Start Seeds Indoors While Waiting for Spring

Spring lurks while it has not fully arrived according to the calendar the mild winter here in Western New York has us itching to get outdoors to start digging in the soil and tending to our gardens.  For seed starters, now is the time to plant. Over this past week, I have started some varieties in my basement under grow lights, along with the help of a much needed heat mat for good germination. Here are the plants I like to start from seeds and plant in my garden:

 

Shock Wave Petunias

I started Deep Purple and Coconut, and they will be outstanding in combination plantings. These petunias are wonderful in beds as they will spread 3 to 4 feet across. I add some Worm Power when transplanting and the results were phenomenal last year. If you are not using any of the Wave petunias, I highly recommend that you do.

 

Candy Showers Snapdragons

These dwarf snapdragons are absolutely gorgeous in hanging planters or containers. Bushy, compact plants will spread to 16 to 18" across, but only get 6 to 8" tall. These trailing snaps are bright and cheerful…they make my day.

Magellan Zinnias

Although you can directly plant zinnia seeds in the garden, I like to start them in my basement to get a jump on the season. Magellan Mix is absolutely the best zinnia for bedding and hedges. Plants grow 12 to 15" tall, and are loaded with large, colorful blooms.

 

Zahara Double Zinnias

 
I grow Zahara Double Fire and Double Cherry. These two varieties are truly knock-outs in garden beds. The intense deep orange and cherry red colors are a sight to behold. The plants will handle extreme weather better than others too.

Primo Red Tomatoes

This tomato variety has only been in the marketplace for a few years, and already it is a grower favorite. Modern hybrid tomatoes are not supposed to have great flavor, compared to older varieties, but not so with Primo Red. It matures very early, producing large, meaty beefsteak size fruit with a wonderful tomato flavor. It is my main tomato variety.

 

Golden Rave Tomatoes 

I love the bright yellow color of the roma tomato type fruit, and its eating quality for salads is exceptional. Golden Rave is a prolific yielder, so a few of these tomato plants go a long way.

 

Hungarian Cheese Peppers

Small, flattened round peppers, only 2.5 to 3" across are a true delight. The flesh is thick and very sweet, and I stuff and bake them for hors d'oeuvres or will often serve them as a main meal.   In short…these peppers are absolutely delicious.

 

Gordo Peppers 

I do not understand why more gardeners don't use this pepper variety. It will yield exceptionally large, flattened elongated peppers with very thick walls. Its thick flesh and long flattened shape make it ideal for roasting, and roasted and fried peppers in a tomato sauce are superb. Slice Gordo in half and stuff it for baking or try its very sweet flesh raw in salads.

I can highly recommend any of the above varieties for your garden. They are real winners as far as I am concerned.

 

When Should I Start My Vegetable Plants from Seeds?

At this time of year we are often asked, "When should I sow my seeds to start my vegetable transplants"?  Because our seed catalogs are delivered to all 50 states, and transplanting times arrive earlier in the Southern and Western U.S. than the Northern U.S., we usually answer this question with the number of weeks it takes to grow a transplantable seedling.

The chart below gives you the estimated time that it will take to produce vegetable plants from seed.   To determine the date for your area that it is safe to transplant a specific species to your garden, subtract the number of weeks it takes to grow the transplant, and then subtract the number of days it takes to germinate the seed to figure the date you should sow your seed.

If you don't know the recommended planting time for your region for a specific species, search the web for a vegetable planting guide specific to your area of the U.S. There are many useful websites that indicate the optimum transplanting time by species, for most every area in the U.S.

SPECIES Broccoli Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Cauliflower Collards Cucumber Eggplant Endive/Escarole Kale Kohlrabi Leek Lettuce Melons Mustard Okra Onion Pepper Pumpkin Squash (summer and winter) Tomato Watermelon

DAYS to GERMINATE 6-10 6-10 6-10 6-10 6-10 6-10 7-14 5-10 6-10 5-10 7-12 6-10 5-10 6-10 7-14 7-12 10-20 6-10 6-10 6-14 4-14

WEEKS to TRANSPLANT 4-5 4-5 5-6 5-6 4-6 3-4 6-7 5-7 4-6 4-6 6-8 4-5 2-3 4-6 6-8 5-6 6-8 2-3 2-3 5-6 3-5

Not enough time left to start plants from seed? Be sure to check out our garden-ready vegetable transplants! 

Start Gardening Now…If You Have the Time!

To be quite honest, many home gardeners prefer to skip down to their local garden center in early spring to buy transplants for their garden beds. It is convenient and easy, and I do not blame them for doing so. But for me, I truly receive great pleasure in starting my own transplants at home. For one, I always am assured of planting the varieties of my choice, and not have to depend on what the garden center has to offer for any particular season. I surely have some favorites I like to grow, and I cannot always be assured I can find them in the big box or local garden center.

Secondly, starting plants from seeds in my basement allows me to get a jump on the rewards of gardening much earlier in the season. I garden because I like to do so, so why not start the process in February or March? Starting seeds at home may sound like a lot of work, but it does not have to be an intimidating procedure.  Following some very simple seed starting rules and guidelines can surely lead you down the garden path for success. The combination of a suitable location, proper bottom heat, light and moisture will quickly turn your thumb green. Seasoned gardeners already know the rules, but for beginning gardeners, I always suggest starting modestly, with some easy-to-grow flowers and vegetables like tomatoes and marigolds. As you become familiar with the process, you then can turn to some more difficult cultivars to start from seed like geraniums.

Guidelines for seed starting abound, from the web to home garden catalogs. There are so many good resources for seed starting that it is really quite difficult to fail. I can speak confidently about the many home garden catalogs available for seed starting information. They have always been a good, positive source. You can also learn the basics of seed starting through our Seed Starting Seminar for Beginners, an audio and visual PowerPoint presentation.

Give seed starting a try…you might be surprised how much fun and rewarding it truly is. If you have questions and need some answers, write us at: gardeners@harrisseeds.com.