Seed Starting Summary

I'm about to start my seeds. The cold-frame is almost built, the seeds are on my desk. I only have to gather containers and pick up some starting mix. By this weekend, all should be ready to go. I am thinking of starting some broccoli seeds directly in the cold frame as well as inside the apartment.

Cornell Cooperative Extension -Suffolk County has a fact sheet on starting seeds indoors. Since seed starting is not something I have done indoors since 1995, I gave it a perusal. I think I get it.

In short:

• don't start too soon
  
• use clean containers
  
• use clean soil-less starting mix
  
• keep evenly moist
  
• have appropriate warmth
  
• strong light after germination
  
• harden-off outside before transplanting
  

Thats it in a nutshell.

If you don't have a south facing (must be south and unblocked by buildings!!) window, you won't have enough light to grow strong, stout-stemmed seedlings. They'll be what is called "leggy", pale-colored, and generally flopping over. You'll need some florescent lights hung roughly an inch over your germinated seeds. For a great conversation about seed starting, check out this post at Simple-Green-Frugal Co-op. Its the only way, unless you winter sow outdoors. I'm interested in this method, and will try a tomato out to see what happens, but I cannot rely on it until the experiment is concluded. Anybody out there with this experience in our zone?