Seed Starting for Vegetable
Gardening
Spring 2013
Chestnut Hill Nursery ©
Seed Starting Timeline
• Start Seeds indoors roughly 8-10 weeks before
last frost (March 15th)
• In our zone, last frost date is roughly Mother’s
Day
• Around this date plants will need to he
hardened off to transition to outdoor planting
• Reseed lettuce, beans every few weeks for
continuous harvest
Chestnut Hill Nursery ©
What you will need
Seeds
Seed starting mix or peat disks\potting mix
Seeds starting trays or peat pots
Spray bottle for misting fragile sprouts
Gentle flow watering can for more mature
seedlings
• A bright window with southern exposure is
best location, or under fluorescent bulbs.
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How to begin
• Fill trays with sterilized seed starting medium
• Water in mix before planting seeds
• Follow seed packet instructions for planting
depth, cover with small layer of soil mix
• Poke holes in medium for seeds that require
deeper planting
• Cover trays with plastic lid or plastic wrap
• Observe seeds regularly to ensure moisture is
maintained, water from beneath if possible
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When seeds germinate
• When seeds begin to sprout, prop open tray
cover, be vigilant to maintain moisture level
• Once all seeds have sprouted remove plastic
cover completely
• Use spray bottle to maintain moisture around
seedlings, direct watering will dislocate
seedlings with fragile root growth
• Water from beneath, if possible
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Moisture levels
• While seeds need to be very moist in order to
germinate, once seeds have sprouted keep soil
slightly drier
• Too much moisture will contribute to fungal
disease and stem collapse
• Check daily to ensure consistent moisture and
do not allow seedlings to become dried out
• Try to keep any leaves from resting on wet soil
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Transplant
• Transplant to larger pot with potting mix or part
compost mix when true leaves appear
• Begin to fertilize with ½ strength fertilizer when second
set of true leaves appear
• The first set of seed leaves (called cotyledons) are not
true leaves and will have a different shape above seed
leaves
• Some seed leaves remain below surface (peas)
• Corn and Onion have only has 1 seed leaf and true
leaves form below them
• Fertilize every 1-2 weeks until moved outdoors
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True or False?
• Seed leaves (cotyledons) versus True leaves
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Transitioning to the Outdoors
• The most important process for transitioning
to outdoors is Hardening off
• Hardening off is the process of slowly
exposing the seedlings to direct sun and lower
temperatures of early spring
• Place seedlings in the shade for a few hours a
day, slowly increasing time each day, bringing
indoors at night
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Transitioning to the Outdoors - 2
• Slowly expose to gentle sunlight, first for only an
hour, increasing direct light time over the next
few days. Ensure that soil remains moist and does
not dry out.
• Be sure to move in doors if temperature drops
too low at night, watch for late frost warnings
• Once seedlings have remained out doors day and
night for a few days they can be transplanted to
their permanent outdoor space
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Follow directions for vegetable needs
• Some vegetables, like tomatoes, pole beans peas and
cucumbers will require support, be sure to put in place
while seedlings are small
• Use fencing, netting or traditional support cages
• Assist winding crops in adhering to supports
• Use Velcro tape or other gentle materials attach other
crops to supports
• Add additional supports as necessary throughout
season
• Water from below to prevent fungal disease (don’t
spray leaves directly) soaker hoses with timer work
well and save time
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Support Methods
Anything goes!
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Starting Seeds Outdoors
• Some crops do not transplant well and are
better started outdoors
• These include carrots, cucumbers and more
fragile greens and lettuce
• Plant some crops together for symbiotic
relationship (see attached chart)
• Carrots and radishes are a good pair as
radishes germinate faster and will break the
soil surface for the fragile carrot seedlings
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Buy some crops already started
• Certain plants are more difficult to start or
take a longer time to bear fruit and are often
better purchased, these include peppers
which germinate best at 85-90°
• Also purchase more unique varieties of crops
like tomatoes if you do not need an entire
seed packets worth of plants
• Keep seeds dry and cool to use next season
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Fertilize
• Provide nutrients to plants via compost,
amendments, organic fertilizers or chemical
fertilizers
• Organic fertilizers include bone meal, dried
blood, worm castings, manure
• MiracleGro is an example of chemical fertilizer
• Pay attention to Ph levels, adjust with lime to
alkalize, soil in the Poconos is generally acidic
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N-P-K
• Stands for Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium,
the three major nutrients in fertilizer
• The 3 numbers on fertilizer always appear in this
order 5-5-4 or 20-20-20
• Chemical fertilizers have a higher concentration
of nutrients
• Nitrogen is most affiliated with green leafy
growth, Phosphorous with large fruit and flowers
through good root development
• If your tomatoes have beautiful leaves but no
fruit reduce Nitrogen and increase Phosphorus!
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Problems and Pests
• Largest problems are chewing insects and
fungal disease
• Check regularly for infiltrators!
• The Good vs the Bad - beneficial insects
• Prevention is less destructive than control
– Light conditions, moisture levels, protection
• Not sure what it is? Bring us a sample!
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Common Garden Pests
• Hand pick, if possible
• Wash off aphids with hose
Tomato Hornworm
Chipmunk
Cucumber
Beetle
Aphids
Deer
Slug
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Controls
• To preemptively combat insects and fungal
disease use an organic product like Neem Oil
• Neem is made from the seed of the evergreen
tree and is safe to use on vegetables up to the
day of harvest
• Sprinkle slug bait around crops to combat slugs
and snails during moist weather!
• There are more potent treatment for advanced
problems (Daconil, Sevin) that can be used but
check label for last application date
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Recommended Products
• Fertilize
– MiracleGro Starter Plus, fertilizers and potting mix
– Espoma Gardentone and organic amendments
• Insects
– Neem oil, insecticidal soap, Sevin
• Fungal Disease
– Neem Oil, Daconil
• Animals
– Deer Out, Liquid Fence, Repels All
• Velcro tape for supporting crops
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Questions?
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