As the snow falls lightly outside our window, the sunset's glow painting pink the mountains that surround us, memories of past gardens tickle the corners of our minds. Anticipation of fresh greens, fire side roasted root vegetables, and sweet fruits of Seaberries excite us.
With such a short growing season, Memorial Day to Labor day, many of the foods we grow need an early start that nature here does not provide. With heirloom seeds from Siberia, North Dakota, and Canada, many of the crops we grow can simply be started outdoors. Such as peas, beans, lettuce, spinach, carrots, corn, and more, but what of those that require more than 90 days from seed to harvest? We furnish an extension to our growing season by starting seeds indoors.
When starting seeds indoors, you need to consider five things: temperature, water, lighting, soil, and seeds.
With such a short growing season, Memorial Day to Labor day, many of the foods we grow need an early start that nature here does not provide. With heirloom seeds from Siberia, North Dakota, and Canada, many of the crops we grow can simply be started outdoors. Such as peas, beans, lettuce, spinach, carrots, corn, and more, but what of those that require more than 90 days from seed to harvest? We furnish an extension to our growing season by starting seeds indoors.
When starting seeds indoors, you need to consider five things: temperature, water, lighting, soil, and seeds.
Temperature:
Temperature controls are needed for various reasons. Warm season vegetables like Corn, Squash,& Green Beans need warmer soil and weather to produce at their best. Some seeds require warmer soil temperatures to germinate properly, or germinate at their maximum, (like Eggplant, Melons, Peppers, & Tomatoes). Plants such as Peas, Lettuce, and Spinach do best with cooler soil temperatures.
Seeds of the Mole Plant, (yes there is such a plant) have very limited germination rates as low as 10%. However, germination in a controlled environment of 70 degrees can increase germination to 90%! Most seeds do far better if the external temperatures can be maintained.
Due to the variety of seeds needs, being able to control the temperatures can mean the difference between having a bumper crop or just making do. Because we heat with
wood, temperatures can vary greatly. Having a heated greenhouse in Montana was not very practical in regards
to cost.
Seeds of the Mole Plant, (yes there is such a plant) have very limited germination rates as low as 10%. However, germination in a controlled environment of 70 degrees can increase germination to 90%! Most seeds do far better if the external temperatures can be maintained.
Due to the variety of seeds needs, being able to control the temperatures can mean the difference between having a bumper crop or just making do. Because we heat with
wood, temperatures can vary greatly. Having a heated greenhouse in Montana was not very practical in regards
to cost.
7 ft. X 6 ft. grow shelves 4 shelves with lights
Using scrap lumber, it is very easy to build shelving for your plants at a minimal cost. Grow lights can be added to each shelf. Hanging them with chains, you have the ability to raise and lower lights as the seedlings grow. Need to maintain a warmer environment? Cover with a sheet is a simple solution.
20 cu. ft. chest freezer
Because we heat with wood, we found a way to keep plants, (like
Tomatoes, Peppers, & Melons), nice an toasty at 70 degrees.
Using an old 20 cu. ft. chest freezer, we added a board to the bottom to adjust for the motor portion.
Tomatoes, Peppers, & Melons), nice an toasty at 70 degrees.
Using an old 20 cu. ft. chest freezer, we added a board to the bottom to adjust for the motor portion.
2-4 ft. lights fit in the freezer just right
Using 2 1x6 boards, cut to fit the length of the freezer, we drilled
holes in either end of the board. We attached grow lights with chains through the holes, allowing us to raise and lower lights as needed. Germination times are shorted dramatically!
holes in either end of the board. We attached grow lights with chains through the holes, allowing us to raise and lower lights as needed. Germination times are shorted dramatically!
Water:
mist at this stage
Water is necessary for all life. With seeds it will cause germination and growth.
However, too much and they quickly die. Damping off is a condition where seedlings start to die shortly after germination during the young sprouting stage. This is caused by a fungi in the soil when there is excessive watering during this tender stage.
Don't over water! Until your seedlings are developing their second leaf set, you should mist your soil daily. Don't soak the soil either, you want it moist without being overly wet. You don't want your seeds to dry out during germination!
However, too much and they quickly die. Damping off is a condition where seedlings start to die shortly after germination during the young sprouting stage. This is caused by a fungi in the soil when there is excessive watering during this tender stage.
Don't over water! Until your seedlings are developing their second leaf set, you should mist your soil daily. Don't soak the soil either, you want it moist without being overly wet. You don't want your seeds to dry out during germination!
moisture is visable
Watering daily is needed due to the higher temperatures used in seed
starting and enable the seeds to germinate in 7-14 days on average. But if you see the moisture, then you don't need to water until the next day. We actually see germination within 4-7 days with our methods.
starting and enable the seeds to germinate in 7-14 days on average. But if you see the moisture, then you don't need to water until the next day. We actually see germination within 4-7 days with our methods.
