# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Photosynthesis | Photosynthesis in plants | Photosynthesis - Biology basics for children | elearnin

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Growing Vegetables Gardening Guide for Beginners - Garden.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Growing Vegetables: Use our collection of helpful articles to help you get started with every kind of vegetable gardening.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Grow Vegetables | Guide to Growing Vegetables

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sprout Sampler Independence Sprout Genesis Garden 3 Sisters Salsa Garden Herbes de Provence Superfood Garden Cold Climate Hot Climate Low Water High Altitude Home MicroGreens MicroGreens Kit Family Medicine Professional Med Family Kitchen Professional Kitchen Tea Garden Pack Grains Pack Drying Beans Pack Fruit Lover's Pack Chili Pepper Pack Greens Pack Tomato Pack Salad Pack Livestock Pack Fresh Sprouts Pack

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This vegetable garden planner chart has information on when to start seeds, fertilize, and water your common vegetables. From The Old Farmer's Almanac.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Zone 5 Vegetable Planting Calendar Guide

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When to plant in zone 3? Planting schedule calendar for vegetables. A guide of when to plant and harvest your vegetables for zone 5.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Starting seeds is the inexpensive way to grow more of your favorite plants. Here's what you need to know to make your seeds blossom.

Face it, people: Gardening can be pricey. New plants, tools, and all those extras can add up. So how do you slice your gardening budget? Consider starting seeds as part of the answer.

Many people are convinced that seed starting requires both time and energy. They're wrong: You can start a few seeds or a lot. You can even fake it with what you have on hand-no need to buy anything special. Plus, with a bare minimum of effort, you can save the seeds from flowers, vegetables, and herbs you're already growing, then use them during the next gardening season. Here's what to do and when to do it.

How to Start Seeds Inside

1. Figure out the average last frost date for your area. Trust us: You'll need this.

2. Choose your seeds. If it's your first time starting seeds, go small. Pick just one or two types. Some good flowers to start from seed include:

3. Look on the seed package label. You'll find the number of weeks you're supposed to start seeds indoors before the average last frost date. Count backward from that frost date: It's about six to eight weeks. That's when you should start those seeds indoors.

4. To start seeds, you'll need:

Seed-starting pots. They should have drainage holes in the bottom.

Seed-starting mix. This is not soil-it's soil's lighter-weight cousin.

Labels for each pot.

5. Fill the pots with seed-starting mix, then moisten. The mix should be damp but not soggy-a spray bottle helps. You also can get the mix wet before adding it to the containers.

6. Gently press seeds into each container. If the seed package label advises it, cover the seeds lightly-but don't pat down the seed-starting mix.

7. Label your pots so you know what's growing.

8. Loosely cover the pots with clear plastic wrap, which helps maintain humidity and warmth.

9. Place your seed pots in a location that's warm and free of drafts, but not in direct sun. The ideal temp is about 75ºF but not hotter than 90ºF. Once the tiny seedlings emerge, then about 70ºF is OK. Sunlight is a big deal, too-about 12 hours a day. To supplement natural daylight, place the pots up close to a low-intensity light-like undercabinet lights in a kitchen.

Starting Seeds Outside

Some plants are quick enough growers that the seeds can be planted right in the ground-after the outside temps and soil have sufficiently warmed up. To plant them, just check the directions on the seed package label. Cover with as much soil as directed, then lightly water. Some seeds-marigolds, zinnias-you can simply scatter.

Now What?

You started your seeds. Their heads are poking up in the pots. What do you do next?

Give 'em some air: After plants pop through, take off the plastic wrap.

Thin the seedlings: As the seedlings make their presence known, they need their space. Keep the ones that look healthy and strong, and snip the rest so there's just a single plant per pot.

Moving day: After they're about 2 inches tall, your seedlings need an upgrade. Transplant them into larger containers-this time in a potting soil mix.

Keep watch: Don't let the seedlings dry out! You can chill a bit on the supplemental light as the plants get stronger, too. Fertilize lightly with a diluted seedling mix.

