Seed Starting
Seed Starting: I was very fortunate to learn from a seed starting expert. He would meticulously start the finest of seeds with great ease it seemed. I am now going to reveal some of his secrets, and some that I have learned on my own. Thanks Dad.
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We used to call it ‘Dad’s Little Room.’ I guess we still do.
It was on the east side of the house near the back door. Only eight feet wide and 16 feet long, two long benches lined its length. Fluorescent lights were hung just above the benches their entire length and one small electric heater kept the temperature warm even during the cold months. This is where he did his seed starting.
Dad’s Little Room was certainly nondescript by most people’s standards, as Dad is a very practical man. His room had one redeeming feature though; open the door and you walked into Spring- even in February. You see this is where Dad started his garden plants. Strange Latin-named perennials, tiny Begonias, and old reliable Glamour tomatoes all saw a beginning in this room under Dad’s watchful eye. His seed starting ability was amazing.
“Seed Starting really isn’t that difficult,” he used to say to me when I was just a boy. “Just read the seed packet.” Usually he said it in a rather terse voice, as though I should have known that already, as it was just common sense.
Most of seed starting follows this general rule--read the seed packet. Seed companies, such as our personal favorite, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, provide great seed-starting instructions. In most cases, the size of seed, light requirements, days to germination and planting dates are the keys to success. We have found some additional methods and tools that help this job out as well.
Seed Starting - SEED SIZE
Different varieties of plants produce seed in varying sizes and shapes. The seed of Begonias is roughly the size of dust, while some Pumpkin seeds are bigger than your fingernail. Both require different seed-starting mix and different care. We are firm believers in soil blocks using ¾”, 2”, and 4” blocks for varying stages of growth of the plants. We purchased these valuable tools from Johnny’s. They made seed starting much easier.
Plastic pots and trays do not restrict us and no pollution is created in the process. The plants just grow better in soil blocks too. Jane and I first learned about soil blocks from Eliot Coleman’s book ‘The New Organic Grower’-- a terrific reference for the beginner or expert.
Our seed starting mix begins with sifted peat moss, good compost and sand mixed with horticultural lime to raise the PH of the mix. For small seeds we use ¾” blocks, such as the earlier-mentioned Begonias, gently placed on top of the block. They are then gently watered in with a hand mister available at most garden centers. For large seeds, like Squash, we use 2” blocks with the tip of the seed poked gently below the surface.
Seed Starting - LIGHT REQUIREMENTS
The fact that plants produce seed in all shapes and sizes has always fascinated me. It comes as no surprise that they all need slightly different conditions to germinate. Since we have access to plant seeds from around the world, through the time and effort of seed companies, we shouldn’t be surprised that we have to recreate the conditions that exist for the plant in its home region. This includes the light required to germinate the seed successfully. Seed starting is easy if you follow this rule.
Light can only reach the seed if the seed starting mix does not cover it. As a general rule the larger the seed the more it needs to be covered for good germination. Larger seeds, which contain more life-giving energy, have more power to push up through the soil surface when planted deeper. In fact, it may be quite necessary for them to be planted deeper than fine seed, which should rest on the surface of your seed starting mix.
The roots of larger seed are also larger making it necessary for the seed to begin its life well below the surface. Anyone who has sprouted seed knows how difficult it is to cover tender roots after a seed sprouts, pushing the whole plant above the soil surface. Again, the best advice is, as Dad told me, “Read the seed packet.”
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Seed Starting - Special Conditions
For Seed starting At times it is necessary to follow special directions in order to achieve seed-starting success. A few years ago we decided that we would grow Asparagus, as most of the family enjoys this early vegetable. Jane and I wanted a fairly large patch so we decided to start with seed instead of purchasing expensive Garden Center plants. Asparagus seed is quite large and I figured we would just plant it outside. After reading the packet of seed from Johnny’s I discovered it needed to be frozen overnight to crack the hard outer seed casing. Recreating the conditions this plant faces in the real World was then easy enough.
The seed was slow and erratic in sprouting but, eventually all of it came up and our Asparagus bed is doing great.
Many years ago Jane decided that she wanted a Bird of Paradise plant; just like the lovely specimen she had seen at our local Garden Center. This exotic plant required us to gently cut the seed casing with a knife in order that the seed would sprout. This was just another example of recreating the conditions a seed faces in its native environment. This was a real test of our seed starting ability.
Every year we try and order a few new seed varieties and species. By following the instructions from the seed companies we are usually very successful at seed starting.