Transcript Gardening in Interior Alaska

GARDENING IN
INTERIOR ALASKA
Aaron Stierle
Solitude Springs Farm & Vineyard
Spring 2015
AGENDA
Growing peonies
 Marji Illingworth, North Pole Peonies
Raising seedlings, raised beds and greenhouses
 Aaron Stierle, Solitude Springs Farm
Complete cards with:
 1. How did you hear about this workshop?
 2. Topics you would like to learn about . . .
 3. How useful was this presentation?
RAISING SEEDLINGS
Ingredients:
 Seeds
 Pots
 Potting soil
 Light
 Water
 Nutrients
Putting it all together
SEEDS
Seed sources
BestCoolSeeds.com – Anchorage, mail
order/online only. Seeds selected specifically for
Alaska
Johnny’s Selected Seeds – Maine, mail
order/online. Wide range of seeds that may or
may not work in Alaska. Excellent descriptions.
Territorial Seed Company – Oregon, mail
order/online. Large variety of seeds, choose
wisely.
SEEDS
Seed sources
 Fedco Seeds – Maine, mail order/online. Few
pictures, but nice descriptions.
 Local stores and garden centers
 >60 days to harvest – poor performer here
 Most will send seed catalogs
 Some also sell gardening tools – remember shipping
costs
 Winter barage of catalogs!!!!!
POTS
Flats – fill entire tray with soil
Use flats with holes inside hole-less tray
For large numbers/onions or weak germinators
Plugs – 128+ compartments/tray
Just for starting seeds and ease of transplanting
Cells = 2-, 4-, 6-, 9-packs
Clusters of cells surrounded by perforations
POTS
Packs – allow for grouping of seeds by
variety & ease of organization
Most common are 4- and 6-packs
Use for plants that will not develop extensive
root systems before transplant
Pots – 3-, 4-, 6-inch
For plants with more developed/sensitive
root systems or for repotting growing
seedlings
POTTING SOIL
Soil-less vs. dirt
Soil-less potting soil:
 Does not contain mineral/dirt particles
 May contain peat/coconut fiber, vermiculite,
perlite, shredded cardboard, wetting agent,
fertilizer, mycorrhizal fungi
 Sterile (disease free, weed free)
 Not as “heavy” as dirt
POTTING SOIL
Soil-less vs. dirt
Dirt:
 Contains mineral/dirt particles
 Can be mixed with peat/coconut fiber,
vermiculite, perlite, shredded cardboard, wetting
agent, fertilizer, mycorrhizal fungi
 Should be sterilized (using heat, can remove
organic matter)
 Contains natural organic matter
POTTING SOIL
Soil-less vs. dirt
Which to use?
 Soil-less is more convenient, but expensive
 Different grades may not be suitable to seed
germination – too large-grained
 Pro-Mix, Miracle-Gro, others
 Soil – cheap and no need for roots to adapt
 Potential for pathogens unless commercially made
 Triple-R (Risse’s)
SEEDLING DISEASES
Damping off:
When seeds don’t sprout or sprout but die
from bottom up
Often due to fungus or particular environment
Soil remains too wet
Water once (when planted), then cover with
clear plastic lid or plastic wrap until seedlings
emerge
SEEDLING DISEASES
Root rot:
Seedlings emerge, grow vigorously and then wilt
and die
Root zone saturated with water
Only water when top of soil has dried out
Do Not maintain water in bottom tray
 Water from above more frequently as needed
SEEDLING DISEASES
Poor quality seeds – may come innoculated
with diseases
Low quality or “Moisture controlling”
potting soils
May not drain well or may hold too much
moisture for seeds – seeds rot
Better used for established plants
LIGHTING
Natural:
A sunny, south-facing window
Full-spectrum!
Low cost, but inconsistent
Potential for cold air flow off window
Low intensity may encourage leggy-ness
Excess heat buildup inside plastic covers
LIGHTING
Artificial:
Fluorescent:
 T-5 and T-8 bulbs use less energy than T-12 for same
output
 Recommend using plant/aquarium bulbs for full
spectrum, but can use one “warm” bulb and one
“cool” bulb to approximate spectrum
 Place 3-6 inches above leaves and do not allow to
grow into fixture.
