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Let 'Em Sprout: Starting Seeds

© Keith Muraoka

The new millennium is the perfect time to think about beginnings. And a seed is the ultimate beginning. Why not get a jump on the spring garden season by starting seeds indoors?

Even though we're blessed with an extraordinarily long growing season in most parts of California, that doesn't mean you can't get a headstart -- and save money at the same time. Many veteran home gardeners prefer starting seeds indoors, particularly vegetable seeds, so the plants will be ready to be planted outdoors as soon as danger of frost is over.

Another advantage is that retail nurseries often don't have vegetable seedlings in when you want to plant. Not to mention the fact that buying already-started seedlings are more expensive than starting by seed. Finally, by planting seeds, you get a much larger choice of varieties. If there's a special variety or brand new introduction that you want to grow this summer, your best bet is to order seeds by mail through a reputable mail-order seed company. You can choose from Burpee, park, Twilley, etc.

Seeds started indoors require the same basic requirements as those started outside. This means soil, light and water. However, since their environment must be artificially maintained, it means a little better soil, more light than usual and maybe a little more attentiveness when it comes to watering.

I always start with sterile soil, such as a commercial potting mix available at nurseries. One of the great banes of seed growing is a fungus commonly known as Damping-Off disease. The spores are ever present in soil and the conditions of indoor gardening seem particularly advantageous to its propagation. Sterilized soil will avoid this scourge.

As for what to plant your indoor seeds in, almost any container will do. I save my plastic six packs and 4-inch pots from purchased bedding plants. You can recycle egg cartons, yogurt cups or clear plastic bakery boxes. You can use little Dixie cups or even buy Jiffy peat pots as starter pots. If you start lots of seeds in the same container, you'll usually have to transplant into individual pots or sick-pack cells about three weeks later. The biggest requirement here is to make sure the starter container has a drainage hole.

Which brings us to light. When seedlings recedive insufficient light, they become tall and spindly or "leggy." Seedlings need a lot of light. Try to place them neat natural sunlight, such as a window sill or, better yet, a greenhouse. Of course, most home gardeners don't have a greenhouse, so a window sill -- or actually a tray table sitting next to a window -- always works for me.

The copyright of the article Let 'Em Sprout: Starting Seeds in California Gardening is owned by Keith Muraoka. Permission to republish Let 'Em Sprout: Starting Seeds in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.