posted
how much more benefical is it to start the seeds indoors rather than planitng them outside in the spring?
Plants: 2 | From: Northwest, Nj | Registered: Feb 2007
| Seeded: 65.41.246.157
posted
1. You can start your sets much earlier. 2. You can pick the strongest plants. 3. Some plants are only available as seeds. 4. You can take pride in growing your plants yourself.
* * * * One OS to rule them, one OS to find them: One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie. Plants: 1077 | From: Haskell Oklahoma Zone 6b | Registered: Feb 2005
| Seeded: 75.104.70.34
I would like to add that by starting seed indoors, you can choose from a bigger variety. Also you can produce bigger seedlings and hopefully earlier production of fruit. It is always a very gratifying feeling when you start those seeds indoors and watch as they grow and then on into the garden to watch them produce fruit. Somethings do need to be started in the soil outdoors...like melons, cucumbers, okra, squash & carrots and many others. Some of the above can also be started a few weeks before your set out date. But tomatoes & Peppers definitely need to be started indoors.
posted
When I go down and buy sets, most places only have just a few varieties, and normally not the ones I want.
I "may" try starting my own onion sets. When I get my full size greenhouse up this is something I want to try.
* * * * One OS to rule them, one OS to find them: One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie. Plants: 1077 | From: Haskell Oklahoma Zone 6b | Registered: Feb 2005
| Seeded: 75.104.70.34
posted
It seems to me that in all the postings that I have read (and I have read a lot of them) that yall prefur seeds to store plants. I grew up with the plant being brought home and I think now I see why ya'll prefur seeds to plants.
* * * * Kristy
My green thumb is my sanity. Plants: 19 | From: Wolfe City, Texas | Registered: Feb 2007
| Seeded: 64.136.49.229
posted
I do. I like watching the whole process from seed to harvest. And I think my plants are healthier than the ones I've bought from stores. Plus I don't have to worry about bringing home bugs.
* * * * Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.75.225
posted
Another plus is that you know what your plants have been treated with--you know what pesticides (if any) have been sprinkled all over your plants, what fertilizers they've been fed, etc.
* * * * Sarah - Zone 5b/6 Plants: 662 | From: Ks, USA | Registered: May 2006
| Seeded: 70.248.199.229
posted
My season is so short if I plant seed after the may 24th long weekend or the first full moon in may I will not get fruit - the seedling are 6 to 8 weeks old at this time.
* * * * The infinitesimally small seed that produces the giant is the winner
posted
There are probaly 1000 differrnt types of tomatos, but the local plant may only offer 6 different sets.
I like to look for different veggies with certain features, and about the only to find them is with seed.
* * * * One OS to rule them, one OS to find them: One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie. Plants: 1077 | From: Haskell Oklahoma Zone 6b | Registered: Feb 2005
| Seeded: 75.104.70.34
posted
I've only started seeds last year, but really enjoyed it. The biggest problem I had was moving them outside for hardening off prior to planting them. I've, hopefully, learned some lessons and will limit my container size to ease moving them from my basement to outdoors. The way I did it was I put the plants outside for about an hour or so the first day then increased that time little by little until they were spending most of the day outside. To continue giving the plants sufficient light I had to drag everything back into the basement which ended up being a lot of stair climbing... Regardless, I'm planning on starting some seeds inside again this year.
Plants: 72 | From: D-Town, Ohio | Registered: Jul 2006
| Seeded: 198.140.218.61
posted
When I start my hardening off process..the first day I put them in half sun half shade, and I do not move them back in doors, just move them to all in the shade, until they can take a full day of sun without wilting. Since I have 20 cats...I have a wooden frame that has chicken wire on it that I can place my plants in, to protect them from the cats. The top and bottom of this wire (cage) is open, I place a board over the top to keep the plants safe...I can also water them with out any mess, since they are in their flats sitting on the ground...I can control the shade/sun that they get and once I have them in the cage..they stay there until I am ready to put them into the ground.
posted
So you are saying that I don't need to bring stuff all the way inside to harden it off? That would be great! I figured that it would be way to much of a shock for them but if not, woo!
posted
As long as the night time temperatures are not below 50..then there is no need to carry the plants in and out...Just make sure that you put them in a protected area, like protected from wind, rain & full sun for the first few days.
posted
We would like to start all our planties ourselves. This spring would be our first year. We have gardened for years but I'm a bit nervous to try seedlings. Does anyone have a link to some basic, simple knowledge like how to make them sprout, what size pots to use, what kind of lights to use, stuff like that?
I just need to read a primer on it before I start. Plants: 80 | From: Zone 3 bordering on Zone 4 | Registered: May 2006
| Seeded: 208.53.214.170
posted
There's one more benefit to raising your own seeds. If you have kids or grandkids, you can involve them in the process. I've yet to run into a kid who doesn't get excited at the idea of growing their own seeds. My grandkids each chose giant sunflowers for their seeds to grow for this year. We have them in peat pots for now and they can't wait to plant them out in the yard. They are also looking forward to watching the birds eat the seeds from them. Can't beat that with a stick
posted
FYI: I was able to answer my own question, talk about synchronicity!! Just after I asked if anyone knew a link I could click on for a primer on the basics of starting plants indoors, I just happened to find this while doing something completely different. Well, not completely different because it was about gardening but I wasn't looking for this and I found it anyway. If anyone else needs to know some of the bare bones basics, a good overview starts about 3/4 of the way through page 1 and continues for all of page 2.
It's from my area, northern South Dakota, but I imagine the basics remain similar for anywhere?
