A greenhouse is a beautiful, ideal place for young and vulnerable plants. With carefully controlled conditions, the growing season can be majorly extended. You can even grow certain veggies all year round. Starting seeds traditionally is done via seed trays, hydroponic trays, or single plug trays. They are prepared depending on their particular needs. Some seeds may be immersed overnight, stratified, and then set in trays inside the greenhouse.
To develop a plan for your seedlings:
- What do you want to plant? Make a comprehensive list of what you intend on growing, their particular needs, and their ideal conditions
- Invest in containers that best suit the seeds you’re looking to start
- Get sterile soil! This helps prevent the spread of pathogens as well as discourages pest infestations
- Add fertilizer to your soil
- Always water your plants as recommended for each individual plant
- Check if your climate can handle these plants
- How much sunlight are you getting?
For beginners make sure to identify the label and date for each seed planted and record entries on the seed packets to recognize the plants easier. Review the germination rate on the seed pack to decide how many seeds will provide you with the expected quantity of seedlings.
Hybrid seeds
Hybrid seeds are easily found at almost any garden supply store. These have been bred to be large and attractive, while also ensuring that each fruit should grow to be the same size, color, etc. Hybrids crossbreed two similar plants. Here are some more pros and cons of planting hybrid seeds:
Pros
They are bigger and healthier plants with more similar attributes
They have greater and more consistent production
Improved yields means that you can harvest more, and faster than you could other varieties
They have been bred to be durable against diseases, pathogens, and environmental stress
Cons
They are more expensive compared to other seeds
Seeds from hybrid plants cannot be stored for long periods of time
Some report that hybrid varieties of fruits and vegetables aren’t as flavorful
Hybrid plants are artificially manufactured, and will not breed true when their seeds are replanted
Heirloom seeds
Heirloom seeds are ancient, established varieties of plant, often chosen for their advanced flavor or cooking applications
Pros
Heirloom seeds can be cultivated and propagated in order to grow more of the same kind of plant, unlike hybrid seeds
Heirloom fruits and vegetables are reported to be incredibly flavorful
These varieties have stood the test of time, and often are ideally suited to conditions in the area where they’re found
Cons
Harvests will be less uniform
The cross-pollinated species must be separated, this is because heirloom plants pollinate naturally
Heirloom seeds are often more difficult to find than hybrid varieties
They won’t have the same durability as hybrid seeds will
How to read a Seed Label
Government regulation requires that each seed sold must be properly labeled. Here’s what some of those labels mean:
- Open-pollinated
These seeds are also called true-to-type which will produce a “true” plant. This means that seedling plants will resemble their parents, which is essential in seed conservation.
- Organic
These seeds came from plants that followed the USDA organic standards of a certain territory or region.
- Non-GMO
Non-GMO seeds are developed through specific or random pollination.
- GMO
GMOs cross genes from separate plant kingdoms. Any type of seed can be GMO or open-pollinated, hybrid, and heirloom unless it is approved organic or non-GMO.
- Percent germination (germ)
This shows how many seeds will sprout on average
- Hard seed
These seeds don't develop as quickly because of a thick seed coating
- Dormant seed
These seeds don’t sprout readily because they require a kind of pre-treatment or natural weathering before sprouting
There are lots of options when it comes to seed starter pots or containers. You can find a wide array online made of everything from plastic to biodegradable material. Alternatively, you can create your own seed pots out of repurposed materials you can find around your house. This includes everything from toilet paper rolls, empty milk cartons, egg cartons, and even egg shells. The important thing is that your seed has a small, warm, safe place to sprout and grow.
