{"id":281,"date":"2012-01-02T18:49:18","date_gmt":"2012-01-02T18:49:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lambethhort.com\/?p=281"},"modified":"2014-03-28T11:55:40","modified_gmt":"2014-03-28T16:55:40","slug":"starting-from-seed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lambethhort.com\/?p=281","title":{"rendered":"“Starting From Seed”"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\u201cSTARTING FROM SEED\u201d\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

Written by our own resident expert Peter Calvert<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is best to use a plant tray with cell pack inserts and clear plastic top.\u00a0\u00a0 Although there are many kinds of soil mix for starting seeds, the best and easiest to work with is \u201cPro Mix BX\u201d.\u00a0 In using Pro Mix, use a starting fertilizer with a reading approx 10(N) 52(P)10(K) at 1\/4 normal strength and dilute in water.\u00a0 In a container, mix Pro Mix with enough fertilized water to make it moist but not wet.\u00a0\u00a0 Fill the cell pack inserts with the damp Pro Mix and level evenly: do tamp this lightly especially around the perimeter.\u00a0 Sow the seed according to the instructions on the seed package.\u00a0 Sow thinly (a ( 3×4 \u00bd”) insert should only have about 50 seeds).\u00a0\u00a0 It is most important to take time to see that you space seeds evenly.\u00a0 Some small seeds like petunias or begonias are difficult to sow but many seed companies sell pelletized seed and these are well worth the extra price.<\/p>\n

Put the seeded insert in 1\/4″ fertilized water to let the water percolate up. \u00a0As soon as the water starts to show on the top remove and place in the tray with the clear plastic cover and place in light.\u00a0 Most seeds germinate best at temperature of 80F.\u00a0 A small thermometer in the tray will assist you in this. The heat can be attained with a heating pad or any other method that will ensure the proper temperature. The seeds need 15 hours of light.\u00a0 If you use fluorescent lights, the tubes should 7-9″ above the seed insert.\u00a0 You should not need to add water until after you remove the germinating seeds. \u00a0When the seeds germinate and a third leaf is showing, remove the clear plastic cover and grow the plants at a cooler temp. 60-65F. \u00a0\u00a0A fan will also help to circulate the air which will help eliminate disease.\u00a0 When the seedlings are about 3-4 weeks old, it is time to transplant to individual containers or cell pack inserts.\u00a0\u00a0 Stokes Seeds has the best instructions on the seed packages.<\/p>\n

The following chart will give you a time guide to help:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Variety<\/strong><\/td>\nStart Date <\/strong><\/td>\nGerm. <\/strong>Temp.<\/strong><\/td>\nGerm.<\/strong>Time<\/strong><\/td>\nSeedling <\/strong>Temp<\/strong><\/td>\nTransplant<\/strong><\/td>\nBloom<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Petunia<\/td>\nMarch 25<\/td>\n80 F<\/td>\n7 days<\/td>\n65 F<\/td>\nApril 15<\/td>\nJune 1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bergenia<\/td>\nMarch 25<\/td>\n80 F<\/td>\n16 days<\/td>\n65 F<\/td>\nApril 25<\/td>\nJune 15<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Snap Dragon<\/td>\nApril\u00a0 1<\/td>\n75 F<\/td>\n8 days<\/td>\n65 F<\/td>\nApril 20<\/td>\nMay 25<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Salvia<\/td>\nMarch 25<\/td>\n75 F<\/td>\n7 days<\/td>\n65 F<\/td>\nApril 15<\/td>\nJune 10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Impatiens (temp.critical)<\/td>\nApril 5<\/td>\n70 \u2013 73F<\/td>\n6 days<\/td>\n65 F<\/td>\nApril 25<\/td>\nJune<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Calendula<\/td>\nApril\u00a0 5<\/td>\n70 F<\/td>\n9-13 days<\/td>\n65 F<\/td>\nApril 25<\/td>\nMay 25<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alyssum<\/td>\nApril 10<\/td>\n75 F<\/td>\n6 days<\/td>\n65 F<\/td>\nMay 1<\/td>\nMay 5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marigold<\/td>\nApril 15<\/td>\n80 F<\/td>\n4 days<\/td>\n65 F<\/td>\nMay 1<\/td>\nMay 25<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Celosia<\/td>\nMay 1<\/td>\n80 F<\/td>\n4 days<\/td>\n70 F<\/td>\nMay 25<\/td>\nJune 10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Coleus<\/td>\nApril 15<\/td>\n75 F<\/td>\n7 days<\/td>\n65 F<\/td>\nMay 20<\/td>\nFoliage<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vinca<\/td>\nApril 10<\/td>\n80 F<\/td>\n6 days<\/td>\n65 F<\/td>\nMay 10<\/td>\nJune 10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zinnia<\/td>\nMay 1<\/td>\n80 F<\/td>\n5 days<\/td>\n70 F<\/td>\nMay 20<\/td>\nJune 20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tomatoes<\/td>\nApril 25<\/td>\n80 F<\/td>\n8 days<\/td>\n65 F<\/td>\nMay 5<\/td>\nOutside May 25<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Peppers<\/td>\nApril 5<\/td>\n75 F<\/td>\n7 days<\/td>\n65 F<\/td>\nApril 20<\/td>\nJune 15<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cucumbers<\/td>\nMay 7<\/td>\n70 F<\/td>\n5 days<\/td>\n70 F<\/td>\nMay 15<\/td>\nJune 1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Young plants must receive lots of light and cool temperatures to prevent them from getting too tall and falling over.\u00a0\u00a0 When the weather gets warm in April , place outside on warm days and bring in at night.\u00a0 Water only when soil appears to be drying.\u00a0 Fertilize with a water soluble fertilizer, every two weeks, with equal parts N.K.P. \u00a0\u00a0All plants must be hardened outside before planting in the garden.\u00a0\u00a0 If you are using a cold frame, plant about 1 week earlier than above.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cSTARTING FROM SEED\u201d Written by our own resident expert Peter Calvert It is best to use a plant tray with cell pack inserts and clear plastic top.\u00a0\u00a0 Although there are many kinds of soil mix for starting seeds, the best … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lambethhort.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lambethhort.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lambethhort.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lambethhort.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lambethhort.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=281"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.lambethhort.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/281\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2143,"href":"https:\/\/www.lambethhort.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/281\/revisions\/2143"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lambethhort.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lambethhort.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lambethhort.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}