Healthy Self Reliance
Dates on this chart are approximations, no one can KNOW the weather, every season is different. Most years, the first and last frost will fall within two weeks of the date on the chart, but some years, we get a very early frost or a late snow storm that throws the dates off.
Seeds germinate (begin to grow/develop) at different rates. Some need warmer temperatures than others. Some seeds actually need light to germinate (like lettuce). Use the chart below on ideal germination temperatures to achieve more success starting your garden seeds growing! Shown below are the ideal temperatures for germination of many of the most common seeds. …
As you plan which foods that you’d like to grow in your garden, remember that among other things, you must also take the following into account…
Learn why cleaning and disinfecting your seedling trays is a good idea and how to do it well.
What is a seed starting mix? Not all the ingredients listed here will be in ALL seed starting mixes. One may have perlite, the other vermiculite, but this is the basis of most prepared seed starting mixes. Many “top” brands have chemical fertilizers added that are not necessary and will defeat your purpose to grow …
As all good gardeners know entirely too well, as soon as the soil warms in spring, there will be an overabundance of new weeds to contend with. These are last year’s flowers’ posterity, just waiting for their opportune moment, waiting for conditions to be just right for germination. By delaying their initiation until spring, they …
When mail-order catalogs and local garden centers are bursting with a dizzying array of seedlings of all kinds, why would anyone want to bother starting their own plants from seed? Because starting plants from seed is less expensive; there are more varieties to choose from; you can grow higher-quality plants suited to your schedule; and …
