Starting Seeds Indoors

  Update from Alan Hickman

Except for some specialty perennials, starting seeds indoors begins in March so don’t panic and don’t go buying ‘seed started kits’, soil mixes or anything else.  PTG Class #III (11th Feb) is all about soil and will cover the construction of flower and vegetable beds. Class #IV, the following week, is a ‘show and tell’ about seeds, seeding, and tuber and pelargonium propagation. These two classes will discuss what to do, how when and, more particularly, why.

Broadly speaking, all packaged seed sold at retail - by mail or in store - will meet some generally accepted standard of viability and that standard will vary depending on the sort of seed and what sort of growing season the particular seed crop has had. The viability will also depend on how the seed has been handled in shipping and in the store. Also broadly speaking, seeds available in non-specialty outlets will tend to be those which are the most reliable and the most easy to grow.

Regarding the sort of lights which should be used for starting seeds indoors, the best answer is: whatever you can pick up for free. If you have a choice – and beggars are seldom choosers – warm white florescent tubes. The whole setup will only be in use for around eight weeks and growing your own seedlings only makes economic sense if you have no, or a very low, capital investment.

Except under unusual circumstances, after a couple of weeks outside, the difference, between seedlings raised under the most expensive wide-spectrum grow-lights and those grown under third hand daylights or cool whites, isn’t enough for home gardeners to bother about. If you are growing Mary Jane different rules apply.

As to what to grow, because garden space is always at a premium, tend to look for things which are high value and low volume. Most herbs would fall into this category, and what is not used fresh can often be dried for winter use. It make no financial sense, for instance, to grow garlic. 3lb. of fresh, cleaned, vacuum packed, cloves can be had, in the middle of winter, for $3.99. You couldn’t prepare enough ground to grow three pounds of garlic for four bucks, let alone buy the seed, plant, weed, harvest and clean the crop.

See you at Class number III.