{"id":2135,"date":"2013-05-01T08:22:06","date_gmt":"2013-05-01T12:22:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.massaudubon.org\/blogs\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=2135"},"modified":"2013-05-01T08:29:17","modified_gmt":"2013-05-01T12:29:17","slug":"growing-from-seed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/growing-from-seed\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing From Seed"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SimonSpring has sprung, which means vegetable gardening season is right around the corner. Can\u2019t wait to get started? Instead of buying seedlings, start your plants from seed indoors. Now\u2019s the time to dig in.<\/p>\n

Why Start From Seed?
\n<\/b>There are many good reasons to go the seed route, among them:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Variety. With seeds you have many more choices than you do from the seedling plants at most garden centers, especially when it comes to heirloom plants. The options of just basil alone will astound you from the large leaved Genovese to Purple Ruffles to the small spicy Thai basil<\/li>\n
  2. Cost. For a couple of dollars, you will have enough seeds to fill multiple gardens. Don\u2019t need them all? Set up a seed exchange with friends and neighbors.<\/li>\n
  3. Taste. Nothing beats the flavor of home grown, sun-ripened tomatoes, from Cherokee Purple to Green Zebra to Brandywine.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    How to Get Started
    \n<\/b>To grow your own seedlings, you will need a few simple things.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. A sunny window. One that faces south or west should provide a good light source.<\/li>\n
    2. Pots with drainage holes. These don\u2019t need to be fancy; clean yogurt cups with holes punched in the bottom will work.<\/li>\n
    3. Something to place under the pots to allow you to water the soil from the bottom up.<\/li>\n
    4. Seed starter mix. This mixture is lighter and fluffier that potting soil to make it easier for new roots to develop. You can find it at any garden center.<\/li>\n
    5. Seeds. Be sure to read the package instructions to determine how to plant the seeds, what kind of light they require, and how much water is necessary.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Within a few days, depending on the temperature, your seeds should be up and growing. Once germinated, make sure you keep the seedlings slightly moist, but not wet. Remember: Roots need water but also air.<\/p>\n

      Toughening Up
      \n<\/strong>All seedlings need to be \u201chardened off.\u201d Bright sunlight and cool winds can damage young tender plants. To toughen up your plants, put them outside in a shady place during the day and take them in at night. If the plants turn red or or silver they’ve gotten too much sun.<\/p>\n

      When to Plant Outside
      \n<\/strong>Some plants such as\u00a0peas, pansies, lettuce, and spinach can take the colder temperatures and once hardened off can be placed out in the garden while it’s still cool outside.<\/p>\n

      Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, basil, and many flowers need nighttime temperatures above 55 degrees. To insure your plants will flourish, wait until it’s above 55 degrees for 5 nights in a row.<\/p>\n

      Have you started seedlings yet? Tell us what you’re growing and how it’s going in the comments!<\/p>\n

      Image courtesy of Simon Howden \/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Spring has sprung, which means vegetable gardening season is right around the corner. Can\u2019t wait to get started? Instead of buying seedlings, start your plants from seed indoors. Now\u2019s the time to dig in. Why Start From Seed? There are many good reasons to go the seed route, among them: Variety. With seeds you have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2135","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gardening"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-yr","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3837,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/beware-of-backyard-invaders\/","url_meta":{"origin":2135,"position":0},"title":"Beware of Backyard Invaders","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"August 13, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"On quick glance, it may seem that your garden beds are thriving: the plants are\u00a0lush, green, and plentiful. But take a closer look and you may discover that your yard has been overtaken with non-native invasive species. Invasive plants are one of the greatest threats to the nature of Massachusetts\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Gardening"","block_context":{"text":"Gardening","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/gardening\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/08\/Japanese-barberry-with-purple-foliage-600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/08\/Japanese-barberry-with-purple-foliage-600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/08\/Japanese-barberry-with-purple-foliage-600.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":288,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/dont-weed-the-milkweed\/","url_meta":{"origin":2135,"position":1},"title":"Don’t Weed the Milkweed!","author":"Kristin S.","date":"July 10, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"If a gardening catalog offered a plant that sported unique flowers, attracted butterflies, fed and protected the beloved monarch butterfly, provided nesting material for goldfinches and orioles, was easy to grow, and was native to our state, wouldn\u2019t we be eager to plant some in our gardens? So, what is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Gardening"","block_context":{"text":"Gardening","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/gardening\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2012\/07\/commonmilkweedmonarch_cropped.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2012\/07\/commonmilkweedmonarch_cropped.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2012\/07\/commonmilkweedmonarch_cropped.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8489,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/bird-seed-basics\/","url_meta":{"origin":2135,"position":2},"title":"Bird Seed Basics","author":"Hillary T.","date":"December 13, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Want to see birds without ever having to leave home? 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