How Does Your Garden Grow: Seeds and Transplants.

By Chrisjob

Part II. Seeds and Transplants.

If you planned on starting your own transplants from seeds, you’re a bit behind for this year. However, the schedule below details the best dates for starting transplants; use it in subsequent years, or to determine whether you should purchase seedlings or try it from scratch.

Early March: onions, cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, morning glory, cypress vine, sweet sultans, summer savory
Mid-March: hollyhock, snapdragon, cosmos, garden pinks, foxglove, HO-65 annual plants
Late March: Peppers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, zinnia, celosia, gloriosy daisy, marigold, strawflower, sweet basil
Early April: verbena, salvia, moss rose, oregano, marjoram, sage, caraway, aster, dahlia, carnation, garden pinks
Mid-April: Melons (watermelons, muskmelons) and squash – zucchini, yellow summer, and autumn squashes (butternut, acorn, etc)

1. Plant seeds in containers filled with potting soil. Place seeds under fluorescent grow-lights, 5-8” from seedlings. Let lamps shine 14-16 hours per day (mimicking the daylight outside).

2. After the second round of leaves appear, fertilize with a liquid product such as 20-20-20; then fertilize again two weeks later.

3. Earliest outdoor planting dates:

Vegetables
•    March 7th (second week): Peas and spinach
•    March 15th (third week): Hardy greens (collards, mustard), onions, turnips, rutabagas, radishes
•    March 20th: Asparagus, beets, carrots, chard, kale, kohlrabi, parsnips
•    March 25th: Cabbage, lettuce, onions
•    April 7th: Broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, celery
•    April 20th: Sweet corn
Fruits
•    Early March: Prune nut trees
•    Mid-March: Plant new fruit trees in well-drained, sunny locations
•    Late March: Prune apple and pear trees
•    Early April: Plant strawberries
•    Late April: Prune grapes

Special Thanks: Boone County Extension Services; Burlington, KY
Photos from here and here

Tagged:
how-does-your-garden-grow garden gardening plants vegetables flowers seeds

April 15, 2008

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kestrel

April 15, 2008

For the last 5 years I've been starting seeds using the baggie method which is like instant gratification. I love being able to start seeds and have green shoots with leaves within a week. The only problem is I've found myself pushing when to start the seeds. Last winter I was so anxious to grow anything that I started some sunflowers right after Christmas. I'm not sure what possesed me to do this, but I did. I ended up transplanting them to the largest peat pots I could find and they were a good 2' plus tall by the time it was warm enough to bring them outside.

This year I was more restrained...somewhat. My tallest plants are the zinnias and they're only 6" to 8" tall right now.

I would strongly recomment using peat pots for your seedlings. This way you can just dig a hole and drop the whole pot in without having to disturb the roots. Plus they help retain moisture while they get established out doors.