development and ensures that the entire depth of soil receives moisture. Do not let the pot or flat sit in water longer than it takes for all of the soil to become moist. Seedling temperature Light requirements Special grow lights are also suitable, but more expensive. The lights should be no more than 6 inches above the top of the seedlings. Mount the light fixture so it can be raised as the plants grow in height. Day-length requirements vary with different plants. Petunia, snapdragon, phlox and China aster require short daylight periods of 10 to 12 hours. However, most plants that are started from seed benefit from 16 to 18 hours of light. Fertilizing Pinching seedlings Hardening off seedlings before transplanting into the garden This first step in hardening off allows plants to adjust to outdoor temperatures. After 7 to 10 days, move seedlings into a shaded area of the garden for 2 to 3 days. This will prevent sunscald. Finally, hardened seedlings can be planted directly into the garden as weather permits. Planting on a cloudy day or late in the evening is a sensible precaution. You must be logged in to leave a comment. Click here to login or register. |
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