Hello! Isn’t this great! Spring – finally – at last! After all, it is the middle of April-not the middle of March! Oops, I just looked out the window! Darn – still winter out there! What a terrible setback!

Cheer up! We’re going to stay inside where it’s warm and dry, and not look out the window. We’ve still got spring stuff to get into gear. Last week we were lining up all of the seed starting stuff.
We started to plant those seeds into our sterile planting containers loaded with moistened seed starting mix when we ran out of time. Let’s continue.

It’s really important to label which varieties you plant, especially if you are planting more than one kind of tomato, more than one kind of sweet peppers. When those seeds sprout up they are pretty much going to look the same. And after a while, when the true leaves start to develop, all peppers, whether sweet peppers or hot peppers, green peppers or those yellow or chocolate peppers, are all going to look alike. So do label them.

Use a Popsicle stick, or a craft stick, or a plastic strip cut from a recycled plastic container. And make sure that you use a permanent marking pen to mark the name or the variety. Otherwise the names will wash off eventually and you’ll have to guess which stuff you planted.

There – seeds are all in to thee proper depth - pressed down gently for good soil to seed contact – markers marked – Done??? Nope – not yet! Use a spray bottle or sprinkler to moisten the newly seeded pots or flats. Seeds need sufficient moisture to germinate. And the mix has to be sufficiently moist to soften up those hard seed coats, so that the tiny lives inside those seeds can sprout and grow. So make sure you give that planting surface a final sprits with warm water. You really want the planting mix to stay moist. No moisture-no germination.

Here is one thing that may help. You can also lay a piece of plastic across the top of the planting container, whatever its shape, to help keep that soil-less mix moist. Or you can put those containers or flats into plastic bags. Only don’t let the plastic touch the mix surface. Don’t seal the plastic down – there has to be some kind of air circulation. If not you just may see some mold starting to grow. Be sure to remove that plastic, once the seed starts to sprout.

Some people have those fancy schmancy plastic dome covers for their seeding trays. Other people use plastic bags, plastic wrap to help contain the moisture. Other people don’t use any coverings at all and they still get good germination results.

Now place those newly seeded pots and/or flats in a warm place, but don’t cook them! These seeds don’t need light to germinate, but they do need warmth, besides the moisture. . Those newly seeded containers should really be put someplace where they are going to stay consistently warm-like 65 to 75 degrees. A sunny windowsill may get way too hot. You may end up sizzling your seeds! A much better choice may be on the top of your refrigerator or on a heat register.
Almost done! Just check up on these seeds every day. Once even 1 seed sprouts, that container or planting flat has to be put in strong, consistent bright light, otherwise the seedlings will stretch their stems too thin trying to reach for more light. You can remove the plastic covering at this point. Continue to keep the containers fairly moist. Do not even think about using fertilizers at this point. Each seed has sufficient nourishment in it seed coat. When those tiny seedlings set out their true leaves, then you can use a very dilute fertilizer solution.

So go to it! Don’t look outside! Stay inside and look at your seeding chores.

Now – done – for this week!

Remember – Eat Smart New York!

And – Bye – Talk to you soon!
D