Starting Transplants & Sowing Seedsgaga.ncf.ca/.../2018/11/StartingSeedsTransplantsIndoors.pdf-...
Transcript of Starting Transplants & Sowing Seedsgaga.ncf.ca/.../2018/11/StartingSeedsTransplantsIndoors.pdf-...
Starting Transplants & Sowing
Seeds
George Bushell
2:Use Fresh Seeds
Some Seeds Can
Easily Be saved
-Store Seeds in
Fridge or Freezer
to Increase
Storage Life
-Seal in Plastic to
Prevent Seeds
from Drying Out
Re-Seal Seed Packages
with Left-Over seeds
Masking
TapeOrganic Seed Suppliers:
http://www.findorganicseed.ca/
Click On : Full supplier list
- Use a Clean
Organic Starter
Mix for Best
Results
- Helps to
prevent
damping off,
which
destroys
stem at
surface
- Helps to
Keep the
Seeds Moist
for better
germination
Add Water & Stir Until Mix is Moist
Organic Pro-Mix Contains Peat, Compost & Mycorise*
* (A natural occurring fungus that helps roots absorb moisture and nutrients)
3:Starter Mix for Starting Seeds Indoors
4: Soil For Transplanting To Larger Containers
50% Soil
50% Compost
(Nitrogen)
Wood Ashes
(Ka)
2 – To enrich mix, one can add:
Dolomitic Limestone
(Ca & Mg) Bone Meal
(P)
And Have a
Great Hobby
for Life
3 - Transplant
1 - Mix:
Start
Young
1st Week of March - Start onions from seeds indoors - Place sweet potatoes in water to sprout indoors 1st Week of April - Start tomatoes, peppers and eggplant indoors - Start early brassicas and romaine lettuce indoors if you have a cold frame
Middle of April - (or whenever soil can be worked) plant peas, radish, lettuce, spinach & a few onion sets for greens outdoors
3rd Week of April - Transplant brassicas and romaine lettuce to cold frame 1st Week of May - Start watermelon and cantaloupe indoors - Start one container of slicing cucumbers indoors
- Plant beets and carrots for early harvest, Swiss chard and storage onions outdoors
Middle of May - Start early corn outdoors (if soil reasonably warm) - Plant early potatoes--
Last Week of May - Cut sweet potato vines into 7-8” pieces and place in 2-3” of water to root
- Start mid-season corn, green beans, cucumbers and squash outdoors - Transplant tomatoes and peppers outdoors 1st Week of June - Plant lima beans and okra outdoors - Transplant sweet potatoes, watermelons, cantaloupes and slicing cucumber outdoors 2nd Week of June - Plant late corn outdoors - Plant winter storage carrots, beets, rutabagas and potatoes outdoors at end of week - Start late season brassicas (cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli) outdoors for later transplanting 1st Week of July - Plant Chinese vegetables/cabbage outdoors - Transplant late season brassicas Late August - Start fall garden of radish, lettuce and onion sets 1st Week of Sept - Start spinach and onion sets for spring harvest
9:
Ottawa
Planting
Schedule
5-Punch Drain Holes In Cups
7-Add Water To Seed Starter
Mix & Stir Until Moist
2-Punch Drain Holes In Bottom1-Cut Lid From Egg Carton
3-Tape Holes In Lid
4-Place Bottom In Lid
6-Obtain Seed Starter Mix
10: Starting Seeds Indoors Using Recycled Containers
1-Fill Cup ¾ full of
soil-compost mix
Small Seeds
Easily
Transplanted,
Start in Small
Containers
Example
tomatoes,
peppers,
brassicas
Always Record Variety on Container
2-Add ½ inch of
seed starter mix
3-Place Seeds
Larger Seeds
Harder to
Transplant,
Start in Larger
Containers Example cucumbers,
melons, zucchini
watermelons
4-Cover Seeds with
starter mix*
2-Place Seeds & Cover with Starter Mix*1-Fill carton ¾ full of starter mix
* Cover according to package instructions
& keep moist until sprouted.
