AlanHarmon.net

September is getting away from me. It is September 21st and I have not started my Fall Garden seeds. Here is what I am doing this year:

Time To Catch Up

If you know me well, you know I HATE the term "I Am Too Busy", because "We Always Make Time For What We WANT To Do", and working on my garden and planting seeds lately haven't been that high on my list.

Last weekend I started clearing out my dead cucumber plants, finished tomatoes, some finished squash, lettuce that went to seed, etc. Now I have some place to put my seedlings, but I Don't Have Any Seedlings.... Arghh.

Seed Starting Potting Mix

I make my own compost and buy very little soil or compost from the store, but I do like to use the Miracle Grow Seed Starting Potting Soil. I have tried peat pods, my own sifted compost, and I just like this best. It is EASY TO USE and WORKS WELL.

Wet The Seed Starting Mix With Water

I should be fully moist. I add enough wat so that if you squeeze the mix with your hand it should drip some water out.

I Reuse Small 6-Pack Contairs I Bought

After trying lots of different techniques - I settle with this one. I use seedling started trays I bought from Amazon, and I just keep using them over and over without any issues.

Add Soil, Add Seeds, Add Soil

I fill the tray about 3/4 full, and either make a hole and pop the seeds in or sprinkle small seeds on top. Either way, I add an appropriate amount of Mix over the seeds (depending on the seed - just trust yourself and use your own judgement) and pat it down a bit so that the seeds are secure where you put them.

How Many Seeds Per Cell

That depends..... Here is my approach:
If using larger seeds, I generally use one per cell. If using smaller seeds, I will generally use a few per cell and plan on either cutting the seedlings to keep one per cell, or separating the seedlings and place them in their own cell. In the end, I will have one seedling per cell and then will either plant the seedling in my garden from the small-six-pack, or transfer it to a large-six-pack. That sounds complicated but it really isn't. I will post later how I do this with this September batch of seeds.

Label Your Seeds

I buy these garden tags, and put a label on from my handy Brother P-Touch. I will also put a date on a popsicle stick that I will through away at the end.

I Use a Heat Mat Whenever Night Time Temperatures Are Cooler (60s and below)

Using a heat mat will speed up germination times and the rate of germination.

Grow Lights

Grow Lights usually not needed before germination, though some seeds prefer light for germination. I just looked up what seeds, require this and one website seeds said lettuce - which I have fantastic results with NEVER using light to germinate them. You will learn from tria-and-error what works best.

I generally do not use lights until germination, then I will put the grow lights really close to the seeds.

Check Back for the Next Post (Part 2) on this in a few days!

Happy Gardening