| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| LuckyMommyof5 |
Posted - Aug 14 2011 : 08:49:57 AM
I have to admit I have never saved seeds from produce or herbs I've grown one year to plant in my garden the next year. However, this year I would really like to try and then start some seedlings indoors next year for transplanting.
I think I know what to do, but wanted to ask any Farmgirls who do this how they go about it and if there are any special "tips" for it.
Thanks!
Farmgirl Sister #3243
"The real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong." - Laura Ingalls Wilder |
| 3 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| LaceMistress |
Posted - Aug 17 2011 : 10:17:57 AM
For saving seeds, you also want to make sure that the parent seeds are from a company with a "Safe Seed" pledge.....otherwise chances are very iffy for getting any crop at all from saved seeds.
Too much thread, so little time! |
| Fiddlehead Farm |
Posted - Aug 17 2011 : 06:02:50 AM
On saving seeds...you have to be sure that the seeds you are saving are from heirloom plants. The hybrid seeds are not always true to the parent. I planted some pumpkin seed that I saved from a store bought pie pumpkin and got some very weird pumpkins!
www.seedsavers.org has some good tips and advice.
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
Don't go with the flow...you are the flow.
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White |
| naturemaiden |
Posted - Aug 17 2011 : 04:21:44 AM
Hi Suzanne,
this is lengthy, as i wrote it for my garden group:
STARTING SEED INDOORS-
*If you are not sure when to plant your seed, look on the seed pack for precise planting times for your zone, and your last frost free date.
HEAT LOVING PLANTS: The most important seed I start indoors are the heat loving plants such as tomatoes, peppers, basil, eggplants such. These should be started about 8 weeks indoors prior to your last frost date.
FLOWERS: You may also want to start certain flower seed indoors as well. I like to broadcast most of my flower seed about 2 weeks before the last frost date, and then add 2 of compost over them and water in gently. By the time they germinate, the weather will be just about the right time for frost to be past. I have had great success doing it this way.
SQUASH BEANS & MELONS: can be started indoors 4 weeks before your last frost date.
HERBS: Start indoors 8 weeks before the last frost date.
LETTUCE: Lettuce can be directly sown outdoors about 2 weeks prior to the last frost, or soon after.You may also start your lettuce seed indoors 4 weeks before the last frost date.
COOL WEATHER CROPS: Radishes, parsnips, peas and carrots can all be directly sown outdoors, as soon as the ground can be worked.
LIGHTS- You can buy those 4 shop lights and use a combo of cool white and warm light bulbs for your fixture. You could use those special grow lights if you wanted to, but the cool & warm lights would do. Once seed germinates, keep lights 6 from seedlings at all times.
CONTAINERS- ALWAYS use clean, sterilized containers for planting seed otherwise you risk passing along disease and fungus to your seedlings, threatening damping off disease and such.You can
re-use old containers, just wash them in hot water with a
little bleach first. Use a small container for your seed,
such as mini 2 pots work great.
SOIL MIX- Use a prepared seedling mix, as it is lighter in texture. Regular potting soil is heavy and may hold too much moisture, thus rotting your seed.
PLANTING- Only bury the seed twice as deep as it is wide.
WATERING- Gently water in your seed. Do not soak the whole container, as the seed could rot. Keep an eye on the containers that they dont dry out. Keep the container moistened, but not soaked.
TEMPERATURE- The temps should be around 70-75 degrees F. Some seed need cooler temps to germinate. Refer to each packet for more info,
FERTILIZING- Seeds do not need to be fertilized. Once seedlings
have their 2nd set of true leaves, you can fertilize with a 1/4
strength water soluble fertilizer.
for more info, the link to my group is: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ContainerGardens/
http://www.naturemaiden.com/- Soap & Candle
http://flowerchild-lifeinthegarden.blogspot.com/ My Blog
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/farmgirl-crafting-group/ - A group for all farmgirls wanting to share their craft.
|
|
|
