The document provides guidance for growing healthy vegetable seedlings. It discusses the optimal temperature and moisture conditions for seed germination. Maintaining the right environment helps ensure seedlings develop vigorously before transplanting. The document also recommends using seedling trays for better control and lists appropriate cell sizes for different crop types. Finally, it presents several potting soil mixtures and equivalences that can be used for growing seedlings.

1. Molokai Native Hawaiian Beginning Farmer Program 1
GrowingVegetable Seedlings
Alton S.Arakaki,CountyExtensionAgent
Growinghealthyseedlings isthefirststeptowards producinghealthadultplants
andgettingthe expected productionoutofthe crop.Itis wellknown byfarmers that poorly
grownseedlingswillincreasethe chances ofproducing pooryielding crops.Plants
withoutvigorous growthwill also be more susceptible
toinsectanddiseaseinfections,andwillbe less competitive toweeds.
SeedlingGrowingEnvironment
Moisture andtemperature playkeyrolesforvegetable seedgermination.Seeds
willnotgerminate undercooland/ordrycondi tions.Most
vegetables,melons,squashes,tomatoes,cabbages andlettuces have optimum
germinationtemperature range of75to85degrees F.Coolerorhotter temperatures will
delayormaycauseseeds nottogerminate. Sownseeds shouldbe in contactwithmoisture
consistently. Both optimum temperature andmoisture
willtriggergerminationresponseofthe seeds.
Once seeds germinate,moisture can be reducedto keepthe media aroundthe
seedlingmoistand notsoggywet. Overwateringcan enhance conditions forplantdiseases
andreduce oxygenlevelinthe media. All plantroots requireoxygentofunction. Ifthe
seedlingnurseryisunderdirectsunlightandhightemperatures,seedlings shouldbe
movedtoa semi-shadedarea. 45%shade-cloth overthe seedling will helpprevent
seedlingheat-stress andsunburnsonthe youngplants. Acclimatingseedlingstofieldsun
conditionsshould begin 10-14days priorto transplanting, beginningwith½ ofmorningsun
andgraduallyincreasingtofulldaysun. Asyouincreasethe sunexposure,you
needtomonitorthe moisture inthe media. Highertemperatures andwindyconditions
willincreasethe evapo-transpirationrate ofthemedia andseedlings.
SeedlingTrays
Youcangrowseedlings inseedlingbeds inyourgarden,butyouwill have
bettercontrolofyourseedlings healthiftheyaregrownin seedlingtrays. The size ofthe tray
andthe growing cells willvary accordingto the cropgrown. Smallandslowergrowingplants
aregrownin smallergrowing cells,while largerandfastergrowingplants are
growninlargergrowing cells.
This project was supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food
and Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2009-03896. The University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human
Resources and the Cooperative Extension Service is an equal opportunity/affirmative action Institution providing
programs and services to all people of Hawaii without regard to race, sex, gender identity and expression, age, religion,
color, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, arrest and court record, sexual orientation, or status as a
covered veteran.

2. Molokai Native Hawaiian Beginning Farmer Program 2
Crop Cell Size(inches) Transplant(weeks after seeding)
Tomato
¾ to1 4to5
Pepper ¾ to1 6
Eggplant ¾ to1 6
Lettuce ¾ to1 3to4
Broccoli ¾ to1 4
Cucumber 1½ 2
Watermelon 1½ 2
Media
Store bought“ready-to-use” pottingmedia is the simplesttouse.Most
commercialmediamixes are sterile,free ofnematodes, diseases, andgrassseeds. Some
are pH balance and others have fertilizermixedinthem. Youcanmixyourown
bypurchasingindividualadditives suchas peatmoss, perlite orvermiculite. Or youcan
usemediayou have aroundyourhome,soil,sand,manure,compost ororganic mulch.When
using home pottingmedium,youwill needtoworkoutyour ownrecipe,because
eachsoil,manure andcompost will have differenttexture andnutritional value
thatwillaffectthe finalmedia composition.
Mixture #1 Mixture #2 Mixture #3
50qt. Readytouse pottingmedia 25qt. Peatmoss 16qt. Soil
4c. 14-14-
14slowreleasefertilizer(os
mocote)
25qt. Perliteorvermiculite 16qt. Humus/organicmulch/com
post/
curedmanure
2c. Lime orcalciumcarbonate
orcoral
5 qt. Sand(coralbeachsand) 16qt. Sand
4c. 14-14-
14slowreleasefertilizer
(osmocote)
4c. 14-14-
14slowreleasefertilizer
(osmocote)
Mixture #1-Table ofEquivalence
Additives Equivalence
Ready-to-Use PottingMedia 50qt. #1
25qt. 12.4qt. 4 qt.(1 gal) 1# q5t .
14-14-14Slowreleasefertilizer 4c. 2c. 1c. 2.6fl.oz
Equivalence
#2
Equivalence
#3
Equivalence
#4
Equivalence
5Tbsp
.65fl.oz,or
19.22ml or
4 tsp
Lime orcalcium carbonate orcoral 2c. 1c. ½ c. 1.3fl.oz. .32fl.oz.or
9.46ml or
2tsp
This project was supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food
and Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2009-03896. The University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human
Resources and the Cooperative Extension Service is an equal opportunity/affirmative action Institution providing
programs and services to all people of Hawaii without regard to race, sex, gender identity and expression, age, religion,
color, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, arrest and court record, sexual orientation, or status as a
covered veteran.

3. Molokai Native Hawaiian Beginning Farmer Program 3
Measurement Key
1 pt.=473ml 1fl.oz.=2Tbsp
1pt=2c. 1Tbsp=3tsp 1c.=236ml
1c=8fl.oz 1tsp=.333Tbs
p
1fl.oz.=29.5ml
This project was supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food
and Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2009-03896. The University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human
Resources and the Cooperative Extension Service is an equal opportunity/affirmative action Institution providing
programs and services to all people of Hawaii without regard to race, sex, gender identity and expression, age, religion,
color, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, arrest and court record, sexual orientation, or status as a
covered veteran.