Seed Starter Kits

Seeds Starter Kits

I usually plant seeds indoors in April which then produce seedlings that are ready to transplant outside on Memorial Day in May. There are some great starter kits that are available with everything you need including seeds, soil, plant trays and clear dome lids. You can see the whole process and some photos at the link …
http://picasaweb.google.com/markryan312/SeedStarterKits33010#

This year I found some great bargains for kits and seeds at different stores. You can see them all in the photos. I first saw that the Dollar Store had 4 packs of seeds for $1.00 although the variety is limited. I heard they also have this same price at Walgreens. That was a bargain since most seed packs are $1.00 to $2.00 per pack. When buying seeds I usually like the Burpee brand and you need to check the package date. This year’s packs should say 2010 although I have tried seeds from previous years. If packs are kept really dry you can keep them for a long time. Grain seeds found in 2000 year old Egyptian pyramids have been known to grow into viable plants.

Next you need some potting mix which has the soil, vermiculite and some fertilizer all together. I like the Miracle Grow brand. However, I also buy a bag of Perlite that I mix with the Potting mix to make the soil retain moisture longer. I general mix the Perlite with the Potting soil in a ratio of one to ten.

I then fill the seed trays with the potting mix with the trowel. I then press each pot with my thumb to compact the soil a little and then add extra mix to the top. I then water the soil so that it is damp but not muddy. I do all my trays first and let the water absorb into the soil mix.

I then organize the seed packs that I have selected and try to determine how many plants I want so there will be enough room in the garden to transplant them all. Normally I with plant four to eight seed pots per seed pack. I put the seed pack on top of the seed trays to get an idea how many seed trays I need and can manage.

I then separately remove a pack from the top of a seed tray exposing four to eight seed pots just so I remember which seed pots I am working on. I then poke a hole in the soil with a pencil point and twirl it big enough for the seeds. Large seeds like squash are about a half inch long and a quarter wide. You should probably plant seeds no deeper than their width and then cover loosely with damp soil. Carrot seeds are very fine and should only be lightly covered with soil. Make sure you mark each group of pots with a numbered popsicle stick to identify which pots have which seeds then record the number and seed names in a chart.

Check to see that soil is damp. If not, lightly sprinkle again with water making the soil damp but not muddy. Now cover the seed tray with the plastic dome. The dome prevents drying and keeps the soil damp for several days. I generally check every day and most of the time I water every five days if there is a dome cover. Trays with no cover will dry out faster and need to be watered more often.

Keep the seed trays warm at about 70 degrees during the germination period. In about two weeks the seeds will sprout into small green seedlings. You can now remove the dome cover and expose the seedlings to light for 10-12 hours per day. You can do this in a south facing window with sunlight or with a fluorescent light on a timer switch. If you have fluorescent blue grow lights they are even better but are more expensive. Hang the lights so that they are 4-6 inches above the seedlings. Keep moving the lights up as the seedlings grow. The lights will provide the energy needed for photosynthesis as well as some additional heat.

In about two months or after the last frost, you can move the seedlings outside. I generally put them in a cold frame outside covered with clear plastic to keep them warm. Keep them outside in the seed trays for a few days to harden up and get them use to the outdoor temperature changes. After hardening you can plant them in the garden evenly spaced according to package directions. A few feet apart for tall plants like tomato and more space for vine type plants like squash. Use marker stakes to identify the plants.

You can see a chart of the seeds that I planted this year below with some comments. I will let you now later this summer how they grow.

Comments Welcome: markryan82@comcast.net

Mark's Seed Plantings Garden Plants - Summer 2010
Number -Type Package -Date Planted -Comments
1 Mixed Herb Seeds Herb Garden Kit 4/5/2010 Basil, Chives, Dill, Parsley
2 Foxglove -Excelsior Perennial Garden Kit 4/5/2010 Burpee-Christmas Tree Shop
3 Hollyhock -Chaters Perennial Garden Kit 4/5/2010 Burpee-Christmas Tree Shop
4 Shasta Daisy - Alaska Perennial Garden Kit 4/5/2010 Burpee-Christmas Tree Shop
5 Alyssum -Busket of Gold Perennial Garden Kit 4/5/2010 Burpee-Christmas Tree Shop
6 Columbine - McKana Perennial Garden Kit 4/5/2010 Burpee-Christmas Tree Shop
7 Columbine - McKana Perennial Garden Kit 4/5/2010 Burpee-Christmas Tree Shop
8 Marigold Burpee 4/5/2010 Dollar Store - 4/$1
9 Shasta Daisy - Alaska Burpee 4/5/2010 Dollar Store - 4/$1
10 Echinacea-Purple Cone Burpee 4/5/2010 Dollar Store - 4/$1
11 Sunflower-Mammoth Burpee 4/5/2010 Dollar Store - 4/$1
12 Marigold Burpee 4/5/2010 Dollar Store - 4/$1
13 Zinnia Burpee 4/5/2010 Dollar Store - 4/$1
14 Zinnia Burpee 4/5/2010 Dollar Store - 4/$1
15 Morning Glory Burpee 4/5/2010 Dollar Store - 4/$1
16 Tomato-Cherry Burpee 4/6/2010 Walmart
17 Tomato-Roma,Plume,Paste Burpee 4/6/2010 Walmart
18 Tomato-Beefsteak Super Burpee 4/6/2010 Walmart
19 Carrot-Danvers Half Long Burpee 4/6/2010 Walmart
20 Summer Squash-Zucchini Burpee 4/6/2010 Walmart
21 Squash-Early Straightneck Yellow Burpee 4/6/2010 Walmart
22 Eggplant-Black Beauty Burpee 4/6/2010 Walmart
23 Carrot-Danvers Half Long Burpee 4/6/2010 Walmart
24 Sweet Corn Burpee 4/7/2010 Walmart
25 Sweet Corn American Seed 4/7/2010 Walmart
26 Broccoli Burpee 4/7/2010 Walmart
27 Pepper Burpee 4/7/2010 Walmart
28 Cucumber-Large American Seed 4/7/2010 Walmart
29 Cucumber-Pickle Bush Burpee 4/7/2010 Walmart
30 Pumpkin-Big Max Burpee 4/7/2010 Walmart
31 Pumpkin-Big Max Burpee 4/7/2010 One year Old -2009 Seeds
32 Cucumber-Tendergreen Burpee 4/7/2010 One year Old -2009 Seeds
33 Garden Bean-Tendergreen Burpee 4/7/2010 One year Old -2009 Seeds
34 Sunflower-Mammoth Burpee 4/7/2010 One year Old -2009 Seeds
35 Lettuce-Summer Crisp Burpee 4/7/2010 One year Old -2009 Seeds