Raising perennial plants and Cool Greenery for over thirty years.
Perennial hostas, hardy perennial ferns, a selection of perennial astilbe
plants, hollyhock plants, lupine plants, delphinium plants. Rare
Perennials native plants. Always a great selection of flower bulbs -
Tulip bulbs, canna bulbs, gladiolus bulbs, dinnerplate dhalias, ect.
Quality perennial plants, native plants, hardy perennial ferns. All at a
very competitive price.
Growing your
own garden vegetable transplants can be fun as well as practical. Some of
the things you need to consider are included in this fact sheet.
Because there are a great number of varieties of each vegetable, it may
be difficult to choose. Take the time to read catalog descriptions and
check with other gardeners in your area.
Be sure to buy good seed from a reputable supplier. Check the
germination shown on the packet before sowing. Carryover seed from the
year before can be used, but you might want to run an early germination
test to be sure the seed is still viable.
If you choose to save seed from your own garden, remember that seed
from hybrid vegetables will not be 100 percent true to type. Seed is
relatively cheap when you consider what one plant is capable of producing,
so the need for saving seed from one year to the next is questionable.
Soil
When choosing a soil mix, make it easy on yourself; avoid trying to
make your own super-blend, and buy a good, fine-textured, well-drained
soil mix. Using or adding field or garden soil is a definite no-no unless
you sterilize it with heat or chemicals.
Containers
Seed can be sown in a multitude of containers; just be sure they
provide adequate drainage. Seed can be sown thinly in rows in flats or
pans or individually in small plastic containers, peat pots or pellets, or
plastic inserts with various sized cells.
Light
Probably the most important requirement of growing high-quality
transplants is adequate light. The source of light can be artificial as
long as it is close enough and strong enough; i.e., fluorescent lights
should be no more than 6" above the germinating seeds.
A full sun situation is preferable and this may be available through a
south window, a cold or hot frame, or even a small greenhouse. Good light
will help produce short, sturdy, well-developed plants that will
transplant easily and withstand the transition from a protected
environment to the elements of wind, temperature fluctuation and full sun
exposure.
Temperature
The next requirement of good germination is providing the proper soil
temperatures for the different species of plants. Soil temperature for the
germination of broccoli can be much lower than that for peppers. If you
can provide a source of heat below the soil (bottom heat), it will greatly
enhance your success.
Moisture
Be sure that adequate moisture is added at seeding time and maintained
until transplanting. Seedling flats or containers can be sealed in clear
poly bags until germination is complete. This will guarantee adequate
moisture since it recycles itself much like a terrarium.
Fertilization
Only light applications of liquid fertilizer are required until
transplanting. Most liquid or dissolvable plant foods should provide
adequate fertility.
Transplanting
Timing is critical in this process. Transplanting may mean the pricking
off of small seedlings to a larger planting unit; or if the seedlings were
direct-seeded to the finish unit, transplanting can mean the final step to
the garden.
If you are pricking off small multiple seedlings to individual
containers, this should be done when the first true leaves begin to
appear. Be careful when handling these tiny plants because you could crush
the stems with your fingers. Drop seedlings into the larger container as
deep as the bottom of the true leaves.
Things like cantaloupe, watermelon, squash, and cucumbers do not
transplant well bare root. Direct seed these to a transplantable peat pot
and then plant directly into the garden.
Transplants should not be overgrown; schedule your seedings to coincide
with the proper time to transplant outdoors.
Hardening-Off
The final step to good transplants is the hardening-off process. This
step is necessary to toughen the transplants to withstand the rigors of
outdoors, i.e., wind, cool temperature, hot sun, etc.
You harden off a plant by reducing the temperatures, the moisture
levels and the fertilization. Reduce the temperatures to correspond to
outdoors; reduce watering to near wilt conditions; eliminate fertilizing
until the plants are set out in the garden. Be careful; do not overdo any
of the above steps. You may check the plant growth process to the point
where the plant has trouble getting started again.
Seedlings
When to start weeks before set out
date
When to set out weeks before or after
last frost date
Maximum temperature for germination
(ºF)
Days to emerge
Ideal growing temperature (ºF)
Suggested containers may be round or
square, attached or separate, should be about twice as deep as
wide.
Comments
Artichokes
8-10
2-3 after
see comments
20-30
60
2" sq. pots
For a first-year crop germinate seeds in
moist peat moss in an unsealed plastic bag in the
refridgerator.
