DIG IT

DIG IT! Seedling Success photos and text by Michelle Riley

Would you like to experience the joys of growing your own garden from seed? It is time to choose what to grow and to purchase seeds.

Most annual vegetables should be sown indoors at least six weeks before the last hard frost.

There are many container options for seed starting, such as yogurt containers, half of an orange peel, peat pellets, or egg cartons. Whatever container you choose, make sure it is clean and has drainage holes.

Use the peat pellets for cool season crops such as lettuce, greens, kale, onions, and sugar snap peas so you can plant them outside a couple weeks before the last hard frost.

The best medium for starting seeds is a seed starter mix as typical garden soil does not drain well enough for seedlings and can contain pathogens that may harm the new sprouts. Plant seeds twice as deep as the width of the seed. Do not forget to label the containers or you may be scratching your head in a month trying to remember what you are growing.

Keep the soil moist, not saturated. Once the seeds germinate, the tiny roots will not need much water to grow and you do not want to drown them.

Place your newly planted seeds in a warm area. Keep temperatures in the high 60s.

A good overhead light can do wonders and may be as simple as a clamp light. You will want a bulb that provides 1500 to 3000 lumens (brightness or intensity) and 4500 to 6500 kelvin (mimics daylight). To ensure consistent light, connect the lamp to a timer set for 16 hours on and six hours off a day. Place the lamp a few inches above the plants, adjusting it upward as needed.

Wait until after the last hard frost to plant your non-cool season crops outside.

Growing your own vegetables from seed is an amazing experience. Not only do you get to decide how the seeds are raised, but you gain a few weeks in the growing season, especially in colder climates. As an added bonus, it also opens the door to a wider variety of plant choices.

Michelle Riley is a local horticulturist, landscape designer, and consultant. She is founder ofMichelleRileyHorticulturist.com and NeOhioGarden.com and is the president of All About You Signature Landscape Design, Inc. She can be contacted at Info@MichelleRileyHorticulturist.com or by calling 234-678-8266.