Lawn & Garden
Moss in the City - Starting Plants From Seed
(Family
Features) - Seeds are little marvels. If someone needs proof of
miracles, have them plant a tiny carrot seed and then harvest a fat
carrot weeks later. Or sow a gritty morning glory seed and watch
throughout the season as it rambles over a chain-link fence, producing
an electric display. Or let them plant a typical-looking sunflower seed
and then crane their neck to look at a plate-sized flower towering over
10 feet tall. The potential locked inside seeds is awe-inspiring and
humbling.
Seeds are basically dormant plant embryos usually
enclosed within an outer shell. They come in all shapes and sizes --
from massive double coconuts (up to 40 pounds) to dust-like begonia
seeds. Some seeds, like tomatoes and kiwis, are enclosed in pulpy
fruits; while others, like bladderwort and hollyhocks, are surrounded
by dry husks. Most coniferous trees hold their naked seeds in cones,
while many hardwood trees protect their seeds inside tough hulls, as
with Brazil nut, hickory, and Kentucky coffee tree. Many seeds not only
contain nourishment (the endosperm) for the developing plant embryos,
but we can use them for food, too. Wheat, corn, peanuts, soybeans,
rice, pine nuts, pecans, and cashews are some of the seeds we enjoy.
As
we approach spring, gardeners buy seeds by the thousands. With
preparation, skill, and a little luck, those seeds will become millions
of flowers and fruits later in the year.
Here are a few general rules to follow:
- Buy
fresh seed from a reliable source. Some plants will grow from old seed
but fresh seed is usually more viable and vigorous. Use either seed
harvested from last year's garden or purchased with this year's date
stamped on the packet.
- Use a loose, well-drained, sterile potting mix. A loose soil allows the first roots and shoots to easily sprout.
- Sow seeds in moist, but not soaking wet, soil mix. Seeds can rot if the soil is too wet.
- Supply
bright light. Not all seeds need light to germinate, but after
sprouting, seedlings require bright light for best development.
- Be
ruthless about thinning. This is a tough one for me. Fresh seed usually
sprouts in overabundance. Without thinning, the seedlings will all
struggle for their share of space and nutrients. Typically, the seed
packet details appropriate spacing.
Sowing Indoors
In
cold climates, warm-weather plants that are susceptible to late frosts
and easy to transplant can be sown indoors now. Tomatoes, peppers, moss
roses, and pansies are good examples of plants that will have a jump on
the growing season if started indoors. Be sure to thoroughly clean all
containers. Sit them on a waterproof tray and fill with sterilized
germination mix. Sow seeds at the depth recommended on the seed packet,
or twice as deep as the seed diameter.
Place containers and
trays under fluorescent lights or in a sunny area, and cover with a
clear lid to retain moisture. Keep them at about 70 degrees, unless
otherwise noted on the seed packet. After the plants sprout, thin them
accordingly. If possible, fill the waterproof tray with water and let
it soak into the soil from the bottom. Wet foliage can lead to fatal
diseases like damping off. Once plants have two sets of true leaves and
the frost date has passed, carefully transplant them into the garden.
Sowing Outdoors
Lettuce,
okra, peas, pumpkins, spinach, beets, zucchini, beans, carrots,
nasturtiums, coneflowers, and hellebores are just a few of the good
candidates for outdoor sowing. Also, plants with taproots are best sown
outdoors where they will grow because the taproot can be easily damaged
during transplanting. For best performance, remember to thin seedlings
early. Thinnings from crops like field greens and beans can be used in
salads and garnishes.
Rake the surface of the soil so it's loose
and friable. It is not necessary to sow crops in rows, but it makes
maintenance easier. Annual and perennial seed can be arranged or simply
scattered for a more natural look.
Family Fun
Starting
plants from seeds is a great family activity. It's quality time
together in the sunshine and fresh air. The kids will learn invaluable
life lessons, plus their springy muscles are made for stooping and
bending.
Germinating seeds teaches kids responsibility, cause
and effect, observation, measuring, and weather patterns. Make a simple
chart that includes data such as seed variety, planting date, watering
schedule, weather report (if planted outside), germination date,
height, number of true leaves, etc. They can use the chart to monitor
the progress of their plants. Help the children use spacing
recommendations to thin the seedlings. With assistance, they can
develop a system (height, number of leaves, date, other signs) to
determine when seedlings are ready to transplant into the garden.
Sowing
seeds is one of the most fundamental and rewarding tasks in gardening.
The journey from inanimate speck of debris to vibrant flora is an
incredible process even for the most grizzled veterans. So gather your
materials and plant some miracles.
William Moss - Teaching is my
vocation; nature and gardening are my passions. I've been fortunate
enough to combine these interests in many projects, such as working
with teens and adults at the Chicago Botanic Garden, teaching about
landscape design on Discovery's Channel's Rally Round the House and
Town Haul, and now as an urban gardening expert with the National
Gardening Association.
SOURCE: National Gardening Association
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