Terry’s Tips: Seed Starting Season!
Here on Cape Cod, our last average frost date is in early May. It is prime indoor seed sowing time to have warmth-loving seedlings ready to transplant to the garden for Memorial Day weekend when the soil, air and evenings are warm enough to not stress the plants.
Starting your own seeds is a cost effective way to grow lots of flowers or veggies for your garden. I have always liked planting flowers that our growers don’t offer in commercial sized 6 packs or pots. The more unusual the better for me and for our customers that enjoy trying something different.
This year we are starting seedlings of Marigold ‘Burning Embers’, Nigella ‘Delft Blue’, blue woodruff and my newest plant obsession Nicotianas: ‘Jasmine’, ‘Fairy Trumpets’ and ‘Select Chocolate Chips’. Fragrant and open in the evening.
We will be sowing veggie seeds too.
I was channeling Morticia Addams while perusing seed catalogs this winter and chose seeds of a dark, almost black, cherry tomato ‘Indigo Cherry Drops’ – vigorous indeterminate with clusters of dark, almost blue clusters of 1-2 ounce fruits with healthy anthocyanins. And Pumpkin ‘Black Bear’ – perfect for fall decorating: 1-1.5 pound fruits that are near black in a true pumpkin shape.
If you have hesitated starting seeds before because it seems difficult – start with some that are easy to grow. My suggestions would be lettuces, green beans and nasturtiums.
Lettuces germinate fast: sow them in a few pots on a window sill, scattering 9-10 seeds in a 4 inch pot and in 5 days you will see germination and in 8 weeks you can start harvesting outer leaves. When they get too big for the small pot either transplant them to your garden or move to a bigger pot to place on your patio for easy salad pickings.
Green beans and nasturtiums are bigger seeds, easier to handle and are quick to sprout. Bush beans can be grown in containers and nasturtiums can be grown in hanging baskets or pots for outdoor color and the flowers are edible.
We have the seed-starting supplies you need and are happy to give you any growing tips – #1 follow the directions on the seed packets 😉
~ Terry Soares
