May 08, 2014


By Ankaret Dean, Lanark County Master Gardeners

There is nothing like watching a few seeds popping up indoors when there is still snow on the ground. By starting seeds indoors they get a good head start on those planted outdoors. This means that you will be enjoying your fresh vegetables that much earlier.

Some vegetables well worth planting indoors are leeks, onions, the brassica family of kale, broccoli, cabbage etc., and herbs like slow-growing basil. Plants like lettuce will come along much faster when planted out as transplants but do equally well planted outside. Peas are quite hardy and will do well to be planted outside in early May as soon as the ground is workable. The delicate vegetables such as squash, cucumbers and melons, tomatoes and peppers cannot be planted outside until all danger of frost is gone, and definitely have to be started indoors.

When to start planting seeds indoors is debatable. For the hardy veggies transplanting outside is easier, although it is important that the ground has had a chance to warm up.

When planting the more delicate veggies it is important not to start the seeds too soon, as they are dependant on warm sunny weather to go outside. For most of these it is best to wait until the beginning or middle of April.

Here are a few tips on starting seeds indoors. Use a commercial seed starter mix, and a container with drainage. Mark the container with date and type of seed. Cover seeds with a thin layer. Use a fine water spray and keep damp at all times. Warmth encourages germination, and covering with a piece of clear plastic will keep in moisture. As soon as the seeds sprout place them in good light or under full spectrum lights. If crowded, transplant into individual pots. Lift out each seedling carefully by holding the leaf not the stem, and gently place in a hole and cover firmly.

The process of taking your seedlings outside requires a slow exposure to the sun and wind. Start by exposing them for one hour a day, and gradually increase it to a few hours before finally transplanting them into the ground. Another method is to place them under a bush so the sunshine is quite well shaded. If you have a garden shed, the pots can be put in a wheelbarrow and easily pushed in and out.

If you are transplanting the delicate family of veggies, it is a good ideas to have a few old blankets or towels at the ready just in case they need sheltering for late frost.

For more gardening information or questions contact:

www.lanarkmastergardeners.mgoi.ca

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