6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed

buddyben- I'm sure that the pioneers were direct seeding or relying on volunteers. I doubt many of them were starting seed early indoors, or at least not as early as you can today with artificial lighting.

I can confirm that you actually dont need lights to grow plants. I have been successfully growing zinnias, petunias, impatiens and other plants by just putting them in my south facing kitchen window. It is actually like a patio door so it is quite big. sometimes they do get leggy but I see no difference in a few weeks.

Most all reputable seed suppliers will offer dwarf varieties of both. TGS (linked above) is excellent but there is also Cooks Kitchen Garden, Johnnys Seeds, Seeds of Change, and many more.

The Garden Bazaar directory here provides links to 3 pages of seed vendors. ;)

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Bazaar - Seed Vendors

I,m trying Bush, Bush Champion and Big Dwarf from Tomato Growers Supply. Good Luck,
John

What you have described indicates a nutrient deficiency. I suggest a 1/4 strength fertilizer solution watering once a week until you have six to eight true leaves then increase to 1/2 strength.

This is a definite nutrition problem , I would go with what petzold says . Another questions, where are you obtaining your seeds from?

Here is a link that might be useful: LittleRiverNursery

Last year I tried 15 of the Jiffy pellet pots. 0 had mold in them and 0 damping off. That surprised me because I used the Park's seed starting system and lost half of those.

I had to take the Jiffy plants out of the plastic tray they came in as soon as they started to grow (accidental crunching of the flimsy plastic tray...) and I put them on a regular dinner plate. They lived on the plate until they were planted out. Maybe the tray crunching was a blessing in disguise?

A spray with a VERY dilute mixture of 3% H2O2 and water gets rid of any mold. Last year was the 1st time in MANY years of using Jiffy7s that I have even seen any mold. I have NEVER(knocking on wood) had any problem with damping off with the Jiffy7s. I have been using them since their introduction and have had 0 problems. Watering from the bottom is the key. IMHO they are great.
JMO,
Tom

Your Frost Free Day is May 7, so give it another week, given how the seasons seem to be changing a bit over the last few year. That would make it May 14.

Tomatoes and peppers will take (IMO) from 10-12 weeks from the time they germinate until they are large enough to transplant assuming you want a decent size (8-10" tall with four sets of leaves). Add a week to that to allow the plants to harden off, so you are looking at 11-13 weeks. Counting backward, two weeks in May, four weeks in April, four weeks in March which leaves you with 1-3 weeks in February. Since it will probably take a week to germinate the seeds, if you sow them now or within the next three weeks, you should be set to go.

Mike

thank you very much mike.... i will do some weekend farming next week and plant them next friday..... im really not loking for the PERFECT start, but any start is better than last years...... all i did was sow them outside, rather late too..... THANKS again...

God bless

I start my seeds from previous years experience. For example least year I started geraniums late and they grew okay so this year I started them first and they will be blooming when its time to plant. I pay attention only to the frost date I can keep them healthy till then

Here is a link that might be useful: Gardening by the Seat of my Pants

I know what my last frost date and what previous years taught me. I start seeds indoor and turn and twist dates depending on the weather, my mood and time availability.