Seed-Starting Demystified Pt. 6 (Everyone Can Grow a Garden 2023 #12)

[@rosspep581]

Sorry if I haven’t read all the posts but WOW ! Using every day items as a capillary mat? Wha? Thank you for all you show us!!!:)

[@Birdhouselady]

I love your idea of watering young potted plants.

[@greenthumbelina7331]

Thank you, Susan, I just ordered a small 3' x 4' capillary matt, after watching this video. I love that idea! If I find that this works for me, I will consider buying a large roll to use next year. Oh, by the way, I bought a section of vinyl gutter to plant my peas in, thanks for that idea also. I hope you and Bill have a wonderful weekend. ~Margie🤗🌱💐

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Have a great weekend, Margie!

[@capecodcottagegarden]

As always a great informative video. I always learn something extremely helpful. Happy spring:)

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Thanks so much! Have a great garden season.

[@nvb888]

You can try the paper towel method. With this method, you plant them when they are already germinated. Therefore, you can put them under growing light immediately. Using a magnifying glass and tweezers for tiny seeds is very helpful:)

[@sandyl.7608]

Thank you for the suggestion, I have a question. Do you have problems with the roots of your tiny, sprouted seeds breaking when you remove them from the paper towels? If so, what do you do about it? I seem to lose more seedlings from the roots sticking to the paper towels. ☹Thanks

[@nvb888]

@@sandyl.7608 I check the seeds daily, sometimes twice a day, and as soon as I see a tiny root starting to appear (1-2mm), I plant them immediately. I usually have pots or cells ready (filled with soil), and it takes only a few minutes to plant them. Planting may spread over several days if you need many plants because you have to wait until they all sprout. I usually start several varieties on the same day. This way, I do the checking and planting in bulk:) If I forget about the seeds for a long time or they sprout unexpectedly quickly, I may plant them with the paper towel (depending on the seeds and situation). In this case, I just spread the towel on top of the soil and cover it with a tiny layer of soil (for small seeds). But sometimes, you can just tease them out with a small piece of paper towel, which works even better than burying the whole towel.

[@dustyflats3832]

Congratulations on Verbena. A lot of the perennial seeds I winter sowed in jugs were Very tiny. I hope I see some pop up. Yes, once the seeding is up they need light quick. Broccoli look great. I’m running out of room and it was only 14*F this morning and expecting 60s tomorrow with bad weather in WI. I’m waiting to heat the greenhouse, but it’s been so cold. I haven’t started sweet peppers and tomatoes yet and waiting for another heat mat and lights😂 using a heating pad on one flat. I’m going to do brassicas in winter sow jugs as that worked last year. 😂😂how do you restrain yourself when planting? Your eyes would pop if you seen all the celery I have started😂😂. Seriously it’s crazy, but I’m hoping to grow a great crop so I can freeze and dry it. I’m trying to hold off on tomatoes and peppers except for the hot peppers because they get so big before planting out. Wow, thanks for sharing greenhouse growing tips. I like that capillary mat set up. So easy and allows air to the plants and not confined by trays. When we remodel the lean to I think I will add this. So easy to water and as long as there is water in trough don’t have to worry about drying out. I’ve been monitoring the temp and humidity with a non smart temp/hygrometer transmitter. It has been an eye opening experience of how hot and Dry it is without plants. I would like to do all this now, but not sure if ground underneath is still frozen and want to add a heat sink and do it right so I can maybe heat it earlier. Oh the battle this year with bugs from using an opened bag of soil. Going forward I’m sterilizing all soil on the grill and any plants coming in will have a debugging drench. Those artichokes, dahlias, sage, carnations and celery all have to be monitored for aphids! I’ve never had them before not even outside. And with all that celery it’s not easy. Thankfully I found 2 ladybugs 🐞 and put them to work. It has been crazy fun watching them work. Everyday they are in a different spot and I see very few aphids!😃 So good to know at about 45*F to have heat kick on. If you had tomatoes I would suspect more like 55-60*F? I hope our whole Midwest area and others don’t get tornadoes tomorrow. The temps are clashing from snow in north and Gulf air from south. It is a rare occurrence and will come rapidly they say with several rounds and on Tuesday. We have chicks coming next week and we haven’t had them for quite awhile. We will be busy. So looking forward to the compost and fresh eggs🎉👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Thanks again, very useful info!

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi there! So glad you enjoyed the new video.

