Are you looking for a project to help beat the winter blues? If yes, you should think about starting some of your vegetables from seed. There are many benefits to starting from seed – it is less expensive than buying plants and you often have a better selection, not to mention the satisfaction you feel from watching these seeds turn into lovely little plants.
There are many seed catalogs to purchase from; some of my favorite Northeast seed companies are Johnny’s Seeds, High Mowing Seeds, and FedCo Seeds. I usually like to buy from seed companies that are located in my planting zone but I recently discovered the Living Seed Company, which isn’t local, but their website is delightful – including lovely photos and an informative blog.
These seed companies are not only a place to buy your seeds, but they are also a great resource for your growing journey. I especially love Johnny’s for their seed starting calculator. Type in the last frost date for our area (for Portsmouth it is around May 15) and it will automatically calculate when you should start the seeds indoors, and when it is safe to transplant them outdoors. It takes the guesswork out of the whole process!
You may see the term “hardening off” on these websites. This is simply the process of bringing your seedlings outside for a few hours a day, to prepare them for the time when they will live permanently outdoors. You can start this process about a week or so before you will plant them outside. Don’t put these tender seedlings in direct sun or in a windy spot to start. A few hours a day in a nice, shady protected spot will do the trick. Gradually leave them out for longer periods of time, and eventually move them into the sun for short periods of time. By the time you are ready to plant them in the community garden, they will be “hardened off”.
I also find Empress of Dirt to have a lot of great information on growing from seed. Certain supplies are needed to get started, but once the investment is made, you will get years of use from them. You don’t have to go out and buy containers to grow your seeds in – simply save your small plastic containers (think yogurt containers) and plant in them. Just make sure to make a hole in the bottom for drainage. The website takes you through the whole seed growing process.
I want you to feel successful in your growing journey, and it is important to note that some veggies are just easier to grow from seed than others. Find information at Get Busy Gardening on the easiest veggies to grow from seed, whether they are sown directly in the garden or started indoors.
If you are not sure how many veggies to start from seed, then check out the website Savvy Gardening. It shows you how many veggies will comfortably fit in our 4×8 raised beds. It is very common to overplant – those petite tomato plants that start at 5” can grow up to 8’ tall! But don’t worry if you have more than you need, I am sure that the other members of the community garden will be happy to take them off your hands.
If you have read this far, then you are seriously considering starting plants from seeds. Please don’t get discouraged if you run into problems. Last year I had great luck with zinnias, kale and lettuce but my basil just wasn’t having it. That’s ok! It is really important to keep a journal, documenting the times you started and what went well and what didn’t work. Next year, you may try a different variety of basil to see how that does.
Growing from seed is not for everyone. You may simply not have enough space (I do mine in our basement) or time to commit to this endeavor. If that is the case, please check back for a future blog. I will give information on the best local places to buy your veggies. Please email me at communitygarden603@gmail.com if you have any questions regarding seed starting. I would be happy to help!
The UNH Cooperative Extension just announced a beginner seed starting webinar that will air on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 6:30-8:00 pm. Please click on this link to register. All are welcome!!