One of the most fun and rewarding aspects of gardening is starting plants from seeds. And it's not that expensive either.
To start, you will need basic materials like containers, soil or a soil-less mixture, light, water, a fan and a plastic cover that you will use for the containers.
Fill the container with soil, sow the seeds into the container, add water, then wrap the plastic over the container securely. Once done, transfer the container to a spot where it is exposed to the sun. There are exceptions here that you must note. There are seeds that need darkness to grow and these include nasturtium, schizanthus, phlox and verbena.
Now, wait for the seeds to germinate. Bear in mind that germination is not the same for all seeds. The marigolds, for example, germinate in three days. Other seeds may take as long as 40 days. Once you've seen the seeds germinate, expose the seedlings by removing the plastic top and turn on the fan. The wind's force tends to strengthen seedlings that are tender.
You will notice that your seedlings will develop a "true" set of leaves soon enough. These are actually the plant's second set of leaves. That's the signal for you to transplant the remaining seedlings outdoors or possibly into a larger container.
Once transplanted, remember to water the seedlings regularly and expose them to sunlight and warmth.
If you want to transfer the seedlings outdoors, leave the containers outside for a few days until the seedlings have acclimatized themselves to their new surroundings. You will know the seedlings are ready when they acquire a more hardened look. This usually takes a week or less. Once the time arrives, you're ready to transplant your seeds.
There are seeds that seem to tolerate extremes in the weather, either hot or cold, better than others. For best results, though, transplant those seeds during the warmer months even though they may be seeds that actually flourish in the cool air such as spinach, godetia, phlox or poppies.
Now the hard part is over and the easy part, maintenance, begins. |
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