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Friends of
Burlington Gardens & the Vermont Community Garden Network
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enhancing, and preserving community gardens for all
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Frequently
Asked Questions about
Seed Starting and Lighting
Q. I'm
thinking about starting my
own seeds. What are the basics?
A. In
addition to viable seeds, there are five basic factors needed to grow
healthy seedlings: Light, warmth, moisture, potting soil, and
fertilizer.
The quantity and quality of
light is the most important factor in seed starting. Using fluorescent
lights is recommended until the plants are ready to be transitioned to
the outdoors. Lights should be kept about 2 inches from
the tops of plants and
should be left on for 14 hours per day.
Professional grade lighting units, such
as the Vermont Indoor Gardens sold
by FBG, are superior to shop lights for growing plants. Fixtures are
horticultural grade with wide-spectrum fluorescent tubes, a 5-1/2"
spread between tubes, and no exposed wiring. The wide spectrum
fluorescent tubes provide maximum light energy for plants to absorb in
the red and blue portions of the light spectrum. The result is healthier stockier plants.
The average temperature of the
room
where you're starting seeds should be 63 degrees or higher. Seeds will
germinate faster in a warmer spot. Growth will be better if there is
some
natural light.
A professional grade of
potting
soil (or soilless mix) provides structure to support your growing
seedlings. When watered, the soil should be the consistency of moist
chocolate cake or a wrung out sponge.
An organic water soluble fertilizer is needed at regular intervals
after the first 2-3 weeks of growth. The fertilizer can be sprayed on
the
foliage and/or applied to the soil when watering.
Q. When is the best time to start tomato
plants indoors?
A. Tomato
plants take 8-10 weeks to grow in pots before they are ready to be
transplanted outdoors. If you live in Vermont and have an indoor
garden, it's best to start your
tomato seeds during the first two weeks of April. To grow your plants
at an ideal rate, set your
timer for 14 hours of light per day.
Q. When is
the
best time to transplant tomato plants to the outdoor garden?
A. In
Vermont, tomatoes can
be planted outdoors in late May or early June after the soil is warm
and the danger
of frost is past. Allow at least one week to "harden off" your plants
before transplanting. This is done by gradually increasing the amount
of time your tomato plants spend in the sun, wind, and cold.
Q. Is the
timing different for pepper plants?
A. Yes. To allow for longer germination times, plant
your pepper
seeds a week before planting tomato seeds. Because pepper plants need
warmer soil for transplanting than tomatoes, wait until very late May
or early June before transplanting peppers into the outdoor garden.
Q. What else can I successfully
grow indoors under lights?
A. Herbs like basil grow very
well
under lights. Some gardeners like to start onions and leeks under
lights, but this requires beginning in February. Dwarf annual flowers
like mini marigolds do very well under lights, producing flowers in six
to eight weeks.
Return to Vermont Indoor Gardens
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Friends of
Burlington
Gardens & the
Vermont Community
Garden Network
180 Flynn Avenue Studio 3
PO Box 4504
Burlington,
Vermont
05406-4504
802-861-GROW
www.burlingtongardens.org
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