Lighting:
Light is.........life! Without light most seeds that are light dependent will not germinate. As you know all plants need some form of light, we ourselves tend to be less than our best with extended periods of time without the wonderful sun.
Providing light for your plants is important, but too much light will cause them to 'get leggy', tall, weak, and stressed.
Using a timer is a great way to regulate the time of lighting. Though the sun is by far the best, starting seeds indoors requires some artificial light.
Providing light for your plants is important, but too much light will cause them to 'get leggy', tall, weak, and stressed.
Using a timer is a great way to regulate the time of lighting. Though the sun is by far the best, starting seeds indoors requires some artificial light.
chains to raise or lower lights
By hanging lights on chains, you can raise or lower the lights as your plants tell you exactly what they need. Using grow lights is ideal, however simple fluorescent lighting will do as well. Keeping the light on 24/7 will assist your plants in germinating quickly, but keeping the lights on a more natural schedule will assist them far better over the length of time needed until planting time. Here in Montana our summers can be a dream come true for those sun lovers in us all. Because our seasonal sunshine can be 14-16 hours' worth during our growing season, we usually start with a minimum of 10 hours of light for our seeds.
The lights are maintained at the level of the pots until germination occurs. As the plants grow the lights are raised slowly to prevent 'leggy' plants.
The lights are maintained at the level of the pots until germination occurs. As the plants grow the lights are raised slowly to prevent 'leggy' plants.
Soil:
Soil is magic! How it provides all the nutrients to make seeds begin their journey to our table. What soil you provide your seeds will allow them all they need to grow or inhibit their ability to adapt when finally planted outside. Like humans,
plants have nutritional requirements too!
Ideally, you want good healthy medium (soil, compost, peat moss, etc.) to start your seeds in. Using potting soil from the store may not be the best. They can be overly damp for extended periods, thus allowing fungi that is bad for seedlings. Also, micro-organisms that are found naturally in our environment, may not be available or worse yet, contain items that would be harmful to you and your plants.
It is best to start with the same soil you will use. Naturally adapting your plants to the soil they will have in your garden. Healthier soil means healthier plants and healthier you! Try to find organic mediums locally and mix your own seed starting soil. The mix we have used for years with great success is: 1 gallon garden soil; 1 gallon clean sand; 1 gallon organic compost; 1 gallon peat moss; mix well and stones taken out.
Then add minerals or other organic amendments to aid your seedlings in growth. Depending on the market, you can use variations of minerals'/vitamins'. Green sand, organic cotton meal (if it isn't certified organic it could be GMO - read the label!), bat guano, bone meal, etc. Kelp is the best overall adding natural minerals' and vitamins' to your soil.
plants have nutritional requirements too!
Ideally, you want good healthy medium (soil, compost, peat moss, etc.) to start your seeds in. Using potting soil from the store may not be the best. They can be overly damp for extended periods, thus allowing fungi that is bad for seedlings. Also, micro-organisms that are found naturally in our environment, may not be available or worse yet, contain items that would be harmful to you and your plants.
It is best to start with the same soil you will use. Naturally adapting your plants to the soil they will have in your garden. Healthier soil means healthier plants and healthier you! Try to find organic mediums locally and mix your own seed starting soil. The mix we have used for years with great success is: 1 gallon garden soil; 1 gallon clean sand; 1 gallon organic compost; 1 gallon peat moss; mix well and stones taken out.
Then add minerals or other organic amendments to aid your seedlings in growth. Depending on the market, you can use variations of minerals'/vitamins'. Green sand, organic cotton meal (if it isn't certified organic it could be GMO - read the label!), bat guano, bone meal, etc. Kelp is the best overall adding natural minerals' and vitamins' to your soil.
Seeds:
Seeds are amazing, tiny little shells of life. Given the nutrients they need, they go from these tiny little miracles to food that feeds ourselves and our livestock. Seeds are living encased environments of this plant or that. Knowing that seeds are life - their length of viability needs to be considered. Planting 3-5 seeds per pot can provide 3-5 amazing plants, but as seeds age they can lose their viability.
Sunberries for an example, have viable seeds for only one year, where seeds such as peas can be viable for years. The germination rate will decrease as the storage time increases.
We discussed the differences between hybrid and heirloom seeds in an earlier blog at http://www.weebly.com/weebly/main.php#. We have found organic heirloom seeds to be the best by far!
