Sowing Seeds Indoors

Though most seeds are reliably started indoors, many types are easily started outdoors where they are to grow.

Planning

Good timing in sowing seeds is a key to having transplants of the right size to set out in the right weather. Three important things to know are:
1. The first and last expected frost dates for your area.
2. The kind of weather liked best by the young plants of the types you’re growing.
3. The number of weeks from sowing to setting-out size.

When to Sow

You can ask your local county extension agent for the frost dates and other Seasonal Benchmarks for your area. You can also find this information in publications like the Farmer’s Almanac, and on many Internet Websites by searching for “US Frost Free Dates.” We have provided a place for you to write these down in the chart at right. Some seeds need warm temperatures (about 70° F) or even warmer to germinate. Others need cool temperatures (about 55° F) or freezing to germinate well. Young plants may prefer a different temperature to grow on than the seed did to germinate. Remember that the germination temperatures we talk about refer to soil temperature. Indoors, soil temperatures will approximate the average of day and night temperature for the location. Outdoors, soil temperatures will be slightly below this average in spring and slightly above it in fall.

To find out when you ought to sow, first pick out the right date for setting out in your area; then count back the number of weeks to grow garden-size transplants. Sort your seed packets into groups by their germination temperature requirements, so you will know which ones can be sown together. Before you sow, pick some good locations around your house to set seed trays and to continue growing the seedlings after germination. To find out how many seed trays to prepare, decide first how many plants of each kind you need, and sow twice that many seeds. For each 50 square inches of tray surface area, you may broadcast sow:

• Up to 50 large seeds            • Up to 100 small seeds            • Up to 150 tiny seeds

   One or two varieties may be sown in each seed tray; just make sure to label them. You should sow rather thinly in the tray, allowing enough space so seedlings won’t grow together and get overcrowded before they’re ready to transplant (and to make transplanting easier). If you are starting seeds in individual cups, plugs, or cells, plant 2 seeds per cell.

It may be helpful to use a planning paper like the example given below: (Example: Lexington, VA)

Perennial ground-covers can make life in the garden easier. Ground-covers offer a beautiful, organic method for handling many common garden problems. Understanding and properly applying ground-covers can significantly improve your overall landscape design.

• Most popular ground-cover plants spread vigorously – they can be used to bare spots in your yard, even hillsides and dry spots under trees.
• Deep-rooted ground-covers can help you contain an erosion proble, holding the earth solidly in place. Short-rooted ground-covers break up the ground, allowing trees and shrubs to receive moisture and nutrients more easily.
• Ground-covers regulate soil moisture and temperature, reducing the need for mulch. They also crowd out and smother weeds.
• Short, tread-able ground-covers can be used as a low-maintenance, interesting alternative to traditional lawn grass.

Browse through Park Seed’s full selection of ground-cover plants to find what works best for you. Not only do they solve man practical garden problems, but lying down a nice leaf background to your beautiful blooming plants can really tie the whole garden together adding depth, creating strong finished look that you might expect in a professional botanical garden.

About three years ago “Colony Collapse Disorder” was all over the news – honey bees were starting to disappear, and they have continued to drop in numbers every year since. Honey bees are the primary pollinators for commercial farms, but in nature there are hundreds of bugs, bats, birds buzzing from one plant to the next, keeping the ecosystem on task. One fat, fuzzy little bug is working hard to fill the gap left by the missing honey bees, the bumble bee!

Bumble bees work harder and longer than their smaller cousins, flying in weather that would keep honey bees from leaving the hive. Check out this article from the Seattle Times for more information: Native Bees Picking Up Slack.

Welcome the Bumble Bees into your garden!

• If you find a bumble bee nest, avoid moving if at all possible – these little guys are very important for your garden and other local plant life.
• To attract your own pollinators plant fruit trees and bright flowers. Here is a product list of plants that are known to attract pollinating birds and insects.

Check out Bumblebee.org to learn more about being sensitive to the tiny little workhorses in your garden.

Thanksgiving celebrations are almost universal throughout the history of the world,
different cultures celebrating the end of a long working summer,
celebrating the harvest. Even thousands of years before the pilgrims
ever landed at Plymouth the native Americans were feasting. In 1621,
they just happened to have a few hungry European guests.

You can celebrate your own harvest this year, providing much of your
Thanksgiving feast from your own garden. It may seem a little early to
start planning, but there are are plenty of cool-season veggies that
you could plant now and harvest for Thanksgiving.

Today is September first – 86 days until Thanksgiving Day, Thursday,
November 26th. Beets will mature in just over 70 days. Broccoli in 60.
Most lettuces and cabbage in 60 days. Peas in 65. You can get the seeds
now and have all these vegetables for the holiday. And if you've
planted and squash and pumpkins they should be ready by the end of
October or beginning of November. There are also a few things you can
do to extend the lives of your other garden plants into the fall.

So, plant now and harvest for Thanksgiving. Share your bounty with your family and friends.

One of the most specific demands your new plants will have is soil drainage. You want soil that will hold moisture but drain quickly – soaking wet soil will lead to rotten roots. Follow these simple steps to test your soil drainage:

(You will need a stop watch)

1. Dig a small hole, just a few inches.
2. Fill it with water.
3. Start timing.

If your soil drains less than 1/2 in. per hour, your drainage is pretty bad.

If it drains more than 2 in. per hour it may be a little too fast.

You can easy regulate high or low drainage by amending your soil with some high-quality compost. It's that easy. Now all of your plants will have evenly moist, perfect soil!

If you check out Park's tools and supplies we offer plenty of things to keep your soil and your garden healthy. If you want to ensure that you have the best soil possible try using our electronic soil tester or the sturdy, efficient 90 gallon compost bin.