Re: Seed Starting!!

**camprn** 3/4/2013, 12:28 pm

donnainzone10 wrote:Thanks, Camp.

Hmmm.... OSU Extension says to transplant tomatoes late May-early June. I'm beginning to suspect that the trick here is to set out transplants as soon as the soil warms sufficiently and the weather isn't too cold.

Generally, we have to take advantage of higher daytime temps while we can and protect from low nighttime temps. Those can vary 50 degrees F, day to night.

Yup, that's pretty much the gist of it. I put my tomatoes in when the soil warms and if the plants are still small have them under clochs until they are too big.

**donnainzone5** 3/4/2013, 12:37 pm

It would be much simpler if I could just follow a chart! So many variables to consider....

**llama momma** 3/4/2013, 12:38 pm

I asked the same question about using mel's mix and was told by Quiltbea(I believe) that using MM in the soil blocker is too soft and falls apart. The seed starting mix I purchased is holding together very nicely so far. (Johnny's 512)

**camprn** 3/4/2013, 1:06 pm

donnainzone10 wrote:It would be much simpler if I could just follow a chart! So many variables to consider....

Nothing is ever that simple. The best I can do is learn to watch the plants for ques, take the advice of more experienced gardeners, keep note and understand that it's an ongoing education, nothing is ever written in stone, there is a degree of science and a degree of art in the adventure of being a gardener.

**Turan** 3/4/2013, 7:00 pm

donnainzone10 wrote:It would be much simpler if I could just follow a chart! So many variables to consider....

What I do is watch for what is sprouting around me. When the wild mustards are sprouting it is ok to plant out cole crops. When the sunflowers the birds plant are sprouting it is ok to plant corn. Wait a week or so to plant tomatoes and beans.

Think about what are the things around you that will sprout or open their leaves etc when the soil temperature reaches a certain point. That is more reliable than last years chart. Even if you do not know what plants to look for you can plant a few radish, pumpkin, corn seeds as indicators.

Hardcoir 3/4/2013, 7:04 pm

donnainzone10 wrote:Finding my LFD is the least of my worries! June 24 is the official date I'm going by, although some websites say July 7.

The problem lies in how soon to start seeds indoors. I made a chart based on Mel's info. For example, Broccoli should be started indoors NOW, and planted outside between May 16 and May 23. My neighbors tell me I'm a month early! (By the way, PlantMaps.com puts me in its Zone 5.)

And one local nursery (staffed with Master Gardeners, for the most part) tells me that I can direct-sow peas, beets, spinach, lettuce, etc. any time now.

Another nursery looked up indoor seed-starting dates for this area and provided quite a list, including chard, kale, lettuce, onion, pea, radish, leeks, and spinach.

And OSU Extension says to begin transplanting broccoli in April (this is its calendar for Central Oregon).

My suspicion is that I probably should start seeds a bit early, transplant at the appropriate interval, and protect from frost/snow as necessary. Our growing season is so short!

Hard Coir, you seem to have a great deal of knowledge about my new climate. Have you lived in this region? Are you a Master Gardener or meteorologist?

Incidentally, my particular address lies in a so-called "banana belt" here in Bend.

I hope all this explains my confusion.

I have never lived in Oregon. I was a broadcast journalist (radio/tv) and did do the weather on radio, but I do not have an AMS seal. I am an official weather spotter though, and unfortunately living in our area have been doing too much spotting these last few years.

My love affair with Oregon comes from Williams, home of "Herbpharm." Herbal Eddie was a riot, and he was perhaps the foremost expert herbalist and herbologist in the country.

I also had a close friend who grew up in Heppner before moving south, and my wife and I lived in a similar client in Colorado, where it could snow one day and top 70 degrees the next day 10 months out of the year, and you could play golf or ski somewhere near us 365 days a year. We had 17 inches of snow on Memorial Day and 14 inches on Labor Day in the same calendar year, and we had 67 inches of snow in 33 hours followed by temperatures above 70 two days later. We also had a morning that started at 7 below zero about the time we awoke and hit 65 degrees by 1 PM.

We grew a lot of frost-tolerant greens, radishes, onions, and cole crops in those years and relied on an organic & Biodynamic CSA for the rest.

**donnainzone5** 3/4/2013, 8:58 pm

Wow! And I thought my climate was weird! I hope I'm doing something right.

**sanderson** 1/24/2014, 12:41 am

camprn wrote:I grew quite a lot of seedlings under one shop light fixture. I really like the chains. In this photo I had lifted the light to allow for watering and then I lowered it again.

Camp, Fluorescent tubes?