LIGHTING
Artificial:
 Fluorescent:
 Use timer to provide 14 to 16 hours a day of light
 Lower intensity requires longer “days”
 Grow lights:
 400-watt bulbs with high intensity mimic full sun
 Still have limited horizontal coverage area, making them
less than ideal as seedling starting systems
 Minimal leggy-ness
LIGHTING
Artificial:
LED:
Similar to fluorescent in requirements
Lower power consumption
Not full-spectrum
Spectrum requirements not as important for
seedlings that spend limited time inside.
WATERING
Only when top of soil dries out
I typically do not water until seeds sprout
Monitor seedlings for wilting
Sunny days and warm air temperatures
increase water demand.
Do not use cold water – stunts seedling
growth
WATERING
Can apply water-based fertilizer when
watering
Filter snowmelt to remove weed seeds and
bring to room temperature before using
Gentle flow disturbs soil and plants less.
Once outside, water usage can double, so
plant soon!
NUTRIENTS
Key chemical elements plants need to create
new tissue
N, P, K = macronutrients (large quantities)
Iron, calcium, magnesium, selenium, boron,
etc. = micronutrients
Organic matter = slow release of nutrients
and lightens soil
NUTRIENTS
Nitrogen (N) – first number in ratio
% of nitrogen found in fertilizer
Component of chlorophyll, plant proteins
Green tissue growth, most vital nutrient
Phosphorus (P) – second number in ratio
Important for root development, flowering
Potassium (K) – third number in ratio
Root development, stress tolerance, fruit
NUTRIENTS
Organic vs. synthetic
Personal preference
Organic:
 Typically lower nutrient content (4-4-4)
 Contains natural soil conditioners and trace
elements
 Will not burn plants or disrupt soil biology
 Slow release; less likely to get leached away
NUTRIENTS
Organic vs. synthetic
Synthetic:
 More highly concentrated (20-20-20)
 Lacks natural soil conditioners
 May also contain trace elements – Look!!
 Can burn plants and disrupt soil biology
 Water soluble – prone to leaching, especially in
wet years
NUTRIENTS
Organic vs. synthetic
Use what works best for you
Important to follow directions on container and
dispose of container properly!
Use appropriate protective clothing
Nutrient requirements vary with variety
Vining plants typically require less nitrogen
NUTRIENTS
Nutrient requirements vary with variety
Tomatoes will vine and not produce fruit if
overfertilized (and this is easy to do)
Cucumbers: some say to underfertilize, others
say overfertilize.
Well-balanced soil encourages rapid growth of
leafy vegetables and minimizes bitterness
Nasturtiums – do not like rich soil!!!!!!!!!
NUTRIENTS
Nutrient requirements vary with variety
Carrots grow multiple fingers if soil is too high
in nitrogen
Cucumbers: some say to underfertilize, others
say overfertilize – but salts can affect taste.
Well-balanced soil encourages rapid growth of
leafy vegetables and minimizes bitterness
Nasturtiums – do not like rich soil!!!!!!!!!
NUTRIENTS
Some plants need to have the seed
innoculated with special nitrogen-fixing
bacteria
Legumes
 Peas
Beans
NUTRIENTS
Bottom line:
Do not overfertilize! It is a waste of money in
most cases and can damage plants
Fertilize seedlings SPARINGLY! They are easily
burned
I typically do not fertilize my seedlings more
than once before they are planted outside
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
 Consult seedling calendar (Cooperative Extension Service)
 Secure your ingredients
 Plant pots
 Fill with potting mix and gently pack
 Make depression or two and place one or two seeds in each depression
 Gently cover seeds with recommended amount of soil, if needed
 Sprout trays in dark warm location unless seeds need sun to
germinate
 Check daily as seedlings will become leggy if left in the dark after sprouting
 Move to lighted area once seeds begin to sprout (cotyledons)
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
 Water from below until seeds established and don’t move
much when watering from above
 Rotate/move trays to provide more even lighting
 Ideal temp range:
 70-80 F for seed germination, but can be lower – watch for seeds
rotting
 70/50 F for growth
 Once first true leaves emerge, leggy-ness is less of a
problem for many plants
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
 Hardening off
 Process of slowly exposing plants to harsher conditions outside
 Sun-dappled shade, well-watered; start with just a few hours; protect from critters!
 http://tomatoheadquarters.com/tomatoes-farm/tips-for-hardening-off-tomato-and-
pepper-seedlings/
 Floating row cover/frost blankets
 Good websites:
 Groworganic.com – lots of helpful videos on just about everything
 Gardenweb.com
 Cooperative extension service - Fairbanks
 Keep lots of detailed notes so you know what works and
what doesn’t for you!