Column for Puslinch Pioneer, February 2020
By Ben Cullen
Feb-“brrr”-uary might be the only month that makes an onomatopoeia, and a somewhat bleak one.
With this bleakness, you might think gardeners dread February. But you would be mistaken.
Most avid gardeners have already spent a month or more with their feet up and the 2020 seed catalogues in hand. If you haven’t got your seed guides there is still time, and many are available online for streamlined ordering.
Why Start from Seed?
- Variety. Seed catalogues are packed with variety, as are Seedy Saturday events which pop up in Guelph and Fergus around March where unheard-of varieties can be bought or traded (check online)
- Budget. Vegetable transplants can cost anywhere from $1.50 – $3.00 per plant, whereas an entire packet of seed can run $0.99.
- Environment. It is always better to choose home-grown, and you can also choose recycled pots unlike most commercial greenhouses which use plastic.
- Extend the season! By the end of February you can begin starting seeds indoors for cabbage, onion, leeks, leafy greens, chives and parsley for transplanting in May. In 2019 last frost for Puslinch was May 13, so count back from that date by the number of weeks listed in the catalogue to determine when to start your seeds for earliest possible transplant.
How to Start from Seed
- Gather some containers – you can go with purpose-made seed starting trays or reused dairy containers and anything in-between. Drainage is important, so cut holes if there aren’t any.
- Growing medium. You can buy a pre-mixed seed starting soil, or make your own with equal parts peat moss, vermiculite and sharp sand.
- Plant according to the depth and density listed on the package. For smaller seeds it is sometimes easier to sprinkle the seeds on the soil then sprinkle more soil on top.
- Water carefully to avoid washing away the seeds. Try fine misting with a spray bottle to start, then switch to watering from a can. Allow slight drying between watering.
- Cover with any type of clear plastic lid or bag to create a humid environment. If evidence of fungal diseases such as powdery mildew appears, remove the cover for air flow.
- Heat mats are optional – while they help speed up some vegetable seeds, they are not necessary if you start early enough. You can also start some seeds on top of the fridge for similar effect.
- Light becomes important once the seed has germinated and green appears. For many seedlings, a sunny south-facing window will suffice provided plants are rotated daily to avoid getting lop-sided. If you opt for artificial light, adjust it to 4-6 inches above seedlings for 15 hours per day.
- Fertilize once multiple pairs of leaves start to appear. A water soluble fertilizer makes it easy as you can simply fertilize as you water.
“Hardening off” helps seedlings adapt before transplanting. Choose a warm, sunny day to leave the plants outdoors during the day and bring them back in at night. Do this for a few days until you are comfortable leaving them in their pots outdoors overnight. After a couple of days and nights outdoors, and you will be ready to transplant.