Schlatter Family Site

Starting Seeds

This year we decided to try starting some of our own seeds rather than purchasing plants from local nurseries of garden centers.  This is our first attempt at starting plants from seeds -- we will add to this article so you can track the progress (or lack of progress) with these seeds.

We purchased planting flats from a local hardware store -- you see the flats in these photos.  Each flat has 72 sections, a bottom section, and a clear plastic lid.  This is how we planted our seeds:

• We used a commercial planting medium made of vermiculite, peat moss, compost, and light soil.  You can buy this stuff at any garden center or nursery -- just tell them you need seed starting soil.
•  We filled the planting flats with the planting soil and packed it down into each little section.
•  We then placed one seed in each section and sprinkled about 1/4 inch of soil over the seeds.
• We then used a watering can with a sprinkler nozzle to lightly dampen the soil containing the seed.
•  Place the clear plastic lids on the planting trays so the moisture stays in the soil.
•  Set the planting flats in a warm, sunny place.

This photo shows the seed starting flat with tomato seeds planted.  I filled each section with seed starting medium, placed one seed into each section, and covered with about 1/4 inch of medium.  Now this flat is ready for watering.  Note that I have only one label for each tomato -- the labels indicate what is planted in that row -- that is, on the far right is a label for the "Dona" tomato -- I planted one Dona seed in each of six sections, the six sections in the row in front of the label.

The following photos were taken of our sprouted seeds about two weeks after planting; we planted our seeds on 6 March; these photos were taken on 21 March.  Here's a description of what's in these photos:

•  A fluorescent lamp placed about four inches above the trays and turned on 14 hours a day.  Some folks use special fluorescent tubes called "grow lights" -- I use regular fluorescent lights rated as "sunlight" tubes.
•  The trays are set on top of a refrigerator in our utility room.  The room is heated the same as the house and the heat from the refrigerator keeps the trays warm.  The window in the utility room faces south so we get a lot of warm sunlight pouring into the room.
•  I lightly watered the seed beds every other day.
•  After the seeds sprouted, I removed the clear plastic lids so the plants have space to grow.
•  I fertilized the young plants with a half-strength fish emulsion about one week after the seeds sprouted.

The plants in the rear tray are tomatoes.  In the front tray are herbs.

Here are two close-up photos of our young plants. 

The top photo shows tomato plants (left, under the light); basil plants (far back); and herbs in the foreground.

The bottom photo shows tomato plants (rear) and dill plants (front).

After these plants are about double the size shown here, I will transfer each plant to a separate 4-inch diameter peat pot and continue watering them.  When they are about six weeks old, I will start setting the plants outside in the sun for about an hour a day for 4-5 days to harden them.  After a week of hardening the young plants, I'll put them in the ground.