#40 - May 2020 - Garden Stuff - © - Sandy Lang - slang@xtra.co.nz
RAISING SEEDLINGS May/June: Late autumn/early winter. Bubble living’s made us rethink our lives. Maybe some return to our roots? Grow some of our own food? Last month (website only), all you wanted to know about seeds – and a bit more. This month. How to grow from seed.
Seeds: Don’t collect your seeds from last years’ crop. Fun, but not wise... You are different from your parents - similarly, your seedlings will be different from the plants from which you took them (an unknown dad was involved). Also, you are different from your siblings - similarly, even if the seeds had the same dad (unlikely) they will still be different from one another. Re-seeded plants tend to revert to 'wildtype' - generally this means fewer, smaller fruits. I once planted a date stone (a good houseplant) and an avocado stone (grew like mad, but no fruit). But fun…! The seeds you buy are of a named variety - you will get what's on the packet...
Choice? Want something really special? A garden centre has a good range of seedlings (+) but a better range of seeds (++) and 'online' seed merchants have a huge range of seeds (++++++).
Where? Some seed packs say to direct-sow where you want the plant. Why? Because these seedlings suffer transplant shock. Here in Eastbourne, I find snails and birds destroy all emerging seedlings. So, raise all seeds in pots and transplant them. But how to avoid transplant shock?
Secret: Raise seedlings in a safe place, in paper pots. Google newspaper pots. Later, plant the paper pot complete. Don’t disturb the roots. Roots grow through sodden newspaper. Bingo…!
Potting mix: If raising seeds in a seed tray or in pots don’t use soil. Don’t re-use potting mix. Soil and re-used potting mix contain weed seeds, and eggs/spores of pests/diseases. Weeds choke seedlings. Pull weeds out and you wreck the seedling. New potting mix is sterilised (no seeds/eggs/spores) offers good aeration, drainage, water-holding capacity and slow-release fertiliser.
When? As on pack. Don’t sow too early. Too cold - slow start - stress - susceptible to pests/diseases.
Depth? As on pack. If unsure, 2x seed diameter. Too deep and small seedlings don’t make it up to the light (before they run out of energy stores). Too shallow and seedlings dry out between waterings. Sow 2+ seeds per pot. Two weeks later, cull to 1 (cut at ground level with scissors so as not to disturb the other seedling). For some reason some seedlings are stronger than others - choose the best of each pair. For some reason not all seeds germinate. This way you almost always end up with one good seedling per pot.
Firm the soil: Too loose - poor soil contact. Too firm - shoot/root can’t push through.
Water: Hard to get this right. Too wet - fungus kills. Too dry - drought kills. Mist water often with old spray-cleaner bottle (well washed out).
Light: Light is food (photosynthesis). Potted seedlings need good light (north aspect). Too dim - seedlings weak, lanky – disease, wind prone.
Harden off: Before planting out, transition seedlings in steps from where they’ve been, to where you want them. Gradual changes in light, temperature and wind. Footnote: All these actions (When, Depth, Firm, Water, Light, Harden) require a degree of judgement. You gain judgement by experience. You gain experience by making mistakes. Persist...! ________________________________________
RAISING SEEDLINGS May/June: Late autumn/early winter. Bubble living’s made us rethink our lives. Maybe some return to our roots? Grow some of our own food? Last month (website only), all you wanted to know about seeds – and a bit more. This month. How to grow from seed.
Seeds: Don’t collect your seeds from last years’ crop. Fun, but not wise... You are different from your parents - similarly, your seedlings will be different from the plants from which you took them (an unknown dad was involved). Also, you are different from your siblings - similarly, even if the seeds had the same dad (unlikely) they will still be different from one another. Re-seeded plants tend to revert to 'wildtype' - generally this means fewer, smaller fruits. I once planted a date stone (a good houseplant) and an avocado stone (grew like mad, but no fruit). But fun…! The seeds you buy are of a named variety - you will get what's on the packet...
Choice? Want something really special? A garden centre has a good range of seedlings (+) but a better range of seeds (++) and 'online' seed merchants have a huge range of seeds (++++++).
Where? Some seed packs say to direct-sow where you want the plant. Why? Because these seedlings suffer transplant shock. Here in Eastbourne, I find snails and birds destroy all emerging seedlings. So, raise all seeds in pots and transplant them. But how to avoid transplant shock?
Secret: Raise seedlings in a safe place, in paper pots. Google newspaper pots. Later, plant the paper pot complete. Don’t disturb the roots. Roots grow through sodden newspaper. Bingo…!
Potting mix: If raising seeds in a seed tray or in pots don’t use soil. Don’t re-use potting mix. Soil and re-used potting mix contain weed seeds, and eggs/spores of pests/diseases. Weeds choke seedlings. Pull weeds out and you wreck the seedling. New potting mix is sterilised (no seeds/eggs/spores) offers good aeration, drainage, water-holding capacity and slow-release fertiliser.
When? As on pack. Don’t sow too early. Too cold - slow start - stress - susceptible to pests/diseases.
Depth? As on pack. If unsure, 2x seed diameter. Too deep and small seedlings don’t make it up to the light (before they run out of energy stores). Too shallow and seedlings dry out between waterings. Sow 2+ seeds per pot. Two weeks later, cull to 1 (cut at ground level with scissors so as not to disturb the other seedling). For some reason some seedlings are stronger than others - choose the best of each pair. For some reason not all seeds germinate. This way you almost always end up with one good seedling per pot.
Firm the soil: Too loose - poor soil contact. Too firm - shoot/root can’t push through.
Water: Hard to get this right. Too wet - fungus kills. Too dry - drought kills. Mist water often with old spray-cleaner bottle (well washed out).
Light: Light is food (photosynthesis). Potted seedlings need good light (north aspect). Too dim - seedlings weak, lanky – disease, wind prone.
Harden off: Before planting out, transition seedlings in steps from where they’ve been, to where you want them. Gradual changes in light, temperature and wind. Footnote: All these actions (When, Depth, Firm, Water, Light, Harden) require a degree of judgement. You gain judgement by experience. You gain experience by making mistakes. Persist...! ________________________________________