More Related Content
Viewers also liked
Viewers also liked (15)
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (20)
SCOOL -- Seed Starting
- 1. Seed Starting and Greenhouse Construction Daniel Parson www.parsonproduce.com 404.452.4321
- 6. Planning First! Field Layout Seed order Row Spacing Number and varieties of seed needed Number of plants Direct seeding or Transplanting
- 7. Daniel’s Seed Timeline • January 1-15: Seed Order – Complete rotations and plan for season – Inventory and dispose of old seed – Organize seed order and call • February 1: Begin seed starting in greenhouse • March 1: Begin direct seeding and transplanting
- 8. Seed Plan: What, Where, When, How Much Date-Transplant Est Date-Seeding Est Date-Harvest Est Days to Harvest Feet per Ounce Days SD to TD Rowfeet Variety Crop Field Chioggia Beets 1 20-Aug 55 14-Oct 200 150 Red Ace Beets 1 20-Aug 50 9-Oct 200 150 Gypsy Broccoli 1 29-Jan 28 26-Feb 58 25-Apr 250 Pacman Broccoli 1 29-Jan 28 26-Feb 50 17-Apr 250 # seeds per foot # of Seeds / Oz Ounces of Seed Plants / Foot # of Plants # of Seeds # of Flats Flat Size Variety Crop Chioggia Beets 14.67 #REF! 2934 2200 1.334 Red Ace Beets 14.67 #REF! 2934 2200 1.334 Gypsy Broccoli #REF! 0.85714286 214 50 5 500 6000 0.084 Pacman Broccoli #REF! 0.85714286 214 50 5 500 6000 0.084
- 9. Resources Reference Sources • The New Seed • Johnny’s Selected Starters Handbook Seeds Nancy Bubel • High Mowing Seeds • Seed to Seed • Fedco Suzanne Ashworth • Peaceful Valley • savingourseed.org Farm Supply • Seeds of Change
- 10. Stages of Germination • Imbibition--taking up water • Seed coat ruptures • Enzymatic action breaks down starch • Synthesis of proteins • Cells divide and elongate • Seedling develops and emerges
- 11. Cotyledons/Seed Leaves • Contained in the living seed • Provide vital nutrients • Indicate plant health
- 12. Why Direct Seed • Better root establishment • Some crops require it • Quality seedlings • Earlier harvest • No transplant shock
- 13. Why Grow Transplants • Crop timing • Earlier start • High quality plants • Greater choice for varieties • Less field weeding • Spacing and stand management
- 14. Seed Starting • Depth and light requirements • Temperature • Pre-treatments • Soil/media • Moisture • Seed/soil contact
- 15. Seed Starting • Depth and light requirements • Temperature • Pre-treatments • Soil/media • Moisture • Seed/soil contact
- 16. Depth and Light • Rule of Thumb: Plant twice as deep as seed width • Some require light to germinate – Cover with vermiculite • Depth can provide moisture in field • Plant shallower in greenhouse
- 17. Seed Depth • Use your fingers • Build a peg board for flats • Estimate when making a trench • Set your precision field seeder
- 18. Light • Some seeds, especially flowers, need light • Some seeds germinate only in darkness • Light may release dormancy ***As soon as they germinate, ALL seedlings need plenty of high-quality light***
- 19. Light Plastic or Glass? • Glass polarizes light – Seedlings grow toward the plane – Most expensive • Plastic diffuses light – Plants grow straight – Less durable
- 20. Seed Starting • Depth and light requirements • Temperature • Pre-treatments • Soil/media • Moisture • Seed/soil contact
- 21. Temperature • Different seeds need different ranges • Provided by: – Weather – Heat mats – Heated bench/floor – Greenhouse ambient heat ***A special environment can be created for germination***
- 22. Temperature Effects 60 Days to Germination 50 40 Carrot 30 Cucumber 20 Okra Tomato 10 0 41 F 50 F 59 F 68 F 77 F 86 F Temperature Range
- 23. Temperature Effects 120 Percent Germination 100 80 Carrots Cucumbers 60 Okra 40 Tomatoes 20 0 41 F 50 F 59 F 68 F 77 F 86 F 95 F 104 F Temperature
- 24. Heat Mat and Temperature Controller
- 25. Seed Starting • Depth and light requirements • Temperature • Pre-treatments • Soil/media • Moisture • Seed/soil contact
- 26. Pretreatments • Soak – Soften seed coat – Dissolve inhibitors--ex. Parsley • Stratify – Cold treatment or changing temps – Echinacea and artichoke • Scarify – Score seed coat
- 27. Seed Starting • Depth and light requirements • Temperature • Pre-treatments • Soil/media • Moisture • Seed/soil contact
- 28. Soil/Media In the Field • Adequate seedbed • Till or cultivate just before planting In the Greenhouse • Select a fine/light mix • Conventional potting mix has fertilizer and wetting agent
- 29. Daniel’s Former Soil Mix • 6 cu ft peat moss • 2 cups lime mixed into peat • 4 cu ft vermiculite • 4 cu ft perlite • 4 cu ft good quality compost • 2 cups kelp or Azomite • 4 cups Fertrell 4-2-4
- 30. Daniel’s Current Soil Mix • 2 @ 3.8 cu ft peat moss • 4 cups lime mixed into peat • 4 cu ft vermiculite • 4 cu ft perlite • 4 cu ft worm castings • 2 cups kelp and 2 cups Azomite • 4 cups Symphony 5-4-3
- 31. Fertilizing • Starter fertilizer in potting mix • Water with fish or kelp – Stimulates growth – Reduce before transplant – Stop fertilizing to hold plants • Soak in fish or kelp before transplanting
- 32. Choosing Flats • Size of plugs/number • Shape – Round – Pyramidal – Square • Durability • Cost • Availability
- 33. Soil Blocks • Set in plastic or wooden trays • Ease in potting up • One tool makes infinite number of blocks • Soil Mixture – Moisture content – Consistency
- 34. Seed Starting • Depth and light requirements • Temperature • Pre-treatments • Soil/media • Moisture • Seed/soil contact
- 35. Moisture In the Greenhouse • 1000 water breaker: ‘red head’ • Constant moisture for germination • Allow plants to dry before evening In the Field • Plant before rain or into moist soil • Good seed/soil contact
- 36. Seed Starting • Depth and light requirements • Temperature • Pre-treatments • Soil/media • Moisture • Seed/soil contact
- 37. Choosing a Seeder • Singulation of seed • Precision • Proper spacing • Speed of sowing • Cost • Row marking
- 38. Direct Seeders from Johnny’s European Push Seeder Six Row Seeder Glaser Earthway Precision
- 39. Direct Seeding-Spacing • Between plants – At planting – By thinning – Should fit with cultivation • Between rows – Use row marker – Should fit with cultivation Knott’s Handbook for Vegetable Growers
- 40. Seeding Flats Vibro Hand Gro Mor Mini- Seeder Wand Seeder Earthway Precision Plate Seeder
- 41. Transplanting Tips • Harden off in any season – Expose to outside sun and wind – Reduce watering • Soak or water flats just before planting • Be sure the root ball is covered • Plant in late afternoon or evening
- 51. Resources Reference Sources • The New Seed • Johnny’s Selected Starters Handbook Seeds Nancy Bubel • High Mowing Seeds • Seed to Seed • Fedco Suzanne Ashworth • Peaceful Valley • savingourseed.org Farm Supply • Seeds of Change
- 52. Seed Starting 101 Daniel Parson www.parsonproduce.com 404.452.4321