Sunberries for an example, have viable seeds for only one year, where seeds such as peas can be viable for years. The germination rate will decrease as the storage time increases.
We discussed the differences between hybrid and heirloom seeds in an earlier blog at http://www.weebly.com/weebly/main.php#. We have found organic heirloom seeds to be the best by far!
Putting it all together:
Now that you're ready to start some seeds, let's start! One quart, or 8 cups, of soil will fill 5 - 4" pots. Using a big bowl or small bucket, add some water to your soil mix. Not enough to make mud, you want the soil damp enough to make a ball when squeezed, yet still be able to easily separate. Fill your containers about 2/3 full, lightly pat soil down.
You most likely will not use all the seeds, so you want to keep the seeds as dry as possible, including preventing moisture from your hands. It is easier to pour your
seeds into a small dish. Seeds of Thyme, chives, and basil can be very small. Scattering a small amount on the soil in the pot is the easiest way to do it. Other seeds can be difficult to plant, we use a pair of tweezers to add seeds to our soil mix. Larger seeds you can push into the soil. Cover the seeds with a small amount of soil. Doing this leaves room in the pot to make it easier to add soil later if any starts become a little leggy, etc.
Don't let your seeds dry out once planted, but over watering can cause 'damping off' and kill young seedlings. It is better to mist the top of your pots, doing this daily will provide the water your plants need without over doing it.
Putting your pots in trays allows the ease of moving plants and later provides a way to water them from below once the seedlings are well developed. Cover the trays with light plastic or plastic covers until the seedlings germinate and grow their first leaves. Place the warm weather seed trays in a controlled environment: a greenhouse, a hot house, or a
small room. Cold weather crops planted indoors to 'get a jump on the growing season' can be placed on shelves
with lighting.
Lighting should be provided, minimum of 10 hours, but far better if 12-16 hours of light. Keep the lights as low as the pots' tops. Raise the lights as the plants grow. This encourages faster germination and the second set of leaves (called feeder leaves) will be healthier.
Once the seedlings have germinated and begun to grow their second set of leaves, you can keep them uncovered. You can also reduce the light times to what daylight hours are normal for your area. Seeds should be started indoors an average of 6-8 weeks prior to your last frost.
If you don't have a green house or hot frame to put your plants in, you will need to 'harden them off' before
transplanting them. A week or two before you transplant
them, start taking them outside for short periods of time, usually in a shady spot. Increase the time they are outdoors, moving them from the shade to sunny spot. Within a
couple of weeks they will have adapted to the outside environment and should do quite well after transplanting. Remember to water them well when you plant them
outside.
Other than weeding and watering, enjoy the fruit of your labors!
May your sunsets smile for you alone........
Brenda Lee
seeds into a small dish. Seeds of Thyme, chives, and basil can be very small. Scattering a small amount on the soil in the pot is the easiest way to do it. Other seeds can be difficult to plant, we use a pair of tweezers to add seeds to our soil mix. Larger seeds you can push into the soil. Cover the seeds with a small amount of soil. Doing this leaves room in the pot to make it easier to add soil later if any starts become a little leggy, etc.
Don't let your seeds dry out once planted, but over watering can cause 'damping off' and kill young seedlings. It is better to mist the top of your pots, doing this daily will provide the water your plants need without over doing it.
Putting your pots in trays allows the ease of moving plants and later provides a way to water them from below once the seedlings are well developed. Cover the trays with light plastic or plastic covers until the seedlings germinate and grow their first leaves. Place the warm weather seed trays in a controlled environment: a greenhouse, a hot house, or a
small room. Cold weather crops planted indoors to 'get a jump on the growing season' can be placed on shelves
with lighting.
Lighting should be provided, minimum of 10 hours, but far better if 12-16 hours of light. Keep the lights as low as the pots' tops. Raise the lights as the plants grow. This encourages faster germination and the second set of leaves (called feeder leaves) will be healthier.
Once the seedlings have germinated and begun to grow their second set of leaves, you can keep them uncovered. You can also reduce the light times to what daylight hours are normal for your area. Seeds should be started indoors an average of 6-8 weeks prior to your last frost.
If you don't have a green house or hot frame to put your plants in, you will need to 'harden them off' before
transplanting them. A week or two before you transplant
them, start taking them outside for short periods of time, usually in a shady spot. Increase the time they are outdoors, moving them from the shade to sunny spot. Within a
couple of weeks they will have adapted to the outside environment and should do quite well after transplanting. Remember to water them well when you plant them
outside.
Other than weeding and watering, enjoy the fruit of your labors!
May your sunsets smile for you alone........
Brenda Lee