Starting plants from seeds is a good way to get a jump on the growing season. It's not too early to begin, and you don't even need a greenhouse to do it -- just a warm, sunny place.
"If you start seeds early, you get the best selection of plant varieties because there are always more seeds available than plants," said Sara Melton, manager of The Barn Nursery. "We'll probably be carrying around 500 different seed varieties this year. And seed catalogs will have 10 times that many. You can have a lot of fun starting your plants from seeds."
Here are five tips Ms. Melton recommends for success.
1. Choose carefully. Some plants do better started early, such as tomatoes, peppers and herbs. Other plants, such as zinnias, cosmos and leafy greens, such as lettuces, do better started directly outside. Also, plants with roots, such as carrots, radishes and beets, do better started outside.
2. Plant seeds in a good, seed-starting soil mix. Use pots that can be planted directly into the ground, such as pots made from peat moss or coconut fibers.
3. Place seed pots in a warm place to germinate. You might try the top of the refrigerator or on a heating pad since, at this point, they don't necessarily need light. Once they have germinated, move them to a sunny window or under a fluorescent light.
4. Water correctly. Keep soil completely moist during germination, but don't let pots sit in water. After germination, let the soil dry out between waterings.
5. Do not fertilize until growth appears. Then use a mild fertilizer once a week. Fish emulsion and Garden-Ville Sea Tea are good natural fertilizers. Scotts Miracle-Gro may be used at one-quarter strength.
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