March 30, 2018 by Mulberry Maids
There is no better way to celebrate the beginning of spring than to watch your seedlings spout and grow! For many years, I utilized a large south facing window at work, as I didn’t have an appropriate window at home. During that month and a half of watching my seedlings grow, I could not wait to return to the office every Monday morning to see what progress I missed over the weekend. It brought me so much joy! I am writing this blog to encourage anyone who has ever had the slightest interest in starting their garden from seeds to do so! It addition to bringing you joy, starting from seeds allows you to grow exciting plant varieties that you cannot find elsewhere. It addition, seed packets are very affordable. Especially if you go seed shopping with a friend and split packs with each other, as most seed packets provide more seeds than a small family garden will utilize!
What To Grow
First, figure out what type of space you have for a garden, how much sun the space receives, and what you would like to grow. If you are new to gardening, I suggest starting with “easier” plants to grow. I have had the most success with smaller sized produce like cherry tomatoes and hot peppers. Other easier seeds to start with include cucumbers, squash, eggplant, leafy greens, and beets. To select your garden variety, go to a local nursery and pick a combination of things that are common “easy growers” and perhaps a couple “fun challenges,” like purple cauliflower or something.
The next step is to understand what seeds should be started early indoors and what seeds can be sown directly outside. If you do not know, the back of the seed packet should give you growing recommendations. Peas, beans, corn, radishes, beets, leafy greens, cucumbers, and squash can typically be directly planted outside. However, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and broccoli typically do best if started indoors, especially with the shorter growing season that Colorado has. If you wait to start these seeds outside, there just isn’t enough time for the plant to grow and produce fruits before it starts to freeze again in the fall.
When To Start
In Fort Collins, it is recommended to start seeds indoors around mid to end of March, as starter plants should not be planted outdoors until after the average last frost date. The average last frost date in Fort Collins is May 1st, but chance of an overnight freeze is lowest after May 15th.
Planting and Growing
There are a variety of specially designed seed starting pots and trays that provide optimal conditions for the seed to flourish. The trays are great, as they keep all plants together in a relatively confined space, allow bottom watering, and include a humidity greenhouse cover. The greenhouse cover is beneficial to promote germination; however, be sure to remove the cover as soon as you see the first tiny sprout. When planting seeds, use a soil mix that is specially designed for starting seeds. It is generally said to bury seeds 2-3 times deep as they are wide. Be sure to not plant seeds too deep, as they may not be able to make it out of the soil! You can check the back of the seed packet for depth recommendations. Place seed trays in a south or east facing window that receives a lot of sun and warmth! This is crucial! When the seeds are germinating and growing in the small cells, it is usually preferable to bottom water by filling up the bottom reservoir. Check the reservoir frequently, as lack of water will not allow the seed to grow. Top misting can also be beneficial. If the starter reaches four inches tall before it can be planted outside, it should probably be transplanted into a larger container. It is important to avoid waiting too long to upgrade pot size, as root crowding can stunt growth. About a week prior to planting starters in the ground, be sure to harden them off. Hardening off is getting the indoor plant used to the outdoor elements, such as wind, temperature fluctuations, and strong light levels, etc. Place the potted plants outdoors for a couple hours each day and gradually increase their time. This will reduce shock to the plant once it gets planted outside. Sometime early to mid May, plant your seedlings outside and watch your garden grow and flourish! Happy planting!