**camprn** 1/24/2014, 6:44 am

sanderson wrote:
camprn wrote:I grew quite a lot of seedlings under one shop light fixture. I really like the chains. In this photo I had lifted the light to allow for watering and then I lowered it again.

Camp, Fluorescent tubes?

yes, New full spectrum or daylight quality light. They are not 'gro-lights'. Quite effective.

**camprn** 1/26/2014, 8:13 am

In this brief video he offers some great advice on sowing seed and potting up (transplanting). In this video he is sowing shasta daisy.

**sanderson** 1/28/2015, 3:31 am

I'm just wondering who has started their spring seedlings. I'm thinking of Feb 15 -22 to start, later than I did last year. I don't know if the forecast for a wet spring is accurate or just wishful thinking by local weather reporters.

has55 1/28/2015, 4:37 am

not yet. hope so next week.

jendear 1/28/2015, 6:19 am

I'm going to plant onion and leek seeds this weekend. Too early for other crops in my zone. Can't wait!

katjohn83 1/28/2015, 8:21 am

Started mine last weekend.

cygnus 1/28/2015, 8:46 am

I'm starting on Feb. 14th with broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. Other veggies in the weeks following that. Only 2 weeks left! I'm excited!

quiltbea 1/28/2015, 12:24 pm

I'm in zone 5a and itching to get started so I just found a shallow pot, sowed arugula and lettuce seeds on Sun., and placed it under my growlight in the living room along with the African violets. I hope to see germination soon.
The rest of my seeds don't usually get started til mid- or end of Feb but these I plan to grow right here indoors.
Seed Starting!! - Page 7 Arugul11

tagyourit 1/28/2015, 3:15 pm

I started my peppers and eggplants last weekend and will start my tomatoes probably next weekend. I am also making some seed tapes for carrots and lettuce out of toilet paper from a video I saw on MIgardener. Love that kid!

mschaef 1/28/2015, 5:17 pm

I tossed some lettuce seeds in a square a couple days ago. Planning to start more things within the next week.

quiltbea 1/28/2015, 8:07 pm

Yikes, I see green. Hooray, arugula is germinating.

floyd1440 1/29/2015, 7:07 pm

I got some Bok Choy seeds but do you start them from seeds or transplant? thinking

R&R 1011 1/29/2015, 7:58 pm

Im starting my onions & shallots now. Debating on starting some pepper seeds now since they take foreverrrr to grow. Going to wait a week or so for my broccoli & cabbage. I want an early start this year, I feel like my seedlings get behind.

**sanderson** 1/29/2015, 9:19 pm

floyd1440 wrote:I got some Bok Choy seeds but do you start them from seeds or transplant?

I've only started them from seeds. The spring / summer heat gets them so they are one of the first outdoor transplants. This fall I will try starting them by direct sowing in the raised kale/chard bed.

Dunkinjean 1/29/2015, 9:44 pm

According one of my websites, I can start my tomato and pepper seeds Feb 19th.
Of course I can't wait since this is the first time I am trying to grow vegetables, herbs and flowers from seed.

has55 1/30/2015, 10:25 am

I stumbled across this web page while searching for new ideas for seedling cups. the pictures said a lot. scroll down to see what I mean. they could be use for the plants for deeper roots 10" or 14" and then for punching a hole in the soil when transplanting. this site was expensive.

If there is a better container...

I found it cheaper at this site.

Deepots SKU: CN-SS-DP

Cone-tainers

Black Form Pots, Full Case SKU: CN-SQV

littlejo 1/31/2015, 12:14 pm

has55 wrote:I stumbled across this web page while searching for new ideas for seedling cups. the pictures said a lot. scroll down to see what I mean. they could be use for the plants for deeper roots 10" or 14" and then for punching a hole in the soil when transplanting. this site was expensive.

If there is a better container...

I found it cheaper at this site.

Deepots SKU: CN-SS-DP

Cone-tainers

Black Form Pots, Full Case SKU: CN-SQV

Has55
I guess if I was growing a very good cash crop like MJ then I'd spend the money on expensive pots, but not for veggies, even if I was selling them!
I started some of mine in those 3 oz. paper bathroom cups, filled with straight worm castings, to give them a boost. I guess it worked. Plants are up after 2 days!
For up-potting and air pruning pots, I use "red" solo cups, about 6 in. tall. I just use scissors to cut about 4 slits in each cup, about 2.5 inches up starting at the bottom. I fill them with MM from last yr. I just plant the small cups in these, no disturbing the roots. Then, when putting in the garden, I just cut the cup.
Any other ideas for containers for veggies?

Sponsored content


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.