by Valerie F. Reinhardt, Horticulture Manager

As winter fades and the days get longer, thoughts of spring come to mind. Time is ripe for planning your garden even though the snow and cold days are still ahead. Now is the time to consider starting seeds for transplanting. Come February, many garden centers and stores already have seeds for sale and if you are like me, you may have already received a catalog or two in the mail. Starting from seed gives you the advantage of having a larger selection of varieties to choose from. Most garden centers and nurseries are only able to offer a handful of varieties when it comes to vegetables and bedding plants.

There are a variety of kits for seed starting on the market

There are a few things to consider when starting from seeds. Seed packets list germination instructions from temperature, planting depth, how long the seed takes to germinate, what temperature they need to germinate, and how soon to start seeds before transplanting them outdoors. These dates are based on the last frost-free date, which in northeast Ohio is usually the second week of May. There are some exceptions: cool-season crops like peas and spinach can take a light frost. This is where planning comes in handy. Tomatoes and peppers need six to eight weeks headstart before planting outside whereas broccoli and kale only need four weeks. Herbs like parsley may need 12 due to their long germination period.

Spend some time thinking about where to start your seedlings. Most people don’t have a greenhouse, so a good alternative is a grow light. Grow lights are available in fluorescent and LED and should be kept about six inches above the plants. Heat can be a bit harder to come by as room heat doesn’t always equate soil temperature—that’s where heat mats come in. If you don’t have a heat mat, you might consider another source of heat like a lamp with an incandescent bulb that produces heat. Most garden seeds germinate between 65 and 75 degrees. Tropicals like tomatoes and peppers need warmer temperatures to wake up while lettuce does well with cooler temperatures and may not need additional heat at all.

Heat mat with flat on top

There are a variety of kits for seed starting on the market with trays and inserts or you can get by with an empty egg carton on a tray. Damping off is a common problem with seed starting and is caused by fungus. Fungus can be prevented by using sterile germinating mix and clean pots or trays. If you are reusing old pots or seed trays make sure they are disinfected. Make sure you don’t over water seedlings—they should be kept moist but not soaked. A clear plastic cover can help keep them moist.

Once seeds start to germinate and get their first true leaves, you can add some diluted fertilizer when watering. Believe it or not, it helps to pet your seedlings by brushing your hands across them. This stimulates outside conditions and will strengthen the stems. Before planting them outside, transition them to outside conditions by placing them in a protected area with partial sun for a few days until they acclimate to outdoor conditions.

Once seeds start to germinate, you can add some diluted fertilizer when watering

Starting from seeds allows you to choose from a variety of options you may not have if you buy plants from a garden center or nursery. Heirloom seeds offered in specialty catalogs, the newest hybrid on the market or even seeds saved from last year’s garden make for a unique garden that you can tailor to your tastes.

If you have questions about seed starting or where to find seeds, come visit the Plant Science Center at Lake Metroparks Farmpark to see what we have sprouting up. We’re always happy to share garden tips with visitors.