Seed Starting Time IV
Chris (6a NY)
7 years ago
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LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoChris (6a NY)
7 years agoRelated Discussions
So far I've started from seed...
Comments (9)I usually start all my seeds in fine vermiculite and so far all my wave and tidal wave petunias are up so I transplanted from 9 cell packs to 6 cell packs last nite. I also started Foxy Foxgloves and I transplanted 36 into 6 cell packs as well. I'm still waiting for my Datura seeds to germinated but it's only been 2 weeks for them and they usualy take 3-4 weeks. This year I bought another heated seed starting kit that comes with the 72 peat pellets and I planted two Datura seeds in each peat pellet. I cheque them daily and last nite when I took the cover off there was quite a smell. I also have a margarine container lined with a coffee filter with another 50 Datura seeds in it that I set on top of a fluorescent lite for warmth but nothing has sprouted yet. It's strange for me with Datura seeds because one year I'll have a lot germinate and other years hardly anything. The seed I have is fresh from my sister in law so it is not old. I think I'll back up my current efforts by planting another 60 seeds in Vermiculite in another heated seed starting kit. Stan...See MoreTime to start seeds indoors?
Comments (2)It may not seem like it but daylily seeds germinate and grow fairly fast, for me here my planting out time is around mid may, I start them end of Januaray , Feb time frame and it works for me. I use 20 ounce cups(the red solo types) and put 2-3 seeds in them or cut milk cartons in half and plant around 8 in those. The little seed trays will quickly be outgrown, are you planning on moving them into bigger containers? Each transplant will shock them a little, I like not to move them until its time to move outside, but it wont hurt them in the long run. I soak my seeds in solo cups as well (each cross gets a different cup usually) just room temp (I put mine on the top of the kitchen cabinets) with water and a tad amount of peroxcide. Silverkelt...See MoreI've Started These Flower and Herb Seeds
Comments (16)Oz, Whether or not you leave them in the peat pellets is up to you. I'd base my decision on a couple of facts: 1) How soon they are going to go into the ground. If you are going to plant them out in March (and with our variable weather, that might be iffy), they should be able to survive that long in peat pellets. Once the plants are 3" tall or so, though, you may need to feed them with a water-soluable fertilizer because peat pellets are essentially "dead" and have no nutrition in them for the plants. You could use the fert. of your choice--I like using liquid seaweed or fish emulsion. 2) How warm the seed-starting room is/how quickly they dry out. One of the problems with peat pellets is that they hold too much water initally when you first add water to them to get them to "expand" and "fluff up", and then once they dry out, it can be very hard to get them wet again. So, water regularly so they don't get dry and hard, but don't keep them sopping wet. If you keep peat pellets too wet, then damping off, which is a disease that kills the seedlings, becomes a huge issue. 3) Potting them up into cups gives them a huge advantage root wise, so I always pot up into cups using a good, sterile soil-less potting mix. Look at the size of your pellets and the size of the roots you can have in those pellets. Then look at a 12 or 16-oz. cup and imagine what size the roots could attain in those. If your plants are going to be inside another 3-4 weeks, your plants could gain a lot of root growth in paper cups during that time. 4) Potting them up into paper cups makes hardening off a lot easier. With larger plants in paper or plastic cups, you'll find the hardening off process will be easier to achieve. Plants in very small peat pellets often dry out very quickly as you are hardening them off outside in the sun and wind. If it is especially windy, they can be blown out of the flat. Plants in cups have a little more weight and hold moisture better, so they are a little easier to manage during the hardening-off process. And, I've grown most of what you've started from seed and they've done well for me here. I haven't grown pilotus, though, and Texas Bluebonnets usually flower in April-May from a fall planting. I am not sure if you'll get flowers this year from seed if it was planted only recently. On the other hand, I have planted "Alamo Fire" (red-flowered) bluebonnet seed in the spring, and those bloomed in June-July. Dawn...See MoreSeed starting time III
Comments (168)I'm sure they'll start growing and should produce something. At least some leeks and green onions. Seems like you have a smidgen shorter season than me. Give them another week or two. At least we had a nice sunny day between the rain. Well my plants got some excellent hardening off today, I had them in dappled shade all day and they seemed to enjoy it. Nice and calm with little wind. Alas it will be 2 days until I can put them out again. It may not get out of the 40s at all tomorrow. I was raving about this Espoma mix but my plants are smaller than last year. That Nature's Care last year really worked great. My plants this year are in need of supplemental fertilization. The tomatoes especially look pretty bad leaf wise, though they have a nice rootball and a nice fat stem so I guess it doesn't really matter. It's interesting I actually find growing tomatoes from seed indoors to be more finicky than peppers or eggplants... or brassicas for that matter....See MorePeter (6b SE NY)
7 years agoChris (6a NY)
7 years agoPeter (6b SE NY)
7 years agoRedSun (Zone 6, NJ)
7 years agoChris (6a NY)
7 years agoRedSun (Zone 6, NJ)
7 years agoLoneJack Zn 6a, KC
7 years agoChris (6a NY)
7 years agoLoneJack Zn 6a, KC
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agotanazone5bny
7 years agoChris (6a NY)
7 years agoOldDutch (Zone 4 MN)
7 years agoRedSun (Zone 6, NJ)
7 years agoChris (6a NY)
7 years agoRedSun (Zone 6, NJ)
7 years agoRedSun (Zone 6, NJ)
7 years agoChris (6a NY)
7 years agoPeter (6b SE NY)
7 years agoPeter (6b SE NY)
7 years agoPeter (6b SE NY)
7 years agoPeter (6b SE NY)
7 years agoChris (6a NY)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoPeter (6b SE NY)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoChris (6a NY)
7 years agoPeter (6b SE NY)
7 years agoChris (6a NY)
7 years agoPeter (6b SE NY)
7 years agoChris (6a NY)
7 years agotanazone5bny
7 years agoChris (6a NY)
7 years agoPeter (6b SE NY)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoRedSun (Zone 6, NJ)
7 years agoPeter (6b SE NY)
7 years agoRedSun (Zone 6, NJ)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoWild Haired Mavens
7 years agotanazone5bny
7 years agoRedSun (Zone 6, NJ)
7 years agoLoneJack Zn 6a, KC
7 years agoChris (6a NY)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoChris (6a NY)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agotanazone5bny
7 years agoChris (6a NY)
7 years agoRedSun (Zone 6, NJ)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoChris (6a NY)
7 years agoRedSun (Zone 6, NJ)
7 years agoChris (6a NY)
7 years agoChris (6a NY)
7 years agoChris (6a NY)
7 years ago
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LoneJack Zn 6a, KC