Transcript Growing Spring Vegetables from Seed

Growing Spring
Vegetables from Seed
Gerard Ballanco, M.D.
St Tammany Master Gardener
LSU AgCenter
May
Why Grow from Seeds






Variety selection
Care of plant from germination
Timing of transplant to garden
Sharing
Fun
Economical ?
Variety Selection







LSU Dept of Agriculture recommendations
Heirloom seeds, local recommendations
Commercial seed packets; feed and seed store
bulk seed
Experiment with different varieties
Saved seeds from open pollinated varieties
Seed Exchange and swapping
Seed quality; testing germination percentage
Steps To Germination




Imbibition of
water.
Digestion and
translocation.
Germination (root
primordia breaks
seed coat).
Slide from Texas ag center
Seeding Indoor or Outdoor

Indoor: tomatoes, peppers, eggplants

Outdoor: beans, peas, beets, carrots, greens,
corn

Either: cucurbits, broccoli, cabbage,
cauliflower, lettuce, herbs, onions
Planting Seeds Indoors or Out




Light germinating seed; dark germinating seed
Presoaking, Scarification, Stratification
Seed packet directions
Plant as early as possible: fewer bugs,
generally friendlier environment to spring
vegetables
Germination Media


Compressed peat wafers
Commercial mixtures and kits





Peat based
Coconut fiber based
Home made mixtures
Sterile soil mixtures
Germination vs growth media
Medias for Seed and Cuttings
Germination Environment

Moisture


Temperature


Maintaining appropriate humidity
Ambient +/- mats
Light

Natural vs artificial
Seeding Indoors


Determine preferred plant date and go back six
to eight weeks to plant seeds indoors (Average
last frost zone 8 in St Tammany Parish
is March 18)
Containers



Moisture, light, temperature
How many plants of how many varieties
Soak seeds appropriately
Seeding Indoors





Put seeds into germination medium, add milled
sphagnum moss to cover to appropriate depth
Scatter seeds vs accurately spacing
Cover to retain moisture
Keep moist and warm; +/- light
Germination will occur in several days to
weeks
Planting Seeds Indoors or Out



General rule: seed planting depth should be
three times the seed width. Seed packet.
Check for light or dark germination
Seed spacing techniques




Packet instructions
Care when seeding
Dilute small seeds with sand or dead seeds
Aggressive thinning
Seeding Indoors 1/17
Seeding Indoors
Seeding Indoors
Seeding Indoors
Heat Mat
Seed Leaves 1/21
Lighting





Critical after germination
Use fluorescent grow bulbs or combination of
grow bulbs and sunlight* bulbs. Natural
sunlight difficult: window, cold frame
Keep this kind of artificial light source 2-3
inches above top leaves of plant
Sixteen to eighteen hours of light per day
Use a timer for ease and consistency
Seedling Care
Seedling Care 2/2
Seedling Care
Proper Method for Handling
Seedlings
Get Your Soil Tested







Get your soil tested
Get your soil tested
Get your soil tested
Get your soil tested
Get your soil tested
Get your soil tested
Get your soil tested
Row Preparation



Till and ammend soil and make rows about a
month before planting in garden; get soil test if
none within two years
Remove weeds from the rows and keep weed
free
Loosen soil a day or two before transplant day
After Germination Indoors





After germination, +/- remove plastic cover
Fertilize with weak, balanced solution
Monitor distance from light daily
May need to mist plants; fan
Transplant to garden or larger container if
roots reach edge of wafer (container) or more
than four true leaves grow
Transplanting Outdoors

Harden off over a 7-10 day period:

Place in shade or dappled light for 2 days, then
gradually increase sun exposure; continue
indoors at night with lights, decreasing one
hour per night.
Start with exposure to morning sun or dappled
light

Transplanting Outdoors





Hardening off con’t
Gradually decrease water to plants
Keep outside overnight for 1-2 nights before
transplanting (no frost)
Water at transplant and protect from bright
sunlight for a day or so, if needed
Caution: direct, hot, western sun is poorly
tolerated by plants in small cells or pots
Transplanting Outdoors





Spacing
Transplant solution, fish emulsion, and/or
seaweed spray
Row covers
Stake, cage, trellis, or pole
Cut worm collars
Resources



Louisiana Vegetable Planting Guide by LSU
AgCenter, available online
Louisiana Home Vegetable Gardening by LSU
AgCenter ($ 20.00)
Individual information sheets on particular
vegetables: Vegetable gardening hints and/or
Vegetable gardening tips online at LSU
AgCenter