"All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today"
-Author Unknown
More and more gardeners are getting back to the basics and taking pride in growing their own vegetables and flowers from seed. The biggest trend in gardening for 2010 continues to be the 'grow you own' or 'grocery gardening' movement.
Looking back to simpler times, gardens were as much about survival as about enjoyment and beauty. Canadian gardeners are more interested than ever in producing their own food. In your own small way you can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions through planting a garden and eating from your own backyard or balcony (and it tastes so much better!) rather than buying trucked in fruits and veggies from far away.
You might think growing from seed is a practice only for advanced gardeners, but it isn't difficult to get the basics down.
Rule number one: Don't sow too early or your plants will be leggy and overgrown long before you can transplant them into the garden. Seed packets usually recommend sowing four to six weeks before the last frost date. To calculate the sowing date, count back from your last frost date which in our area is usually the May 24th weekend.
Choosing seedsAnnuals, vegetables and herbs are usually the easiest to grow. Perennials can be a bit trickier because most need a period of cold to break dormancy but are worth the effort.
ContainersPropagating kits usually include cell packs, a tray to hold the packs and a clear plastic lid. If you are reusing containers, always wash with soap, water and a little bleach. There are also biodegradable pots which you can start your seeds in then plant directly into the garden. Labels are important as newly sprouted seedlings often look alike.
Sowing mediumAlways use fresh, sterile seed-starting mixture. We like Pro Mix's Ultimate Seeding Mix which is a fine grade professional formula. Moisten mixture before sowing; it shouldn't be soggy, just slightly damp.
Follow directions
Seed packets contain information on timing, lighting requirements, sowing depth, and optimal germination and growing temperatures.
Keep moisture inLightly water freshly sown flats, then cover with plastic dome lid, or cover with plastic wrap and at the first signs of germination, uncover or remove. Watch the moisture accumulating under the dome/wrap, provide air circulation when too many large water droplets form.
WateringWhen the top of the soil looks dry, water carefully using a small watering can with a fine spray. Avoid overwatering: soggy soil and poor air circulation can lead to damping off, a fungal disease that can kill baby plants.
Light
A bright window works well (not full sun), but grow lights or cool fluorescent tubes are better. Keep seedlings about eight to 10 centimetres from light source to prevent plants from becoming too spindly. Plug lights into an automatic timer set for 16 hours on, eight hours off.
Fertilizer
When seedlings have two sets of true leaves (the first leaves are called cotyledons - or seed leaves - so wait for the true ones), start feeding once a week with a balanced (20-20-20), water-soluble fertilizer at half-strength, working up to full strength after a few weeks. If you are trying to go organic then choose a fish emulsion or similar organic based fertilizer.
TransplantIf seedlings become too crowded or too large for starter pots then transplant to individual containers once 3-4 true leaves are present.
Get inside and out of the cold this March with our annual Victorian Workshop series. A fun way to work with plants and design while getting your hands in the dirt! 
Another extremely busy week last week saw the planting and filling of greenhouse #13 with our beloved perennials. Roots, bulbs, cuttings, seeds - you name it we planted it and then some! We have many more varieties this season available in bigger sizes for instant gratification in your garden. Also, we have a brand new tag system on the 1 gallon pots that has the plant information tag affixed to a stake at the front of the pot. This method not only is aesthetically pleasing, it also makes it easier for customers to see and read the information.
Elizabeth and Julia have just started planting our custom designed Victorian Hanging Baskets. Elizabeth is ecstatic about some of the new combinations, already picking out the ones she wants for her garden! 
