Our goal is to make gardening accessible for all New Yorkers!
For many people, gardening starts with seeds.
We will list the top things to help your seed journey!
TIMING:
When starting out you will hear and eventually become
very familiar with your "average last frost date."
... What does that mean?
Your average last frost date is the last day of any risk of frost. The first and last freeze/frost dates for New York City, NY, begin middle of October until the middle of April the following year. This means it is usually safe to start planting your tender annuals and perennials after mid-April.
Transplanting verse direct sow, direct seeding is planting seeds directly into your garden. Transplanting is starting your seeds ahead of time or buying a start at a local garden center and planting the whole plant into your garden.
TRANSPLANTING VS. DIRECT SOW:
Direct seeding is planting seeds directly into your garden. Transplanting is starting your seeds ahead of time or buying a start at a local garden center and planting the whole plant into your garden.
The advantage of starting certain seeds indoors is that you get a head start on the season and have more control over the growing conditions.
A few plants that would be advantageous to start inside before your last frost include tomatoes, onions, eggplant, and peppers due to the long time it takes to mature and produce fruit. These plants also tolerate translanting.
MOISTURE:
After sowing the seed, ensure the thin top layer of soil where the growing seed stays moist. Too little humidity can prevent the seed from germinating, while too much water can contribute to roots rotting.
Spreading a layer of Vermiculite on the soil of our seed starts is a great way to retain moisture. A spray bottle or mister is a great way to keep growing medium moist without damage to seeds and young seedlings.
LIGHT:
Find where you get the most sun.
Full sun means 6 or more hours of uninterrupted exposure,
which is ideal for most flowers and vegetable plants.
HARDENING OFF:
This is the most crucial step when growing starts in your home!
If you take your seedling out of a perfectly controlled warm environment and introduce it to the wild elements of the garden with a transitional period, you may retain a lot of your starts. Ultimately wasting your early efforts.
Hardening off is a 7 to 14-day transition period that helps the tender seedlings adjust to outdoor conditions, including exposure to direct sunlight, win, and changes in temperature.
On the first day of hardening off, put seedlings in a protected location out of the direct sun and wind. leave them outdoors to 1 to 2 hours, then bring them back indoors. Each day, leave them outdoors longer and gradually move them into more exposer areas. After 14 days, your starts are ready to be planted.
While hardening off your plants, remember to water!
WATER:
At the beginning of a plant’s life it will need frequent, shallow waterings, but as it grows, watering more deeply and less frequently will promote deep, strong roots.
We always recommend touching the soil to see if it is dry.
SEEDS TO DIRECT SOW:
Early spring crops include root crops such as
carrots, beets, turnips, and radishes, lettuce, spinach and kale.
Seeds to direct sow when soil temperatures rise to above 65 degrees around May.
This includes beans, corn, and squash.
HARDENING OFF:
This is the most crucial step when growing starts in your home!
If you take your seedling out of a perfectly controlled warm environment and introduce it to the wild elements of the garden with a transitional period, you may retain a lot of your starts. Ultimately wasting your early efforts.
Hardening off is a 7 to 14-day transition period that helps the tender seedlings adjust to outdoor conditions, including exposure to direct sunlight, win, and changes in temperature.
On the first day of hardening off, put seedlings in a protected location out of the direct sun and wind. leave them outdoors to 1 to 2 hours, then bring them back indoors. Each day, leave them outdoors longer and gradually move them into more exposer areas. After 14 days, your starts are ready to be planted.
While hardening off your plants, remember to water!
WATER:
At the beginning of a plant’s life it will need frequent, shallow waterings, but as it grows, watering more deeply and less frequently will promote deep, strong roots.
We always recommend touching the soil to see if it is dry.
SEEDS TO DIRECT SOW:
Early spring crops include root crops such as
carrots, beets, turnips, and radishes, lettuce, spinach and kale.
Seeds to direct sow when soil temperatures rise to above 65 degrees around May.
This includes beans, corn, and squash.
HAVE FUN!
Gardening is not always about positive results. Instead, it often provides many lessons.
We encourage you to try again and continue exploring what gardening can offer.
Join us in-store for more expert advice, tips & tricks for all your plant needs!