Beans
3-4
1-2 after
80
6-10
65
2" sq. plantable pots
Sensitive to transplanting; pinch extra
plants, don't pull them out.
Broccoli
5-8
4 before
80
8-10
60
2" sq. pots
Keep cool to get stocky plants, but don't
let temperature go below 40º.
Brussels sprouts
5-8
4 before
80
8-10
60
2" sq. pots
Keep cool to get stocky plants, but don't
let temperature go below 40º.
Cabbage
5-8
5 before
80
5-10
60
2" sq. pots
Keep cool to get stocky plants, but don't
let temperature go below 40º.
Cauliflower
5-8
1-2 before
80
5-10
60
2" sq. pots
Very touchy about temperature; keep at
57º to 68 º.
Celery
8-10
1-2 before
70
see comments
7-12
60
2" sq. pots
Must go below 60 º at night for seeds to
germinate.
Chinese cabbage
4
4-6 before
75
3-5
60
2" sq. pots
Keep cool to get stocky plants, but don't
let temperature go below 40 º.
Collards
5-8
4 before
80
4-10
60
2" sq. pots
Keep cool to get stocky plants, but don't
let temperature go below 40 º.
Corn
3-4
1-2 after
95
3-10
70
1½" sq. plantable pots
Sensitive to transplanting; pinch extra
plants, don't pull them.
Cucumbers
2-3
1-2 after
95
3-8
70
2" sq. plantable pots
Somewhat sensitive to transplanting;
pinch extra plants, don't pull them.
Eggplant
6-8
2-3 after
85
5-13
75
2½" sq. pots
Sensitive to cold; harden off
carefully.
Endive
3-4
4 before
75
7-14
60
1½" sq. pots
Set out when 3" high.
Kale
5-8
5 before
80
3-10
60
2" sq. pots
Keep cool to get stocky plants, but don't
let temperature go below 40º.
Kohirabi
5-8
5 before
80
3-10
60
2" sq. pots
Keep cool to get stocky plants, but don't
let temperature go below 40º.
Leeks
8-10
5 before
70
7-14
60
seeds ¼" apart, rows 1" apart in 2-4"
deep flat
Keep cool to get stocky plants. When
plants reach 4" high, cut with scissors to 2".
Lettuce
5-7
2 before
75
3-6
60
1½" sq. pots
Keep cool for stocky plants. Head lettuce
likes repotting.
Gourds
3-4
1-2 after
95
3-8
75
2" sq. plantable pots
Somewhat sensitive to transplanting;
pinch extra plants, don't pull them.
Muskmelon
2-3
3-4 after
90
3-8
75
2" sq. plantable pots
Somewhat sensitive to transplanting;
pinch extra plants, don't pull them.
Okra
6-8
6 after
95
6-17
75
2½" sq. pots
Sensitive to cold; harden off
carefully
Onions
8-10
6 before
70
4-13
60
seeds ¼" apart, rows 1" apart in 2-4"
deep flat
Keep cool to get stocky plants. When
plants reach 4" high, cut with scissors to 2".
Parsley
4-6
4-6 before
75
12-17
60
1" apart in 2-3" deep flat
Soak seeds overnight before planting to
speed germination and be patient!
Peanuts
4-6
1-2 after
75
18-21
70
2" sq. plantable pots
Sensitive to transplanting; pinch extra
plants, don't pull them.
Peas
4
4 before
75
6-10
60
2" sq. plantable pots
Sensitive to transplanting; pinch extra
plants, don't pull them.
Peppers
6-8
2-3 after
85
8-13
70
2½" sq. pots
Sensitive to cold; harden off carefully.
Mist sprouting seedlings to help make seed coat come off
leaves.
Pumpkins
2-3
2-3 after
95
6-10
70
2" sq. plantable pots
Somewhat sensitive to transplanting;
pinch extra plants, don't pull them.
Spinach
4-6
3-6 before
70
5-12
60
1½" sq. pots
Keep cool for stocky plants.
Squash
2-3
2-3 after
95
6-10
70
2" sq. plantable pots
Somewhat sensitive to transplanting;
pinch extra plants, don't pull them.
Tomatoes
6-10
1-2 after
85
6-14
70
3" sq. pots
Likes warm days and cool nights: 70º -
75ºdays, 60º- 65º nights.
Watermelon
2-3
2-3 after
95
3-10
75
2" sq. plantable pots
Somewhat sensitive to transplanting;
pinch extra plants, don't pull them.
