Seedlings are a great way to start your garden inside, so you are ready for the sometimes all too short growing season. The key to planting seeds is to wait until six to eight weeks before the last frost is expected in your area. This way, when the seedlings are ready to go outside, the weather should be warm enough. Since this is not easy to predict with wheatear forecasts these days. Take it as an indication. Things to remember about seedlings
A few things that you should remember when you are tending seedlings, is that they are quite delicate, and they require special care.
A seedling is a young plant that is not at all the strong, survivor it will once become. Usually it requires a more intense light then is available at the time you start to grow. The natural sunlight is best; but often days are still too short and the sun to weak. Because you start the seed inside, the plant thinks it's warm enough but soon discovers the lack of light. This will restrict its growth and health. This presents a problem your delicate seedling needs the best condition possible when you transplant it to your garden.
The best solution to overcome this problem is artificial light. And I must admit that I had some difficulties to overcome my resistance of investing in a special growth lamp. Because of the price tag garden centers put on these items I settled for aquarium lighting. They give you almost the same mixture of light frequencies as natural sunlight. Are fairly cheap and don't give of a great amount of heat.
Seedlings typically thrive with cycles of 12 hours of light, and 12 hours of dark in a 24 hour period. Depending on the plant you grow. When you follow my aquarium advise the light comes from above, otherwise turn them every now and then. Your seedlings will tend to grow toward the light. Keep your seedlings moist, not wet
When you are caring for your seedlings, keep them moist, but not wet. Seedlings are very susceptible to mold and should not be kept to wet. Yes in nature spring usually comes with some rain, but don't turn your container into a “swamp”. I've come across problem cases where it looked as if the owner with all his or her good intentions was trying to grow underwater plants instead of normal annuals. Also don't start to fertilize unless you are growing hydroponic. The seed itself and the soil you planted in supplies all the young plant needs. Fertilizers can even kill your plants when overused. They cause an inability of the plant to suck water from the soil. No water, no photosynthesis, no sugars to grow new cells or maintain existing ones. So as with mammals overfeeding can kill.
This might seem as a lot of trouble that hardly pays off. And you are right. But if you are not really trying to live of the land there is no logic in gardening, or growing vegetables, fruits, flowers or whatever yourself. The process of growing from seed, the satisfaction seeing a seed grow from a little almost invisible seed to a full-grown plant is the payoff. For me it is anyway.
At our site you can find more information about transplanting different species or how to keep them inside and tend a nice in-house container garden.
Hans is author at http://www.gardening-guides.com he is a professional in landscaping and garden design and an enthusiast private gardener
