Even the best seeds and plants won't meet your
expectations without a little bit of know-how on your part. Our gardening tips will
put you on the right path.
Growing Flowers from Seed
I recommend starting small annual seeds and all perennial
seeds indoors in a soilless germinating mix. In short season climates, annuals that take a
long time to bloom should be started indoors. Sow seed 6 to 8 weeks before the plants are
to be set out, which should be after frost danger. For fine seeds the trick is to sow them
thinly. Try creasing the flap of the glassine that holds the seeds and tapping the
envelope gently to move seeds slowly. Overcrowding in the seed tray can result in disease
and weak seedlings. If you do seed too heavily, pull the extra freshly germinated seed out
with tweezers. Try to leave 1/4 to 1 inch between seedlings in the tray.
Place flats under fluorescent lights and keep at room
temperature (60-70 F), covered with a clear plastic humidity dome or a piece of plastic
wrap. Most annuals will germinate in 1 week, perennials in 2 weeks, but don't be
impatient, as several varieties take 1 month or more.
Once your seeds have germinated,
remove the plastic wrap or humidity dome, and keep close to the fluorescent lights to keep
seedlings from getting leggy. Water carefully and keep an eye on them, especially those
directly under lights; they will need more frequent watering.
Transplant after they have
two pairs of true leaves and grow them on in roomier quarters until it's time to accustom
them to the outdoors. Place flats outside on a warm day for several hours, keeping out of
direct sunlight. As the days pass, leave them out for longer periods of time, slowly
increasing the amount of sunlight they are exposed to. After a week, weather permitting,
they should be ready to transplant to the garden bed. A misty gray morning, or late in the
afternoon is ideal. Water with manure tea or a weak soluble fertilizer, and they're on
their way.
Many annual and biennial flower seeds can be started
directly outdoors after preparing the soil. Sow in place or in rows for transplanting
after they have 4 sets of leaves or are large enough to
handle.
