Starting Transplants & Sowing

Seeds

George Bushell

2:Use Fresh Seeds

Some Seeds Can

Easily Be saved

-Store Seeds in

Fridge or Freezer

to Increase

Storage Life

-Seal in Plastic to

Prevent Seeds

from Drying Out

Re-Seal Seed Packages

with Left-Over seeds

Masking

TapeOrganic Seed Suppliers:

http://www.findorganicseed.ca/

Click On : Full supplier list

- Use a Clean

Organic Starter

Mix for Best

Results

- Helps to

prevent

damping off,

which

destroys

stem at

surface

- Helps to

Keep the

Seeds Moist

for better

germination

Add Water & Stir Until Mix is Moist

Organic Pro-Mix Contains Peat, Compost & Mycorise*

* (A natural occurring fungus that helps roots absorb moisture and nutrients)

3:Starter Mix for Starting Seeds Indoors

4: Soil For Transplanting To Larger Containers

50% Soil

50% Compost

(Nitrogen)

Wood Ashes

(Ka)

2 – To enrich mix, one can add:

Dolomitic Limestone

(Ca & Mg) Bone Meal

(P)

And Have a

Great Hobby

for Life

3 - Transplant

1 - Mix:

Start

Young

1st Week of March - Start onions from seeds indoors - Place sweet potatoes in water to sprout indoors 1st Week of April - Start tomatoes, peppers and eggplant indoors - Start early brassicas and romaine lettuce indoors if you have a cold frame

Middle of April - (or whenever soil can be worked) plant peas, radish, lettuce, spinach & a few onion sets for greens outdoors

3rd Week of April - Transplant brassicas and romaine lettuce to cold frame 1st Week of May - Start watermelon and cantaloupe indoors - Start one container of slicing cucumbers indoors

- Plant beets and carrots for early harvest, Swiss chard and storage onions outdoors

Middle of May - Start early corn outdoors (if soil reasonably warm) - Plant early potatoes--

Last Week of May - Cut sweet potato vines into 7-8” pieces and place in 2-3” of water to root

- Start mid-season corn, green beans, cucumbers and squash outdoors - Transplant tomatoes and peppers outdoors 1st Week of June - Plant lima beans and okra outdoors - Transplant sweet potatoes, watermelons, cantaloupes and slicing cucumber outdoors 2nd Week of June - Plant late corn outdoors - Plant winter storage carrots, beets, rutabagas and potatoes outdoors at end of week - Start late season brassicas (cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli) outdoors for later transplanting 1st Week of July - Plant Chinese vegetables/cabbage outdoors - Transplant late season brassicas Late August - Start fall garden of radish, lettuce and onion sets 1st Week of Sept - Start spinach and onion sets for spring harvest

9:

Ottawa

Planting

Schedule

5-Punch Drain Holes In Cups

7-Add Water To Seed Starter

Mix & Stir Until Moist

2-Punch Drain Holes In Bottom1-Cut Lid From Egg Carton

3-Tape Holes In Lid

4-Place Bottom In Lid

6-Obtain Seed Starter Mix

10: Starting Seeds Indoors Using Recycled Containers

1-Fill Cup ¾ full of

soil-compost mix

Small Seeds

Easily

Transplanted,

Start in Small

Containers

Example

tomatoes,

peppers,

brassicas

Always Record Variety on Container

2-Add ½ inch of

seed starter mix

3-Place Seeds

Larger Seeds

Harder to

Transplant,

Start in Larger

Containers Example cucumbers,

melons, zucchini

watermelons

4-Cover Seeds with

starter mix*

2-Place Seeds & Cover with Starter Mix*1-Fill carton ¾ full of starter mix

* Cover according to package instructions

& keep moist until sprouted.

Once sprouted, let surface dry-out between

waterings to prevent damping-off (a fungus)

11: Starting Seeds Indoors Using Recycled Containers (Cont’d)

12: Keep Seeds At Optimal Germination Temp*

Use a heating Pad & Monitor Soil Temperature

(remove pad when plants appear)

(Some seeds need warm soil to germinate quickly)

Or Place In Sunny Window With

Clear Plastic to Warm Soil**

Or Place Under Grow Lights & Cover

With Clear Plastic to Warm Soil**

* See handout or page at end of this presentation

** Remove plastic when plants appear

13: Grow LightsAll Plants Require Full Spectrum Light

Ensure Distance Between

Containers/Plants Can Be

Adjusted

Place Containers/Plants Close to Lights

(e.g., 2 inches / 50 cm) as light intensity

decreases with square of distance)

Use a Timer to

Turn Lights On

& Off Each Day

e.g., 16 hours

on, 8 hours off

Transplant to larger containers as needed

2”

Provide Plenty of Light

Examples

tomatoes

peppers

brassicas

head lettuceStart 5- 6 weeks before planting date in re-cycled containers

14: Starting “Easy To Transplant” Veggies IndoorsSee Seed Package for Depth & Last Slide for Temperature

