Sow seeds now for summer vegetables
Vegetable gardening is an enticing way to decrease grocery expenses, eat healthier and start a new, rewarding hobby. Spring is the perfect time to get started on this project! Vegetable gardening offers many benefits and can be done in a relatively cost-effective manner. Whether you have space in your backyard or opt for container gardening on your deck or porch, you can supply vegetables all summer for your family and friends. Once you take a bite out of a green bean, lettuce, tomato, or a cucumber that you grew yourself, you will appreciate the fresh taste and feel the satisfaction of growing it yourself. Penn State Extension, (https://extension.psu.edu/beginning-a-vegetable-garden) offers considerations when starting a vegetable garden.
To jump-start your vegetable gardening, try starting vegetable seeds now for planting outdoors in late May. The benefits of starting seeds indoors include earlier harvests, significantly lower costs than purchasing established plants, and a wider selection of plant varieties. You also have more control over environmental factors such as light, temperature, and water, avoiding risks like pests, diseases, and harsh weather that damage directly-sown seeds.
To begin your indoor seed- starting project, collect the supplies you will need, such as seed trays with covers, seed- starting potting soil or pellets, and the vegetable seed packets. Seeds that you can start indoors now (late April, early May) include lettuce, peas, radishes, carrots, spinach and kale. In early May, beans, cucumbers, squash, corn, and melons can be started indoors. Allow six to eight weeks for germination and growth before transplanting outdoors. Check seed packets for indoor sowing times, germination rates, and outdoor planting guidelines.
Use this process to begin your indoor seed starting project. Prepare each tray with seed starter mix. Moisten the seed- starting mix and fill the container to within ¾ inch from the top. Gently press the soil down. Do not press too hard, which will compact the soil. Follow directions on the seed packet for planting depth, then place the seeds on the soil accordingly. Cover the seed with a thin layer of potting soil, then water carefully. Label the rows immediately, especially when you plant different seeds in one flat. Cover the container with the seed tray lid or plastic film. No additional watering will be needed until after germination. Place the tray in a warm place, not in direct sunlight, with an ambient temperature of 65 to 75 degrees. You can use a heated seed-starting mat, if desired.
Most seeds sprout within 7 to 10 days, but sprouting time really depends on the vegetable you are growing. Refer to the seed packet for expected sprouting times. Once seedlings emerge, remove the seed tray cover or plastic film and place the container in a bright south-facing window or under a light source that uses two cool white fluorescent tubes. Use the lights for 14-16 hours daily. Do not overwater, which can lead to root rot. Water when the soil is damp, being careful the seedlings do not wilt. Consider using a spray bottle to water tender seedlings which avoids over watering and injury to the stems and leaves.
If you need to thin your seedlings, use scissors to nip unwanted seedlings at the soil line. If necessary, transplant overcrowded seedlings to individual pots after they have at least one set of true leaves. Grasp the seedlings by the leaf to avoid damage to the stem. Alternatively, scoop up the seedlings by the roots and transplant immediately into pots prepared with potting mix.
Anticipate keeping seedlings indoors for 4 to 8 weeks before planting outside, depending on vegetables planted and anticipated last frost date. When the last frost date has passed, begin the process to harden off the seedlings prior to planting directly into the soil or container. Place the seedlings in a shady, protected area for 1 to 2 hours a day, gradually increasing their exposure to direct sunlight and wind over one to two weeks. This process reduces the shock of moving the young plants from a pampered, sheltered environment to the harsh, unpredictable outdoors. Be alert for hungry wildlife that may snack on your delicious plants!
For more details about starting seeds indoors, visit Penn State Extension, https://extension.psu.edu/seed-starting-demystified; https://extension.psu.edu/seed-and-seedling-biology; and https://extension.psu.edu/programs/master-gardener/counties/adams/news/starting-seeds.
If you have questions about seed starting or planning a vegetable garden, telephone the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Butler County at the Garden Hotline at 724-287-4761, Ext. 7, or email the Master Gardeners at butlermg@psu.edu.
Terris Helfer is a Penn State Extension Butler County Master Gardener.
