Last week, we looked at the first steps of indoor vegetable sowing, placing our seed trays covered with a dome in a warm, well-lit spot. Let’s continue this week.
Germination
Seed germination time varies according to the species sown and the conditions, taking between 3 days and 4 weeks. When you see green shoots rising from the soil, it’s because the seeds are germinating.
The shoots quickly produce leaves: usually two (cotyledons) that bear no resemblance to the leaves of the adult plant. Soon, other, very different leaves follow. (Onions and leeks, etc., are exceptions: their single first leaf, narrow and graminiform, bears a smaller resemblance to the adult leaf).
The dome that covered the tray is no longer necessary at this stage: it served to maintain high humidity and a warm temperature. Now we need to lower the temperature and increase air circulation. So we remove it. Also, if possible, increase light intensity. Full sun is no longer a problem, and is even beneficial. So you can move the tray to a brightly lit area. If you have planted your seedlings under a lamp, however, leave them there.
The dome that covered the tray is no longer necessary at this stage: it served to maintain high humidity and a warm temperature. Now we need to lower the temperature and increase air circulation. So we remove it. Also, if possible, increase light intensity. Full sun is no longer a problem, and is even beneficial. So you can move the tray to a brightly lit area. If you have planted your seedlings under a lamp, however, leave them there.
Until now, your seedlings have lived on the reserves contained in the cotyledons. When there are 4 to 6 true leaves, however, it’s time to think about fertilizing them. A seaweed fertilizer works well: apply it every time you water, according to the instructions on the label.
Thinning Or Transplanting
When the seedlings start to touch, it’s time to either thin or transplant. Thinning means cutting away excess seedlings. When sowing in individual pots, cut out all but the strongest seedling. In trays, every second seedling is cut out first, then repeated as the seedlings grow and start to touch again. If you want to keep all the seedlings, rather than thin them out, gently dig them up and transplant them into a larger container.
The Final Step
The season moves on, your seedlings grow and the weather warms up. The final step is to acclimatize your seedlings to outdoor conditions before transplanting them. 2 or 3 days in the shade, 2 or 3 in semi-shade and 2 or 3 in the sun, and they’re ready. Depending where you live start acclimatizing them in April or May, but a very cold spring can push back the transplanting date by a few weeks. It’s always a good idea to use a little common sense during this critical transition period.
And there you have it! Growing your own tomatoes, onions, peppers, etc. is easy, economical and pays off big at harvest time.
Larry Hodgson published thousands of articles and 65 books over the course of his career, in both French and English. His son, Mathieu, has made it his mission to make his father’s writings accessible to the public. This text was originally published in Le Soleil on March 29, 2009.
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