Seed Starting

Starting your vegetable seeds indoors early can reduce the cost of transplants and allow

you to grow varieties that may be difficult to find in the nursery as transplants.

To start you will need a soilless mix, growing containers, the proper moisture, light, and temperature.

Indoors, a south window source of light will work, but be sure to rotate the containers so

seedlings will grow straight. You can also use two 40-watt cool fluorescent lights suspended about six inches above the plants, moving the lights up as the plants grow.

Keep the plants at a fairly warm temperature. Most vegetables germinate best between

65-75° F.

The soil you choose should be a fine-textured, uniform and airy potting mix. Do not use

garden soil, as it is too heavy and often carries disease-causing organisms.

The depth of the container should be at least two inches deep and have drainage holes at the bottom. Many small containers can be recycled for seed germination, including

egg and milk cartons, plastic soda bottles, and pie pans. If you intend to plant in recycled containers, sterilize them first with a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water. Rinse them well and let them air dry prior to use.

Keep potting mix evenly moist. If you have planted directly into a seed flat, transplant them into larger containers as soon as they have their first true leaves. When they

reach two-to-four inches tall, gradually expose the plants to longer periods of direct sun each day to transition them to the outdoors over a period of two weeks.