Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Caring for Your Seedlings
Now that you have your seeds planted in trays or directly in the
ground, how do you care for them?
Common Quandaries
The seeds need to be kept moist for them to germinate, but the
challenge of growing seeds outdoors is excessive rainfall. Too much
moisture can saturate the soil, which can prevent the seeds from
germinating or cause them to rot. If the temperature is too warm,
the soil can become dry and hard, which prevents the sprouting seed
from breaking through the soil. You will need to take extra care of
your seeds and seedlings in the first few weeks after planting them;
once they get established they will need less of your attention.
Growing indoors gives you more control over how much water the
seeds get, but they need constant attention and often need to be
watered at least twice a day if the weather is warm. If your seedlings
are thin and breaking off at the base, this may be a sign of a soil-
borne fungus called
dampening off
. If the seedlings are large enough
to be transplanted, bury the stem as deep as possible. If the seed-
lings are still too young to go out into the garden, you will need to
throw these in the garbage and start over again using clean cells.
Seeds do not need light to germinate, but once they have broken
through the surface they need as much light as possible. Most seed-
lings need six hours of light to grow well. If you are starting them in
late winter when the days are still short, grow lights may be neces-
sary. Leggy and spindly looking seedlings may not be getting enough
light. Another concern is extreme temperatures.
Young seedlings can burn and wilt very easily in the heat, and can
die if they get too cold. Protecting them from extreme temperatures
is necessary.
