Time to start thinking about the Garden again!
And that means starting seeds.
I have gathered together a List of the Seeds that for my region need to be started 8-10 weeks before the last frost. For me this includes:
Egg Plant
Tomatoes (I also buy plants)
Basil
Hot and Sweet Pepers
Swiss Chard (new this year)
and Flowers, also something new for me this year.
I will start other seeds, but not for 2-4 weeks.
Some things start fine in small containers, but others do not transplant well and need to be started in the size container they will stay in until planted in the ground.
Tomatoes and Egg Plant do not transplant well and will be started in the larger pots, all other seeds I am starting today are fine in something smaller.
most seed starting mixes are good. I look for things that do not include fillers like platic. some mixes use plastic foam pellets to add water retention...yuck.
For best results add water to the mix before adding to the pots. This hydrates and compacts the soil without over packing. Some seeds only need to be lightly scratched into the dirt surface, but others need to be placed in the soil.
Silly, but I find a new crayon is the perfect tool for making holes that are not too deep or wide.
Drop 2-3 seeds in and lightly cover...making sure not to push down too hard.
Cover tray with plasic wrap or a tray cover and mist dirt lightly each morning when you plug in your lights. Leave on for aprox 14 hrs each day.
Once seedlings start to pop up un-cover and keep lights 2-3 inches above the tallest seedling. Do not put the light any further away or they will grow up...(ha ha ha)...to fast.
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