Once sprouted, let surface dry-out between
waterings to prevent damping-off (a fungus)
11: Starting Seeds Indoors Using Recycled Containers (Cont’d)
12: Keep Seeds At Optimal Germination Temp*
Use a heating Pad & Monitor Soil Temperature
(remove pad when plants appear)
(Some seeds need warm soil to germinate quickly)
Or Place In Sunny Window With
Clear Plastic to Warm Soil**
Or Place Under Grow Lights & Cover
With Clear Plastic to Warm Soil**
* See handout or page at end of this presentation
** Remove plastic when plants appear
13: Grow LightsAll Plants Require Full Spectrum Light
Ensure Distance Between
Containers/Plants Can Be
Adjusted
Place Containers/Plants Close to Lights
(e.g., 2 inches / 50 cm) as light intensity
decreases with square of distance)
Use a Timer to
Turn Lights On
& Off Each Day
e.g., 16 hours
on, 8 hours off
Transplant to larger containers as needed
2”
Provide Plenty of Light
Examples
tomatoes
peppers
brassicas
head lettuceStart 5- 6 weeks before planting date in re-cycled containers
14: Starting “Easy To Transplant” Veggies IndoorsSee Seed Package for Depth & Last Slide for Temperature
Ready to
Transplant
Outdoors
Examples
cucumbers
cantaloupe
watermelons
Start 4 weeks before planting
date in re-cycled containers
that are large enough to last
until transplanting outdoors
- Monitor Temperature
- Provide Plenty of Light
15: Starting “Difficult to Transplant” Veggies IndoorsSee Seed Package for Depth & Last Slide for Temperature
16: Build A Temporary Greenhouse For Optimal . Lighting and Large Numbers of Transplants
1-Use 2x2’s to Erect a
Temporary Frame
3-During warm days,
raise poly a few inches at
the sides and open patio
door to allow greenhouse
to ventilate
- At night, close sides
and leave patio door
open to keep greenhouse
warm (or place a small
thermostat heater in
greenhouse
Small temporary
greenhouses. Vent
during warm days &
install thermostat heater
for cold nights or
cover/bring inside if
portable
2-Cover with Poly & Place
Against Patio Door
17: Transplant To A Cold Frame for Early Produce
Great for Cold Tolerant Veggies
e.g., brassicas, head lettuce
Active Compost In
Bottom Provides Heat
Cover With Blanket
On Cold Nights
Keep Top in Place on Cool
and/or Cloudy Days
Transplant when Soil Clear of Snow –
on warm days raise or remove covers
18: Other Cold Frames
Partially Raise Cover on Warm days
Simple & Provides Insulation On Cold Nights
Brick Can Be Stored When Not In Use
Remove Top On Hot Days
19: Transplanting Outdoors
Most Plants can Be
Transplanted Directly
to Garden
Harden Off or
Protect from Sun
Burn & Wind
Damage For a
Few Days
Create a
depression
around plant
to hold water
Cover with a Poly
Tunnel to Keep Heat
Loving Plants Warm e.g., sweet potatoes,
watermelon
20: Planting Small Seeds Outdoors
Read Seed Package for Depth, Row Spacing, etc
e.g., carrots, lettuce, radish, parsnips, brassicas, beets, rutabagas
Covers prevents soil/seed from drying out in hot weather
& stops heavy rains from washing seed away
Firm soil in seed row Create proper depth
Spread Seed & Cover
With Soil
Cover row for 3 to 5 days
with boards to keep moist
20: Planting Early Seeds Outdoors
Work Soil & Plant Seeds (planted Mar20/12)
Cover Seeds & Insert
Galvanized Wire Hoops
Cover Bed With Remay Fabric Peas, Lettuce, Radish, Spinach & Onions
Pic
taken
Apr
11,
2012
Peas
Peas,
Lettuce,
Radish,
Spinach &
Onions are
frost tolerant
Remove Fabric After Frosty Weather
21:Small Seed Example: Starting Carrots
3-Apply 2” of compost
after plants are growing
4-Healthy Growing Carrots 5-Fall Harvested Carrots
2-Cover 4 to 5
days for good
germination
1-Planted
&
Watered
Seed
22:Starting Watermelon & Cantaloupe
Start May 1st - keep soil 25
to 30C for germination
Transplant in
late May to
raised hills
Do not disturb roots
when transplanting
Cover with perforated poly to keep
warm and protect from cool winds
Always
irrigate
with warm
water
Mulch with straw before end
of June to conserve
moisture & reduce weeds
2”
Raised ridge for
efficient watering
23:Starting Sweet
Potatoes in Ottawa
Cut vines into 7”
pieces & root in
water ~ May 24th Transplant to raised
beds ~June 1st &
cover with poly
If available, cover
with perforated polyUncover at the
end of June
Georgia Jet Best Variety
Place roots in warm
water March 1st
•Order slips from NB: http://www.mapplefarm.com
24:Start With Good Seeds And
Transplants- Finish With Great Veggies
Vegetable Seed Germination Temperatures
Crop Minimum
Temperature
(°C)*
Optimum
Temperature
(°C)*
Days to
Germination
Celery 4 21-23 10-14
Bean, Snap 15 23-29 7
Beet 4 23 7-14
Carrot 4 23-26 12-15
Brassica Crops (e.g.
Cabbage, Broccoli)
4 18-29 5-10
Cucumber 15 21-29 7-10
Eggplant 15 21-29 10
Lettuce 0 18-21 7-10
Cantaloupe/Watermelon 15 26-30 5-10
Onion (bulb) 0 21-23 10-14
Onion (bunch) 0 15-20 10-14
Pea 4 18-21 7-14
Pepper 15 23-29 10
Pumpkin 15 21-23 7-10
Radish 4 18-21 5-7
Spinach 0 21 7-14
Sweet Corn 10 21-29 7-10
Swiss Chard 4 20-23 7-14
Tomato 10 23-26 7-14
Turnip/Rutabaga 15 18-21 7-14