By Julie Achtermeier
There’s no question we’ve hit the doldrums of winter, but on the positive side, spring is just around the corner. The days are getting longer, and before you know it, we’ll be ready to head out into the gardens. If you’re planning to grow your vegetables this season, start now with seeds and enjoy your gardening practice early.
What to grow?
Decide what plants you would like to grow this year and do a little research. Consider the size of your gardens and how much space each plant will need. For example, planting watermelons in a small garden will crowd out other plants. Zucchini requires several plants to germinate and spreads out horizontally, so you will need a larger area. If space is a challenge, focus on taller plants rather than ground crawlers. Try green beans or cherry tomatoes, which tend to grow tall rather than spread out.
Choose a location indoors
Seeds are usually sown indoors about six to eight weeks before the last frost of the season. You will need a location with good natural light, like a sunroom, or purchase grow lights from a hardware or gardening store. If you are ambitious, you may also want to consider buying an indoor pop-up greenhouse. An indoor greenhouse consists of shelves inside a zip-up plastic enclosure that traps heat and humidity to provide a prime environment for growing seeds. They are relatively small, and most will sit out of the way in a corner.
Prepare your soil
The process of planting does not have to be expensive or complicated. Egg cartons work well as starter pots. Be sure to label them, so it doesn’t become a mystery garden unless you like to live on the wild side. It is recommended you plant seeds in a soilless peat moss mixed with equal parts vermiculite and perlite. This mix is lighter than potting soil, which can be too dense for the delicate seedling roots. You can also purchase ready-to-use pre-formed seed starters to keep the operation simple. Moisten the soil with warm water and follow the directions on the seed packets for planting.
Caring for your baby plants
Once planted, your new seeds will need to be covered to stay warm and moist. You can use a seed tray cover or plastic wrap. Move them to a location out of direct sunlight in a warm room. Ideally, the bottom of the seed tray should stay warm so you can use a heating mat (purchased from any gardening store) or place the tray on top of the refrigerator. Once germination has occurred, remove the cover and place in a location with bright light. You can also purchase a grow light if natural light is an issue. The seeds should be fertilized once a week with an organic liquid fertilizer to keep the roots and stalks healthy as they grow.
Transferring your seedlings
When your new seedling stems begin to grow additional leaves, it’s time to transfer them into larger containers with potting mix and compost. Most garden centers sell an organic potting mix for vegetables, which contains the correct balance of nutrients for food-producing plants. Carefully move each seedling into their new pot filled with soil, and then water well. Keep your seedlings in a well-lit area out of direct sunlight. The seedlings are delicate and need time to get used to their new pots and soil. Check daily to ensure the soil does not dry out but be careful not to overwater. Once the threat of frost has passed and the seedlings are well-established, you can plant them directly in the garden or in pots to take outside.
