Starting Seeds Indoors

Mendell and His Peas…

• Contains genetic material

• Heirloom

• Open-pollinated vs. hybrid

• Seed saving

Fertilization

• When a male pollen cell (sperm cell) forms a union with a female egg cell (ovum), a seed is formed

Seed Anatomy

• Three main parts– embryo

• young plant

– seed coat• protects

– seed leaves (cotyledons)

• food reserve

Seeds!• 4-18% water

• Smallest seed?

• The largest seed?

Seed Selection • USDA Zone 7 • Early frost (around October 10th)• Late frost (around May 10th)• Annual• Biennial• Perennial • Season extension

Seed Selection• Trustworthy dealer • Read information in seed catalogs and on seed

packets

Germination• Mature seed: right

environment– stratification

– scarification

• KEYS: water, oxygen, and temperature

Seed Storage

• Leftovers?– Keep inside packet,

place into a plastic bag, and then into a refrigerator

– Time of storage is variable

Planting Media

• Two groups: soilless media and amended soil mixes

• Soilless media is generally used to start seeds• Amended soil mixes generally used to transplant

Soilless Media

• Sphagnum moss, pumice, peat moss,vermiculite, perlite, sand, pine bark, coconut fiber, good compost!

• Environmental concerns• Key: fine and uniform yet well aerated and loose• Oxygen!

Amended Soil Mix

• Transplanting • Contains compost and/or a mixture of organic plant

nutrients   • Mix your own or buy pre-mix• Oxygen!

Sterile Soil• No insects, disease organisms, or weed seeds • Compost contains benefical micro-organisms and may

help fight disease

Re-using Soil?

• ‘Treat’ the soil in an oven to sterilize it  • 250 degrees Fahrenheit • Cook soil at an internal temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit for at

least a half hour.  • Do not overheat   • Smelly process!

Containers

• Must be sterile • Rinse with 9:1

water:chlorine  • Plastic cups, milk

cartons, egg cartons, Newspaper, and yogurt cups, soil blockers

• Put holes in bottom for drainage and oxygen supply to roots

Containers• Purchase plastic

‘flats‘and ‘trays’• Different sizes for

different crops

Planting Your Seed

• Fill it to within 3/4 inches from the top with moistened medium

• Gently tamp down (do not press hard!) and create a flat, uniform surface

• Remove rocks, sticks, and/or large clumps of soil from the surface 

Label!

Planting Depth

• Seed packet • Twice the diameter rule• Most plants germinate in dark• Plant more seeds than you will use

Water!

• After seeds have been sown, water with room temperature water

• Don’t wash the seeds away or change their depth with heavy watering

Water!

• ‘Wicking’ action works

• Or…cover the container with a plastic bag or sleeve• One inch away from the soil and there should be air flow

Water!

• Soil should remain moist throughout germination  • Remove the plastic as soon as the seedlings

emerge

Water!• After seedlings emerge, watering increases  • If utilizing the wicking method, run water through

containers occasionally to keep plants healthy and inhibit disease. 

• The soil should always be moist to the touch and not dry or soggy.

Temperature• Temperature is probably the most important factor

in starting seeds indoors without a greenhouse.  • Optimal germination temps for different crops • Purchase seed starting heating mats • Start seeds that require lower temperatures to

germinate such as: lettuce, brassicas, and alliums  

Temperature• After germination, move seeds to cooler temp. • 55-60 degree F night temp• 65-70 degree F day temp  • Different temperature for different crops  

Light Requirements

• Intense light needed after germination  • South facing windor- at least four hours of direct sun • 40-watt cool fluorescent tube or special plant growth lamp

(HPS)• Sixteen hours each day • 6-12 inches above seedlings

Buy or Build Your Own!

Transplanting

• True leaves?• Time to step-up to soil mix• Select strongest seedling • Thin by cutting top of plant off; don’t disturb roots  • ‘Strongest’ criterion- straight, strong stems, no

discoloration and/or odor throughout entire seedling, and lush leaf growth

Transplanting

• Be very gentle with your seedling and try to avoid tearing the roots in the process! 

• Handle by leaves and not delicate stems

Transplanting• Fill a container to about an inch from the top (to allow

room for watering) • Make a hole in the center of the container• Gently place the plant into the whole and make sure that

the roots have room to spread out • The depth of the plant should mirror the depth at which the

seedling was originally at in the old container• Gently tamp soil down around the plant and water softly 

Hardening Off• Last step- essential to ensure healthy, vigorous plants• Process of acclimating young plants to the outdoors from

their indoor environment • Gradually lowering temperatures, relative humidity, and

reducing water about one-two weeks before planting in the garden

• Meant to slow plant growth, not stop• After proper hardening, cold-hearty plants can be planted

outdoors and light frosts will not damage them (even tomatoes!)

Hardening Off

• Shaded area protected from intense wind, full sunlight, and very low temperatures

• Optimal temperature- 45-50 degrees F• Cold-frame is ideal

Transplanting to Field

Transplanting to Field

• Raised beds

• Correct depth

• Stimulate roots

• Mulch

• Water-in

Direct Seeding

• Some plants respond better to direct seeding and should not be transplanted (dill, carrot, cilantro)• Usually larger seeded veggies, root crops, flowers

Questions?