I'm a total noob that's very interested in starting a vegetable garden in my back yard. There's still a bit of snow on the ground so I figured I could start with seedlings and then transfer them to the garden when it gets warmer. I saw all the seedling posts on Tiny Farm Blog and I was wondering where to start. Here are some questions; 1) what vegetables should I look at growing as a seedling (vs. planting directly in the garden), I suppose it's those plants that take the longest to grow, no? I want to start the garden very simply with tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, lettuce, etc. 2) Is it as simple as getting some dirt and trays and planting the seeds? I noticed the earth you use looks like a special mix, what is it? 3) are there any planting tips and tricks I need to know? What about watering? 4) How long does it take to raise a seedling? When do I know it's time to transfer them? 5) Is there anything else I need to know?
Tiny Farm Forum » Seed starting and transplanting
Guide to starting seedlings
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Posted 11 months ago #
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Hi Harry! I can tell you my method, I have a tiny farm in Oregon and this works for our two acres...could also be scaled for the home gardener.
Step 1) Identify and plan what vegetables you would like to grow as transplants. Once you have this list, figure out when these transplants could be planted with success in your area. This Maine-based calendar of what veggies make good transplants, when to start indoors, and when to transplant outdoors sounds like it might suit you if you are in an area that still has some snow: http://www.mofga.org/Publications/ArticlesforReprinting/OrderSeeds/tabid/1056/Default.aspx
Step 2) Using your list from step 1, figure out how many transplants of each you need. Just draw a map of your garden and using the info on seed packets that tell you how far away to space everything, create a map for your garden that shows section indicating where your veggies will go and how many plants you will have in each section (roughly).
Now you have a schedule that tells you when to start seeds, how many seeds of each plant to start, and when to plant! Or, you could just go willy nilly and start lots of different kinds of things and give extra plants to friends. I like and need a schedule.
Step 3) Figure out where you are going to grow your seedlings indoors. It can be a greenhouse, your kitchen table, a "germination box", or wherever is warm and dry. I start the seeds in my basement on a folding table, under shop lights with aquarium bulbs in them.
Step 4) Next, purchase some seedling mix from your garden or hardware store. Take this mix and line the bottom of seedling flat with about a half inch of the seedling mix. Water the seedling mix - takes a long time for this mix to absorb water. The flat has holes in the bottom of it, one like this: http://www.horticulturesource.com/product_info.php?products_id=4096
Step 5) Once the plants come up and have two little leaves, I use a chopstick and transfer them to 72 cell flats, like this: http://www.horticulturesource.com/1020-plastic-flats-72-cells--p4099/?osCsid=9d09c3f3316370680f98045efc12560f
I water the plants with liquid organic fertilizer and keep them under the shop lights until they have about two or three more true leaves.
Step 6) move them out to a cold frame or other outdoor location that is protected from rain and heavy wind but still has daylight. This is called "hardening off" and gets the plants adjusted to the new temperature conditions.
Step 7) after hardening off, plant them! Water them! Weed them! Eat them!
Have fun~
MaiaPosted 11 months ago # -
Also - you should get a book that tells you specifically about each plant you are going to grow. This way, you can be informed of any special requirements. Some plants don't like to be near each other and won't produce, some plants don't like to be grown in a spot where another kind of plant has been grown previously, some just won't grow in your area - like mangoes.
I use these two books to help me figure stuff out:
The New Organic Gardener - Elliot Coleman
Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades - Steve Solomon - this book is good even if you live somewhere other than the Northwest because it breaks down each vegetable and what its habits and preferences are.Posted 11 months ago #
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