Tips for a Successful Gardening Season
Submitted by 2 Wild Poppies
April is National Garden Month!
Although it’s a little early to plant most vegetables directly outside, it’s the right time to start your seeds inside. Get in the spirit of the growing season and avoid these common mistakes when starting your seeds inside.
- Starting seeds too early
Check the packet and plant according to the recommendations, usually 4-6 weeks from last frost. Our last frost is June 5, so begin around April 15. This is important because you’ll quickly run out of room if you have to uppot starts into bigger containers before it’s safe to plant outside.
- Not enough heat
Seeds don’t need light to sprout, they need heat. They prefer 75 degrees (don’t we all) so a heat mat works great if your room is not that warm.
- Not enough light
I know, I just said don’t worry about the light, but you must worry about light once those little sprouts have busted through the soil. You can use any type of bulb as long as it has 1500-2000 lumens (light intensity) and 4500-6500 kelvins (the color temperature of light that mimics the sun). If you have a south facing room with 6-8 hours of full sun every day, no need for additional lighting.
- Don’t shower from above
You like standing in your shower as the warm water cascades over you but your plants don’t. When leaves get wet the chances of fungus increases. Water from below by filling a tray of water and setting your pots in the tray. The holes in the bottom of your containers will allow the plant to soak up the right amount of water.
- Don’t baby those babies
Use an oscillating fan to blow a gentle breeze on your starts. This toughens up the stems and the leaves of your plants and preps them for the natural conditions outside.
- Don’t shock your plants
When the temperatures show signs of leveling out it’s important to acclimate your plants to the weather outside. The most efficient way of acclimating is to watch for a week with 3 full days of overcast weather and place them outside for the duration of the day. Just don’t forget to bring them back in before nightfall.
Use these helpful tips to kick off a successful gardening season and join us when we open on April 22 to celebrate all things gardening!