Click HERE to see the entire issue of the "ABC's of Seed Starting" at the Skillin's Garden Log!

And if you can, check out our Seed Starting Class this Saturday March 5 at 10 AM and 2 PM at Skillin's Brunswick, Cumberland or Falmouth! 

Container, seed, soil mix-you are all ready to go! Be sure to read your seed packets. Tender annuals and warm loving vegetables benefit from the head start they get indoors especially here in the north where the season is short. Scatter the seed evenly over the surface taking care not to sow too thickly as crowded plants are prone to "damping off".

Milled sphagnum moss or coco fiber can be sprinkled over the seed. Generally the covering should be the same thickness as the seed. Most seed germinates in the dark. Newspaper can be used over the tray but be sure to check often and remove as soon as seedlings appear. Some very fine seed such as begonias need light to germinate and would benefit from being 3 inches below fluorescent lights. When seedlings emerge place them in a southeastern window and take care that the sun is not too hot. Be sure to rotate the trays a ¼ turn daily as the seedlings will grow toward the light and you do not want them to stretch. Plants grown under fluorescent lights grow more evenly but make sure you have placed the trays close to the lights to be beneficial. When using artificial light, cool white and warm white work the best in a two light system. Special grow lights such as the Vita-lite fluorescent tubes are a bit more expensive but provide the closest light to sunlight. At first the seedlings should be within 4" of the lights; move them further away as they get bigger. Plant lights should be on 12 to 16 hours per day (timers are very useful here).

Seed Starting Containers and Domes

Dome covers will aid in humidity and may help to keep the soil moist but dome covers should be removed during the day as it is just as important that the seedlings have good air circulation. You will still need to water your seedlings when the soil surface is dry to the touch. Do not let them dry out but do not saturate them either. Keep your seedlings evenly moist. Water them lightly until the water drips out of the bottom of the container.

In an upcoming issue of Garden Talks Online, we will discuss Transplanting Seedlings.