An End that is just before a Beginning

Somewhere in the early part of January the winter blahs are beyond acceptably BLAH ... it is just miserable. Although the folks who ski and snow-board enjoy all the cold ... it is not the best time of year for those of us who love to be in the garden. Thank goodness the end of winter is near and the beginning of spring is looking promising.

We finished our final Community Education class on Sustainable Gardening on January 19th and the folks seemed to have gotten a good experience. We've been asked to consider putting together a level two class and we are thinking through what exactly could be of level two content and value. Time will tell and given the state of the economy, we might do well to offer folks a chance to really figure out how to grow enough food to put into storage if things get any worse.

So here is a portion of a short article we read through some time back and kept it in our database of good stuff. It is from http://www.helpguides.co.uk/ about things to do in preparation of the spring season.

Hope you enjoy it.

Sowing Seeds Indoors

Successful indoor propagation requires the gardener to provide the seeds with a healthy growing environment until they have developed sufficiently to survive in the outside soil. This includes using sterilized equipment and hygienic materials to reduce the risk of fungal diseases; the right amount of water and light; and a constant evaluation of their conditions, thinning the seedlings out and hardening them off when they are more fully grown.

Let’s look at just two items on the list for how to grow seeds indoors.

Hygiene

Seeds germinate and grow most successfully in warm, moist conditions; unfortunately, these are precisely the same conditions that encourage the development of fungal diseases.

To reduce the risk of exposing young plants to infection, it is vital to ensure that all propagating equipment is kept clean and sterilized. Tools and benches should be wiped down periodically with a mild disinfectant and all fallen leaves or other debris removed immediately. Seed trays and propagators should be sterilized before use, and compost should always be fresh and sterile.

Fungicidal solutions such as Chesnutt compound may also be applied to protect seedlings further. Make sure that you follow the manufacturer's directions closely.

Seedlings may also be at risk from fungal diseases if they become too moist or overcrowded. This is known as 'damping off', where the roots darken and die and the seedling collapses. This can be avoided by pricking out the seedlings to stop them from becoming overcrowded, maintaining the correct moisture levels and ensuring that there is an adequate air flow above and around the plants.

Sowing the Seeds

Fill a container (pot, seed pan, seed trays or pack) to the rim with standard seed compost and press in lightly around the edges with your fingertips or a presser board to ensure that there are no air pockets. Tap the container against a hard surface to settle the compost and then gently firm the compost again so that the top of the compost is just below the rim of the container. Water and allow it to drain for an hour.

Sprinkle the seeds thinly on the surface of the compost to achieve an even covering. This may be done by rolling them between your thumb and forefinger so that they fall singly, or by making a channel of the seed packet so that they can drop out slowly and evenly. You may find that very small seeds are easier to sow if you mix them with the same quantity of fine sand; this will give a more even distribution. Avoid sowing the seeds too densely, as this will result in thin, spindly plants that are prone to damping off. If you are using large seeds, you can sow them individually in compartmented packs or spaced out in trays.

Cover the seeds with a layer of sieved, moist compost to about the same thickness as the seeds themselves, then water lightly, so as not to disturb the seeds or the surface of the compost. If you are sowing dust-like seeds (such as begonia), you will need to leave them uncovered and water them from underneath: place the container in water up to its rim and leave soaking until the surface of the compost is moist. However, take care to ensure that you do not leave them soaking for too long as they will become waterlogged, which may encourage seedling diseases or make the seeds rot before germination.

Place a piece of glass or clear plastic sheeting over the container to maintain even humidity: do not let it touch the compost surface as this may disturb the seeds. Place the container somewhere warm and bright such as a greenhouse bench or in a propagator, shading it with newspaper or fine netting if it is in direct sunlight. Check frequently to see how the seeds are progressing.

Remove the cover as soon as the first seedlings germinate; keep the compost moist and the seedlings in good light until they are ready for pricking out.

Using Biodegradable Pots

You might also consider sowing in a biodegradable pot. In this situation, fill the pot to within 1 cm of the rim, sow three seeds on the surface, cover thinly with compost and then water. The three seedlings may be thinned to two once they have germinated, and the whole pot planted out when the young plants are well developed. This technique is very useful for seedlings that do not transplant well as the pot may be planted out without disturbing the roots.