Garden Club, November 2022
Thank you to Beth Schulman from Urban Farm Flowers (facebook.com/urbanfarmflowersIL) for being our guest speaker for our last Garden Club of 2022.
The following were her recommendations:
Favorite seed vendors: Rare Heirloom Seeds| Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds https://www.rareseeds.com/
They have a free catalog or order the Whole Seed catalog for more!!
Second favorite seed vendor: Seeds A-Z (In Stock) – Floret Flower Farm https://www.floretflowers.com/
Wonderful resources by Floret: Resources – Floret Flowers – https://www.floretflowers.com/resource/
Wonderful books to learn: Floret Books – Floret Flower Farm –https://www.floretflowers.com/books/
Some vegetables can be difficult to start so buy plants from Prairie Crossing. https://libertyprairie.org/places/prairie-crossing-farm/
Seed starting tray and dome: https://www.menards.com/main/seed-starting-grow-kits/mckenzie-seed-starter-greenhouse-kit/p707-30mc/p-1444450818486-c-3289655539443630.htm
Seed starting heat mat (Germinator mat): https://www.menards.com/main/seed-starting-grow-kits/ferry-morse-10-x-20-seed-starter-heat-mat/kheatmat-8/p-1444450816590-c-3289655539443630.htm
Seed organizer: Top Notch Large Photo & Craft Keeper https://www.joann.com/top-notch-large-photo-craft-keeper/18361782.html
Fine mist water spray bottle: https://www.menards.com/main/outdoors/gardening/lawn-plant-care/garden-sprayers/chapin-reg-2-liter-tank-sprayer/10031/p-1841405562339051-c-1463608034800.htm
Seed Starting Mix: PRO-MIX® Compressed Premium All-Purpose Soil Mix – 2 cu. ft. at Menards® https://www.menards.com/main/outdoors/gardening/lawn-plant-care/compost-soils-amendments/pro-mix-reg-ultimate-organic-soil-mix-1-cu-ft/1010071rg/p-1444451345240-c-1463608034794.htm?tid=5946848396866703239&ipos=1
Soil Blocker: Johnny’s Select Seeds – Hand-held 4 soil blocker https://www.johnnyseeds.com/tools-supplies/seed-starting-supplies/soil-blocking/hand-held-4-soil-blocker-7862.html
Starting Seeds Indoors
Originally created by Alicia Dodd, Fremont Township Garden
Additional Comments by Beth Schulman in Italics
Fluorescent Light Fixtures – Reflective material adds lights, suspend with chain so light can be adjusted to be within 2-3 inches from the plant if using T8 or T12 bulbs. (T8 is the best and the light closer makes the plant more robust, too high up and they get leggy)
Light Bulbs – Use either two cool bulbs (4000K or greater) or a mixture of cool and warm bulbs with the highest lumen rating you can find (4500Kelvin – Go blue light for growth) Recommended Grow Lights (You can often find on Facebook Marketplace). 4 10”x20” trays fit under one light
Seed Starting Mix – Soilless to promote better root growth. Most are mixtures of peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite and have no nutrients. Many recipes online to mix your own.
Compost – Add to seed starting mix if making soil blocks. Make sure to use well-composted if using manure. Consider putting some homemade compost aside in fall for early spring (Midwest Organics) No mushroom Compost, can use worm compost.
Water – Use unchlorinated, unsoftened water. If using city water, let water sit out for a day so chlorine can evaporate. Use room temperature water for warm-loving vegetables, like peppers, tomatoes, squash and melons.
Containers – Can re-use all sorts of containers, provided they are at least 3 inches deep to allow for root growth. Having a cover (even if just plastic wrap) will help keep seeds moist during germination. Beth prefers reusing plastic trays as it helps increase humidity for the plants.
Electric Timer – Optional, turns lights on and off at set times. Ideal day length is 14 to 16 hours. Can do 12-hour cycles or 24 hours, based on your space and timing needs. She sets them up in the basement and runs the lights overnight when electricity is cheaper.
Germination Mat – Optional, speed up germination with many plants. May also use warm spaces in house, like above the refrigerator or water heater. Do not use germination mat for celery or lettuce.
Fan – Optional, helps circulate stagnant air to prevent disease. Also produces a stockier plant that is easer to harden off.
Soil Block Maker – Optional, no need for containers, promotes better root growth and easier to transplant
Spray Bottle – Use before germination to moisten the top of the soil.
Tips for Success
Planting
- Moisten seed starting mix with warm water. Peat is water resistant so it’s important to thoroughly moisten before starting. Can let moistened mixture sit overnight to ensure it is ready for planting. Wet until holds form. Use 2/3 seed starting mix to 1/3 compost
- Follow proper seed planting depth. It is ok to leave the seed uncovered but make sure not to cover lettuce seeds and celery.
- After planting, cover container to retain moisture and place on germination mat.
- Open cover at least once every 24 hours to let fresh air in. Spray with water if soil appears to be drying.
- Remove cover and from germination mat as soon as you see the first evidence of germination and place under lights that are within 2 inches from top soil. Do not delay in putting under light.
- Seeds can last year in a cool dry place.
Growing
- Once germinated, let soil dry a little more between waterings. Bottom watering, add water to the base of the plants and let the roots soak up the water. Top watering once germinated can cause damping of disease. Fill bottom tray up over groves, ebb and flow of watering and drying out.
- Keep the light within 2-3 inches of the top of the plant, raising the height as needed.
- Once the first true leaves emerge, if you are using a seed starting mix without compost, you should add a diluted amount of fish fertilizer to your watering.
- If you are transplanting, once they have their first true leaves, pull up plant by holding on to their leaves, not the stem.
- Yellow leaves – too wet or need fertilizer
Hardening Off
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- Reduce watering and stop fertilizing a week before hardening off
- Consider using a fan on a low setting 5-6 weeks away from plants for an hour a day to get them used to wind.
- Start by setting them in the shade in a sheltered location for a day, then gradually add more exposure to sunlight and wind.
- Planting Between Mother’s Day and June once night temperatures are over 50 degrees
Plant Specific Tips
- Don’t transplant well: Root Vegetables, peas and beans
- Require light to germinate: Lettuce, ageratum, begonia, coleus, geranium, impatiens, nicotiana, petunia, snapdragon
- Prefer cooler temperatures: Celery, onions, parsley, parsnips, spinach, carrots
- Prefer warmer temperatures: Melons, eggplant, okra
- Long Germination time: Parsley, parsnips
- Slow growing: Perennial herbs, celery
- Leeks start in to go containers and then tease the plants apart.
- Heat Plants: Tomatoes, Peppers need heat mat. Check twice a day for growth and take off lid and turn on lights.
- Cucumbers best vertical and spaced 9 inches apart
- Eggplant prefers overcrowded conditions and stakes.
Thank you so much to all who attended and Sarah Christ for hosting. Special thank you to our speaker, Beth Schulman, as well as the Fremont Township Garden Crew for the advice and information.