Getting a head start on Spring
By Mark MacDonald
S
cores of farm crops have been cultivated for centu- ries through the annual and laborious practice of sowing seeds directly in the ground, watering
them in, and waiting. The seedlings that emerge are thinned to the proper spacing, and after a predictable length of time, the mature crop is harvested and taken to market. There are many crops for which direct sowing makes
good sense. Root crops like carrots and beets simply don’t require any extra fuss to sprout and grow in the field or the home garden. Yet other crops, by their nature, take longer to mature.
The classic examples are peppers and tomatoes — both native to the tropics and intolerant of cold weather. Starting these crops from seed involves giving them the benefit of a head start by sowing them indoors in a temperature-controlled environment. Think of this early period in a tomato plant’s life as being highly artificial. Select sterile, inert seed starting
16 • Early Spring 2016
mix that is carefully formulated to retain moisture, yet drain away excess water. Then increase the soil tempera- ture through the use of a seedling warmer for faster and more uniform germination. As soon as the seedlings sprout, the strategy changes
and the objective is to slow everything down. Bottom heat will produce fast, leggy growth in seedlings, so remove the warmer and move the seedling tray into a space with good air circulation. This is the time to apply artificial light as well. Full spectrum T-5 fluorescent tubes, suspended just 10cm (4 inches) above the seed- lings works well. This keeps the tiny plants very brightly lit, promoting compact, stocky growth, and good leaf colour. Depending on spring weather, these seedlings may
need to stay in this artificial indoor environment for eight weeks or more. The key time for transplanting tender seedlings outdoors is reached when night time temperatures are consistently above 10 C (50 F). Plant-
localgardener.net
All Photos courtesy of West Coast Seeds.
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