CDC Features

CDC Features

Spring Seedlings: Tips for Growing Your Own Vegetables

Springtime is seedling time! Growing your own vegetables is a budget-friendly option for getting your daily dose of colorful produce.

Photo: A girl container gardening Container gardening is ideal for urban locations with limited space options. Grow some lettuce in your window box or a cherry tomato plant on your front porch. Using the following tips, a novice gardener can produce a variety of inexpensive fresh vegetables that can be included in any summer meal.

Plant Seedlings Inside for a Jump Start on the Growing Season

Materials: Gather these 4 growing elements

Growing containers: These can be egg cartons, washed-out yogurt containers, or store bought trays with growing cells, just poke a few holes in the bottom of containers for drainage.
Trays: Use these to catch the excess water.
Soil: Buy some sterile seed-starting mix from your local gardening store or department.
Seeds: Some easy and manageable seed suggestions are lettuce, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, beans (the bush variety) and herbs (e.g., cilantro and basil).

Planting considerations:

Light: Fluorescent grow lamps are an option for environments with limited natural light; 12–16 hours of direct artificial light per day are suggested. For settings with more natural light, place the seedlings by a south- or west-facing window for the maximum amount of daylight.
Temperature: Seedlings are baby plants and thrive in warm environments. Try to keep the temperature in the immediate environment within 70–75° F. Place the seedlings near a heat source or on a heating pad.
Planting depth: Follow the planting directions on the back of each seed packet. Each seed type is planted at a different depth. Typically, the seed should be planted at a depth of 1.5 to 2 times the width of the seed.
Watering: Seedlings like to be moist, but not too wet.
- Initially, moisten seedlings with a spray bottle, on a daily basis.
- Once the seedlings begin to emerge, you can water them primarily by filling the tray with a shallow layer of water.
Labeling: Provide name tags for your seeds (e.g., writing on popsicle sticks or tongue depressors), so that they can be identified and planted in an appropriate location when they start to grow.
Transplanting: When small plants have begun to emerge, with 3 to 4 true leaves, they are ready to transplant to a more permanent container (e.g., window box or an inside or outside container) or an outdoor garden.