[@sandyl.7608]

Hello Susan, thank you for another great video. I wanted to also thank you for the seed starting sheet that you made. I have been using it and it is very helpful. How long does the water last in your wicking system in your greenhouse. Would you be able to go away for a few days and it be ok? Thank you.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi, Sandy. Thanks for your nice note. Depending on the temperatures, the water in the rain gutters in my greenhouse can last a few days. Once the temps warm up, it pretty much just lasts for a day.

[@sandyl.7608]

@@SusansInTheGarden Thank you.

[@MaryBornforHealth]

At our dollar store, I found synthetic chamois cloths and have used them in my seed starting trays as a capillary mat. Love the gutter idea but was wondering if you empty the gutter, or keep it filled?

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi, Mary. If you're referring to the gutter that is attached to the front of the planting bench, it empties during the day as the capillary mat takes it up, so we refill the gutter as needed.

[@MaryBornforHealth]

@@SusansInTheGarden Thanks for letting me know.

[@marranewman2224]

I would love to grow celery that didn't taste very bitter. Do you have any suggestions on how to make it taste better. I live in zone 7 Albuquerque NM with Alkaline soil.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hmmm, that is odd. I usually grow mine next to my pole beans so they cast a little bit of shade on the celery plants. I would assume it gets pretty hot in Albuquerque so that might contribute to it. But more than anything, it's important to make sure they get watered regularly.

[@bs9977]

When do you think you'll be able to plant in the ground? I started a bunch of seeds and they are going nuts I'm crossing my fingers I can plant soon or I'll have a jungle in my greenhouse

[@SusansInTheGarden]

I know what you mean! The planting-out dates for the seedlings I've started (or will be starting shortly) depend on the type of crop. We're in zone 5b. My plan (weather forecast permitting) is to transplant the broccoli and cabbage around April 15 and the celery May 1st. The gutter peas will also be planted around April 15. I haven't planted the tomato seeds yet but they'll go into the ground near the end of May, as will the peppers and eggplants. If you are also in zone 5b or 6, you might want to check the planting chart on my website: www.susansinthegarden.com/guides/seed-starting-when-to-plant-vegetables/.

[@marilynm8812]

Glad to see your snow is gone. Hope that îs the end of it.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Well, believe it or not, we've got some snowy days ahead of us but little accumulation expected.

[@joycearthur5244]

I’m having trouble getting my celery seed to germinate, any secrets?

[@SusansInTheGarden]

It is really slow to germinate. If you have a seedling heat mat, you could maybe try putting the seed-starting tray onto it.

[@barbaraw5951]

Hello, Susan I was wondering were you got your capillary mat? I dont seem to be able to find any in a bulk roll.😐

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi, Barbara. I bought it from farmtek.com (www.farmtek.com/prod/pg106223.html). My roll is 4'x100' and I just cut off 8' from the roll, then cut that in half lengthwise to get two 2-foot wide pieces for the 2 planting benches. I can't recall what I paid when I bought it in 2019, but I think it was quite a bit less than it is now!

[@barbaraw5951]

@@SusansInTheGarden thank you so much for the prompt reply and info. I just love your videos and all the info you share. 🙂

[@SusansInTheGarden]

@@barbaraw5951 My pleasure, Barbara! And thank you so much for your sweet comments!

[@dvssayer5621]

Oops I planted carrots in the house under mats and lights. They are thin things, but 2 or 3 in tall. Cant I transplant them to the ground, or. Should I start over outside? Thank you!

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Well, the important thing about carrots is that you want to avoid damaging the root hairs because that will impact their ability to grow a normal tap root. If you think you can transplant them without damaging them, I would go for it. I never like wasting seed!

[@gailwilliams1083]

Hello ms Susan? I planted broccoli In September. My broccoli grew large leaves. But no hands. What did I do wrong?

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi, Gail. What zone do you live in and is this the normal time for you to grow broccoli?

[@gailwilliams1083]

@Susan's In The Garden good morning I'm in Texas

[@SusansInTheGarden]

@@gailwilliams1083 OK, that explains how you're able to grow broccoli through the winter! Have you grown it before? (also, you're welcome to continue this conversation/troubleshooting via email: [e-mail])

[@Montanavintagemarket]

I have been using the Alaskan fertilizer, every Friday nobody likes to come into my house. L O L it stinks so bad.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Too funny! Hopefully you're just giving the plants a little bit of fertilizer. But on the bright side, if no one comes around on Fridays, that's a great time for you to garden and enjoy yourself, right?

[@brucerandolph8464]

WHICH HOT HOUSE DO YOU HAVE

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi, Bruce. Do you mean our greenhouse? It was given to us by our neighbors 30+ years ago, so I don't know the brand. I hope I'm understanding your question correctly!