The word 'Stupendous' barely serves to describe the wonder of nature's seeds - to think that a seed the size of a pinhead contains all the genetic information to turn into a 6 lb. head of cabbage, or a head of broccoli, or a 10 foot tall tomato plant! Crazier still, some seeds can sense long-red light wavelengths and they determine whether or not it is a good time to germinate based on the presence or lack of this specific type of light. A dense canopy already established above the seed in the soil will trigger the seed to wait to germinate, but clear blue skies overhead give the seed the go ahead to get growing. All this information in a tiny seed - go figure!
This leads to my common refrain that Plants want to grow, we humans just need to set the stage so they can fulfill their genetic destiny. Conditions such as adequate light, water, nutrition and a place to take root are imperative for success.
Select A Potting Mix: It’s important to start with a high quality potting mix. Soil taken from the garden doesn't do so well in containers. A more porous, less dense, well balanced potting mix like Vermont Compost Company's 'Fort V' works very well for us. We have tried many mixes, and Fort V is a proven winner (and no, this is not sponsored content).
Before filling containers with potting mix it’s a good idea to moisten the mix with water. The mix should be damp, but not sopping wet - if you squeeze a handful of moistened mix into a ball and water drips out, then that is a bit too much water.
Fill your Pots: Fill your containers (whether plastic, fiber or cardboard) to within 1/4" to 1/2" of the rim. This allows the plant plenty of growing medium and provides headspace for proper watering. The soil/air interface of the potting mix is important because stale air at the base of the young seedling (from filling the container only half way) can foster 'damping off' organisms that can set back or kill seedlings. We fill pots by scooping potting mix into them and lightly tamping the surface without “packing” them. Air movement around seedlings from fans can help prevent damping off as well.
Watering: Watering is one of the hardest jobs in the greenhouse, a surprise to most people. The goal is to get water to the bottom of the container, without excess water (and the water soluble nutrients in your potting mix) flowing from the bottom. Too little water may keep the top half of the container moist, but the bottom half could be bone dry.
It is beneficial to keep the surface of the potting mix on the dry side to prevent damping off mentioned above. In practice, this means watering thoroughly and less frequently. Once seeds have germinated and emerged, water thoroughly every 2-3 days, depending on how sunny it is. If seedlings are wilting, definitely water immediately.
For home gardeners, a good way to ensure thorough watering is to water your plants from below which allows your plants to absorb water through capillary action. Simply pour a few inches of water into a small tray and place seedling on the tray. Water will be absorbed through the drainage hole of the pot and siphoned upward through the soil to water your plants! Once seedlings are damp it is important to dump any excess water in the trays and never let seedlings sit in standing water.
Light: Adequate lighting is also a key to success. Direct sunlight is ideal, but 12-14 hours of electric lighting works well this time of year. Ordinary cool white fluorescent bulbs, like 4' shop lights, perform fine; we have used them for nearly 40 years to start our first plants. The key to success is to lower the bulbs to within 2-3" above the plants to provide adequate light intensity. This light intensity keeps seedlings from stretching or getting 'leggy'.
Potting Up and Hardening Off: Good potting soils contain enough plant nutrients that there’s no need to add fertilization to your seedling. Once plants outgrow their small pots, simply transfer them to larger pots with fresh potting mix. This should be sufficient until the seedling gets planted out into your garden. Check out our tips about hardening off your seedlings for more information.
Does all this sound like a lot of work? It is! Growing vegetables and flowers from seed takes time, patience and practice, but it also opens up all kinds of possibilities and it can be really exciting! And hey, if you forget to grow those sungolds, or you find you need an extra zucchini, or you forgot to plant some perennials, don’t fret - we’ve got you covered.
Best of luck and success in your gardening efforts!
The Team at Cate Farm
