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YARD AND GARDEN

Tips for better seed germination

The other day I was looking at all the catalogs that come across my desk. Part of me wonders who needs all these catalogs? Surely, the postman would be happier not weighed down with tons of slick colored photos of lush green plants and vivid flowers in every shade of the rainbow. That answered my question. Sure, the postman wouldn't like it, but flipping through the pages brings thoughts of spring and summer, and the associated warmth. Snow and the accompanying cold quickly make last summer's heat disappear.

David Robson

People drool over the catalogs. Well, maybe not over the catalogs because that could cause the ink to run. And maybe not drool, since relatives and friends would call the doctor. But we do dream and wish and fantasize about how those bright colors would fit into our yards. Every year I try to start some seeds. Notice the word "try." There should be a better emphasis on that. Every year, my plants don't look anything like those in the garden centers. Several years ago, I just started giving my seeds to a friend with a greenhouse, and she grows out many of the plants. But yearly, I hold some of the seeds back with an attempt to duplicate her success. Starting seeds indoors isn't as difficult as it seems, and success can be somewhat qualified IF you follow a few basic rules, and pound it into your brain that failure isn't the end of the world. First and foremost, don't start the seeds too early. Order them early. Get your starting supplies such as soil, containers, heating cable and dilute fertilizer solutions ready.

(I'm assuming few people are considering starting radish, lettuce, beans and sunflowers indoors. If that's an erroneous assumption, I apologize. But take my advice, they just don't transplant well.) There are probably two or three dates to set out plants. The middle of April is ideal for broccoli, cauliflower, petunias and some of the other cool season crops that actually do better in cool weather. From the end of April to Mother's Day is ideal for most vegetables and flowers. Temperatures are still cool limiting top growth, but the ground is warming. If we are still experiencing 40-degree temperatures, hold off. Then there are the plants that love, love, love and love some more warm temperatures. If you put them in the ground too early or unprotected, they'll just sit there like a love-starved puppy. Some will even die. Vinca and the squashes, cucumbers and melons fall into this group. Read the seed packet. The labels usually say to start the seed six to eight weeks before you set them out. Some may state four weeks as a minimum while others may throw in 10.

If your plants are the size of Jack's beanstalk when you set them out, start sowing later. Go with the minimum number of weeks, and not the maximum. Smaller plants adapt easier and quicker than larger plants. Keep the soil moist. Wrung-out sponge wet is ideal. Soggy soils just increase the chances of diseases. Give the seedling lots and lots of light. Bright sunny days are ideal. A southern window is ideal. If you are using fluorescent lights, make sure the bulbs are no more than eight inches above the plants. Here is where most people fail. They keep the temperatures too warm. It's hard in March and April to allow the house to cool down to 50 degrees F. at night. It may be harder still to keep it about 65 degrees during the day. However, those temperatures keep plants from becoming tall and leggy. They may not grow as fast, but we don't want that anyway. Avoid over fertilizing the plants. Sure, we want them to grow, but that seed has some stored food and most potting soils have some nutrients. You really may only need to fertilize when you transplant that seedling outdoors.

If you feel you must fertilize indoors, and haven't re-read the above paragraph 10 times, then use your plant food at one quarter the strength. No more.

As soon as possible, let the plants get used to the cooler conditions outdoors. Take them out for an hour or so the first day, and then bring them back in. Increase this period every day until you can leave the plants outdoors all night so the rabbits can find them. And if all else fails, develop a good friendship with a greenhouse grower.

David Robson is an Extension Educator, Horticulture, at the Springfield Extension Center, University of Illinois Extension. You can write to Robson in care of Illinois Country Living, PO. Box 3787, Springfield, IL 62708. Telephone: (217) 782-6515.
E-Mail: robsond@mail.aces.uiuc.edu

16 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING MARCH 2000