Ready to

Transplant

Outdoors

Examples

cucumbers

cantaloupe

watermelons

Start 4 weeks before planting

date in re-cycled containers

that are large enough to last

until transplanting outdoors

- Monitor Temperature

- Provide Plenty of Light

15: Starting “Difficult to Transplant” Veggies IndoorsSee Seed Package for Depth & Last Slide for Temperature

16: Build A Temporary Greenhouse For Optimal . Lighting and Large Numbers of Transplants

1-Use 2x2’s to Erect a

Temporary Frame

3-During warm days,

raise poly a few inches at

the sides and open patio

door to allow greenhouse

to ventilate

- At night, close sides

and leave patio door

open to keep greenhouse

warm (or place a small

thermostat heater in

greenhouse

Small temporary

greenhouses. Vent

during warm days &

install thermostat heater

for cold nights or

cover/bring inside if

portable

2-Cover with Poly & Place

Against Patio Door

17: Transplant To A Cold Frame for Early Produce

Great for Cold Tolerant Veggies

e.g., brassicas, head lettuce

Active Compost In

Bottom Provides Heat

Cover With Blanket

On Cold Nights

Keep Top in Place on Cool

and/or Cloudy Days

Transplant when Soil Clear of Snow –

on warm days raise or remove covers

18: Other Cold Frames

Partially Raise Cover on Warm days

Simple & Provides Insulation On Cold Nights

Brick Can Be Stored When Not In Use

Remove Top On Hot Days

19: Transplanting Outdoors

Most Plants can Be

Transplanted Directly

to Garden

Harden Off or

Protect from Sun

Burn & Wind

Damage For a

Few Days

Create a

depression

around plant

to hold water

Cover with a Poly

Tunnel to Keep Heat

Loving Plants Warm e.g., sweet potatoes,

watermelon

20: Planting Small Seeds Outdoors

Read Seed Package for Depth, Row Spacing, etc

e.g., carrots, lettuce, radish, parsnips, brassicas, beets, rutabagas

Covers prevents soil/seed from drying out in hot weather

& stops heavy rains from washing seed away

Firm soil in seed row Create proper depth

Spread Seed & Cover

With Soil

Cover row for 3 to 5 days

with boards to keep moist

20: Planting Early Seeds Outdoors

Work Soil & Plant Seeds (planted Mar20/12)

Cover Seeds & Insert

Galvanized Wire Hoops

Cover Bed With Remay Fabric Peas, Lettuce, Radish, Spinach & Onions

Pic

taken

Apr

11,

2012

Peas

Peas,

Lettuce,

Radish,

Spinach &

Onions are

frost tolerant

Remove Fabric After Frosty Weather

21:Small Seed Example: Starting Carrots

3-Apply 2” of compost

after plants are growing

4-Healthy Growing Carrots 5-Fall Harvested Carrots

2-Cover 4 to 5

days for good

germination

1-Planted

&

Watered

Seed

22:Starting Watermelon & Cantaloupe

Start May 1st - keep soil 25

to 30C for germination

Transplant in

late May to

raised hills

Do not disturb roots

when transplanting

Cover with perforated poly to keep

warm and protect from cool winds

Always

irrigate

with warm

water

Mulch with straw before end

of June to conserve

moisture & reduce weeds

2”

Raised ridge for

efficient watering

23:Starting Sweet

Potatoes in Ottawa

Cut vines into 7”

pieces & root in

water ~ May 24th Transplant to raised

beds ~June 1st &

cover with poly

If available, cover

with perforated polyUncover at the

end of June

Georgia Jet Best Variety

Place roots in warm

water March 1st

•Order slips from NB: http://www.mapplefarm.com

24:Start With Good Seeds And

Transplants- Finish With Great Veggies

Vegetable Seed Germination Temperatures

Crop Minimum

Temperature

(°C)*

Optimum

Temperature

(°C)*

Days to

Germination

Celery 4 21-23 10-14

Bean, Snap 15 23-29 7

Beet 4 23 7-14

Carrot 4 23-26 12-15

Brassica Crops (e.g.

Cabbage, Broccoli)

4 18-29 5-10

Cucumber 15 21-29 7-10

Eggplant 15 21-29 10

Lettuce 0 18-21 7-10

Cantaloupe/Watermelon 15 26-30 5-10

Onion (bulb) 0 21-23 10-14

Onion (bunch) 0 15-20 10-14

Pea 4 18-21 7-14

Pepper 15 23-29 10

Pumpkin 15 21-23 7-10

Radish 4 18-21 5-7

Spinach 0 21 7-14

Sweet Corn 10 21-29 7-10

Swiss Chard 4 20-23 7-14

Tomato 10 23-26 7-14

Turnip/Rutabaga 15 18-21 7-14