This is a continuation of my FAQ reposts. Please comment as you need and want.
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Soil. Seeds. Water. That's what you need.
It doesn't take much to start a batch of seedlings. You need a sowing medium of soil, compost, or a soilless mix usually made from peat moss and vermiculite or perlite, you need seeds, and water. Mother Nature will provide the sunshine and most often she will provide rain or melting snows to keep the soil moist.
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Sowing Depth
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Question:
I trade for many of my seeds and sometimes the sowing depth is not included on the packet. What is the correct depth that I should sow my seeds?
Answer:
I sow my seeds twice as deep as the seed's smallest dimension.
As examples:
Foxglove seeds are the size of dust, so just pat them into the soil surface.
Columbine seeds are the size of fleas, so just pat them into the soil surface.
Grass is small and narrow too, so just pat those seeds into the soil surface.
Marigolds may be a 1/2 inch long but they are narrow and flat, sow them just under the soil surface.
Cornflower seed is a 1/16 of an inch wide, sow them an 1/8th inch under the soil surface.
Next size up would be a Coneflower seed, sow about a 1/4 inch under the soil.
Pea or a Corn seed is getting bigger. They are about a 1/4 inch across, sow them about a 1/2 inch deep.
A Lima Bean seed is bigger, sow about 3/4 of an inch deep.
A Scarlet Runner bean is quite plump, that should be sown a full inch down.
An Acorn? Well, hmm.....how deep is squirrel depth?
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Types of Soil
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Question:
What type of soil can I use in the flats?
Answer:
Any potting medium will work. Mixes with soil for potting or "soilless mixes" both work fine.
Avoid soil bags that say "weed-free" because they can contain chemicals mixed into the soil to keep any weed seeds from germinating. Unfortunately, this keeps ALL seeds from germinating, including the seeds you sow in that soil.
What's MY favorite? I like the most economical one I can find. I do a LOT of Winter Sowing...it's fun and is very addictive. So I look for the biggest and largest bag of soil I can find. It's an economical choice to get the biggest bag because it costs less per pound or quart. Plus, with more soil, I can sow more flats!
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Using Compost:
Use can use compost for sowing after you kill the weeds seeds.
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I have used homemade compost to sow seeds in. Compost is great, it's rich in nutrients and retains moisture very well. The only drawback is that it can also contain plenty of seeds.
It's easy to kill those weed seeds. Fill a 5-gallon bucket halfway up with compost (or use whatever large container you have on hand.) Have the bucket of compost outside, but closest to your kitchen door. In the kitchen bring a full kettle of water to boil. When the kettle is boiling, remove it from the flame and take it outside. Carefully and slowly, to avoid splashing, pour the boiling water into the bucket of compost.
Put a lid on the bucket....it doesn't have to be on tight, it's just to help hold the heat and steam in as long as it can. The boiling water and steam will kill the weed seeds. If you don't have a lid for the bucket then use a large piece of aluminum foil, or use an old towel or blanket draped over the top.
Let the bucket of compost sit overnight so it is cool when used the next day. You can now use the compost for sowing seeds confident that the weed seeds have been killed. Also, another benefit of the boiling water treatment is that it will kill many soilborne diseases that might exist in the compost.
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Moisture and Watering
Question:
How can I tell when my flats need moisture?
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Flats that are sufficiently moist will show condensation inside their lids.
If you are not seeing condensation it could be that you have too many vents for air transpiration or too many drainage holes, or possibly, because the flats are in a mostly shaded location they are not warming much inside and so no steamy vapor can rise to adhere to the lid's inner surface. You can tape over a few slits...see if that alters the condensation effect.
Moist soil is dark looking.... like the color of a cooked very-fudgy brownie. Dry soil looks dry.... it is far lighter in color and that color reminds me of a package of dry chocolate cake mix.
To add more water to a flat remove its cover and gently dribble in some cold water....don't slosh it onto the soil surface as that could dislodge the seeds or seedlings. Give the soil a good soaking, any excess water will seep out through the drainage slits. Replace the lids promptly and securely.
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To add more water to a flat made from a bottle simply tilt the bottle at a slight angle, then gently and slowly dribble some water into the bottle, the water will run down the inside of the bottle wall and won't splash directly onto the soil surface.
A large amount of flats may be watered at the same time by letting them soak in a small kiddie pool that has been pre-filled with a couple of inches of water. Place the flats gently into the water to avoid splashing. The flats will soak up moisture though their drainage slits. Remove them after the soil is consistantly dark and moist.
If you are traveling or must be away on a hot Spring day you can help your flats stay moist and cool by placing them in the kiddie pool with an inch of water for the day, or purchase a hose timer and use a sprinkler to automatically and regularly water the flats.
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Sowing Hybrid Seeds
Growing plants from hybrid seeds is lots of fun because you can sometimes get variations that are quite wonderful. You NEVER get little "Frankenstein-Monster" plants, lol.
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Illustration:
Monstroflora trudimakus ssp. happihalloweenus
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