And if there's a better resource that anyone knows of, I'd still like to see that too. I like to read the same thing 4 or 5 times before I do something. Plants: 80 | From: Zone 3 bordering on Zone 4 | Registered: May 2006
| Seeded: 208.53.214.170
posted
Stuspot, here is my experience with starting seeds, it may not be as helpful as others but I had relatively good success...
Plants: 72 | From: D-Town, Ohio | Registered: Jul 2006
| Seeded: 198.140.218.61
posted
I know of one thing I learned last year. If you use egg cartons for your starter pots plan on watering alot. I whole lot. The same for peat pots. I'm staring everything in yogurt cups this year. It may take more soil but at least the water doesn't evaporate so quickly.
* * * * Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.150.176
posted
I'm using yogurt containers too! The Yo Crunch ones work great because they have a nice lid, I guess Dannon would work too.
Plants: 72 | From: D-Town, Ohio | Registered: Jul 2006
| Seeded: 198.140.218.61
posted
Hasnt anyone mentioned saving tons of $$$MONEY$$$ by starting your own plants? That's a big reason for me, plus all the intangible spiritual benefits. Plants: 264 | From: Lehigh Valley, PA | Registered: Sep 2005
| Seeded: 24.229.242.122
quote:Originally posted by tkhooper: I know of one thing I learned last year. If you use egg cartons for your starter pots plan on watering alot. I whole lot. The same for peat pots. I'm staring everything in yogurt cups this year. It may take more soil but at least the water doesn't evaporate so quickly.
Tammy, I buy smoked porkchops and they come in a plastic tray, and I wash those in the dishwasher and use them as water trays under my seed starting 6 pks...
I then fill those with water the first start up of seed starting.. They need alot of water to soak and moisten up the dirt..
Then after that, I fill, not to the top, but just enough to keep the soil moist..
That might be a trick that would also help you keep your egg cartons' moist and not so dried up..
(I also get cucumbers on those styrofoam plates like, and use those as well~)
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
posted
Cool way to easily water those egg carton planted seeds is to line a plastic container like a cat litter box with a piece of deep pile carpet (scraps from carpet store dumpster). Be sure you have pinched a hole in bottoms of the egg carton depressions and then place the cartons on the carpet and water. Won't have to water very often and soil will take only what it needs. I place my trays on top of my freezer and have a nice heat source. Shop lights hung from the ceiling are my light source. I raise and lower via a small link chain. Bent coathanger wire hooks allow me to raise and lower lights.
Plants: 12 | From: Greensboro, NC USA | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 64.12.116.73
quote:Originally posted by 'Sparagus: Hasnt anyone mentioned saving tons of $$$MONEY$$$ by starting your own plants? That's a big reason for me, plus all the intangible spiritual benefits.
This can be true...But if you are just starting out, you have the expense of the seeds, soil, containers..which could equal out to how much plants would cost, but if you save seeds from the first year, then you have saved $$$$$ the second year. People can go a little crazy when ordering seeds. I save garden seeds and have for many years, but I still buy some seed each year & have to buy potting soil and a soil-less seed starting medium. So if I had to add all this up, I really don't think I am saving that much $$$$.
posted
Mothman... that is a great idea about the carpet in a cat litter pan...I just happen to have one that hasn't been used and I also have a few of those 2-1/2 dozen cardboard egg flats...I may have to try this.
posted
Comfrey, The one extra bonus I get is that I compost.. and when I start my seeds, in my "soilless seed mix" I use half compost.. I still buy bags' of the soilless mix for seeds, but suppliment it, so it goes twice as far...
I have to mix mine up in wheelbarrow's full
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
posted
This, my first 'seeding' experience, has given me so much satisfaction and joy!! The tiny new sprouts are so exciting to see!! Even if you buy plants, I think anyone should at least do some seeds just for the pure pleasure of it, and what you will get out of it!!
* * * * Some hearts, like evening primroses, open more beautifully in the shadows of life. Shirley's Secret Room Plants: 9518 | From: Cincinnati Ohio | Registered: Nov 2006
| Seeded: 71.72.204.28
quote:Originally posted by Shirley4: This, my first 'seeding' experience, has given me so much satisfaction and joy!! The tiny new sprouts are so exciting to see!! Even if you buy plants, I think anyone should at least do some seeds just for the pure pleasure of it, and what you will get out of it!!
quote:Originally posted by weezie13: and when I start my seeds, in my "soilless seed mix" I use half compost..
Weez, that's a dangerous habit. You are, in effect, giving up one of the most important properties of a "soilless" mix.....the sterility. This will increase the chances of contracting damping off which will do in your fragile seedlings.
* * * * John - Zone 6 Plants: 1068 | From: Connecticut | Registered: Aug 2005
| Seeded: 209.178.236.58
I have to admit though, for me, I haven't had much of a problem with that..
For me, if I've had a problem when I do my seeds in the greenhouse, it's been from either too much heat *not opening the door and vent fast enough* or too moist, again from the heat and not getting the door open fast enough..
But you are absolutely correct...
And I would suggest for a first time, new, novice gardener, or one just starting out with seeds, to stick with just the bagged soilless mixes and go by the book.. because it can cause more problems sometimes and they don't know what went wrong when it does happen..
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
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Weez, that's a dangerous habit. You are, in effect, giving up one of the most important properties of a "soilless" mix.....the sterility. This will increase the chances of contracting damping off which will do in your fragile seedlings.![[teacher]](graemlins/teacher.gif)
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