Step Two - Indoor germination and growth!

Step Two of my five step program blog.

The really successful gardener is the man or women who can bring in a harvest that costs significantly less than what the same produce would have cost at the market. Through good planning practices, they rarely have excess and when they do, they have developed a ready market of other gardeners who will be glad to swap one veggie for another.

Professional in this bracket also protect the seed they do have as if it were gold. (Have you checked out the cost of seed packets online lately)? But hey, if you find yourself with lots of excess seed (or money is no object), then by all means skip this section and proceed to direct seeding. Just be prepared to use lots of seed in order to insure enough germinate. Outdoor conditions can range from ideal to horrible and can change in just one day. This can play havoc on germination rates and can result in too many seedlings (ideal conditions) or too few (cold and or dry conditions). If you get lucky and most of the seed does germinate, then you face the unpleasant task of having to thin (kill) perfectly good seedlings. That's something I absolutely hate to do!

One way to avoid the thinning problem altogether is to germinate your seeds indoors where appropriate. Most seeds can be done this way. Exceptions would be plants that have really sensitive root systems like carrots. Most other common vegetables can handle being transplanted just fine. Potatoes are another example. Some, like tomatoes seem to thrive when handled in this manner. When you proceed in the manner, you have many advantages; plant production control not being the least of them. Because you have elected to start your plants indoors you get to fine tune the amount of light, heat and moisture each plant gets. You also have removed the tender seedlings from the harsh conditions (and pests) that are often encountered in the cold, cruel world. As a result, the seeds you do sow come up fast and, in general, grow quickly. They also rarely suffer from a term called 'checks'. A term that is used to indicate some factor that interrupts plant growth. Such 'check' can result in weak or stunted plants later on.

Keep your eye on the bottom line

If you are just starting out, you will necessarily encounter some start up costs in order to get going. This might include items like peat pots, planting trays, lights and sterile starting soil. Just make sure to keep your operation as simple (and cheap) as possible. Over the years, I have accumulated quite a few reusable starting trays of various configurations and cell size. Since they can be used over and over again, the once time cost is spread out. Make sure to shop around for these as prices can vary a great deal.

Seed packets are another item that it pays to shop around for. I've discovered that I can often purchase the exact same seed package for half the cost by visiting seed racks at garden centers as opposed to buying the same thing online! One store I've found to be great for this is the Home Depot where I live in southwest Missouri. Another technique that works is to share the seeds you do have with other gardeners. It's amazing how generous people who garden are! And, if you grow heirloom plants, you can always let a few reach maturity and then collect some free seeds at the end of the season. This works especially well with green beans, tomatoes, radish plants and bell peppers! If you develop a system, it will soon be a rare day when you have to go out and buy seed. The only times I will purchase anything now is when I want to try out a hybrid variety I think I might like. (Hybrid seed generally breed true only once and any seed produced will not be as good).

Getting your seeds off to a good start

In her book, The New Seed Starters Handbook, author Nancy Bubel does a great job at guiding both the novice and experienced individual to new heights of success in the art of seed starting. The key is to begin with clean equipment, sterile soil and fresh seed that is stored properly from season to season. In her book, Nancy cover the entire spectrum of why, who, how and when. I picked up her original book many years ago and read and reread it until it feel apart. Be sure to check out the section on raised beds and cold frames for some hints on how to make your growing efforts not only enjoyable but also hyper productive while requiring little work. Way cool.

My next topic will cover Step Three: Hardening off.