Harden off: As your plant-outside date approaches, you have a couple of days to boost the hardiness of your seedlings. To do that, you harden off the plants. What's that, you ask? Simply place the seedlings outside-in a protected spot-for a short time (think an hour or two). Every day, increase the length of time you leave them outside.

Container Options

Use seed flats-they're super easy for planting. But dig through your recycling bin, too. Just remember to punch a drainage hole in each container before planting. You can repurpose:

Cut-down milk jugs

Cardboard egg cartons

Yogurt cups

Disposable pans

Cheap and Easy Seedling Pots: Use Newspaper

What's Wrong with Your Seeds?

Even if you do everything right, your seeds might struggle. Here's why:

A fungus: Sudden wilt on seedlings might be a sign of damping off caused by a fungus that sometimes appears because of overwatering or overcrowding. Solution: Poke holes in your seedling container to better air circulation. Visible fungus can be scraped away with a spoon.

Floppy, leggy plants: Not enough sun or too-hot temps can result in leggy seedlings. Solution:Water your seedlings more consistently and rotate them daily so all sides get equal sun exposure.

Curling or discolored leaves: Too much fertilizer makes for uneven, struggling seedlings. Solution: Flush the seedlings with water and repeat every few days to rid them of excess fertilizer.

Oops, we're sorry. Something went wrong. Please try again later.

Oops, we're sorry. Something went wrong. Please try again later.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Cut Garden Costs by Starting Seeds Indoors

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Starting seeds is the inexpensive way to grow more of your favorite plants. Here's what you need to know to make your seeds blossom. Face it, people: Gardening can be pricey. New plants, tools, and all those extras can add up. So how do you slice your gardening budget?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It's that time of year when self-starting gardeners have sown their seeds indoors and are contemplating the next steps. Those tiny little sprouts have shown up and need the best care before their planting out into the world. Care for seedlings once sprouted amounts to more than just giving them water. Healthy, robust plants produce faster with higher yields, which is a winning situation for the gardener. A few tips on how to take care of seedlings should help ensure you bumper crops your neighbors will envy.

Things That Can Kill Your Seedlings

Growing plants from seed is a rewarding endeavor that reaps big rewards. Caring for seedlings after germination isn't hard but attention to such things as damping off, nutrition, temperature, water, light and transplanting will guarantee stout seedlings that survive the rigors of outdoor living. Even the most experienced gardener can benefit from some seedling care tips to boost their success.

Those little green shoots poking through the soil send our hearts soaring with thoughts of fresh produce and the joy it brings to our summer entertaining. Damping off is a real threat when caring for seedlings after germination. Just because the seeds managed to sprout doesn't mean the plants are out of danger.

Damping off is a fungal disease that causes the tiny plants to wither and die. It can stem from contaminated containers or soil and is worsened by incorrect watering practices. Use a sterilized soil or soilless mix and wash containers carefully to prevent contaminating the seeds and plants.

Keep plants in a sunny location during the day but move them at night to prevent cold drafts from stunting their growth. Too much water can cause tiny roots to rot while too little will see your new babies shrinking and even dying.

How to Take Care of Seedlings

One of the basic seedling care tips is that you don't need supplemental food until the cotyledon has completely emerged and several sets of true leaves are present. Feeding your new kids too early can burn roots and tender foliage. Seed starter mixes are formulated with all the nutrients your new plants should need until they are planted outside. A soilless-grown crop will benefit from fertilizer diluted by one-quarter once per week.

Water your plants when the surface of the soil is dry to the touch. The exact time will depend how warm the room is and how hot the light. The best temperature for optimum growth is between 70 and 80 F. (21 to 26 C.). Avoid exposing seedlings to temperatures below for more than a few hours and above 100 F. (37 C.), which will stunt root growth.

Thin the plants where multiple seeds have sprouted in the same cell or container.

Transplanting and Hardening Off

Successful care for seedlings once sprouted will take you on the road to transplanting. Plants grown in peat cells should receive a new pot that will allow for future growth. You'll know when it is time if you can see roots out of the bottom of the cell. Spoon out the seedlings to avoid damaging the stem by lifting them. Use a good sterile soil again and water them well immediately. You can use any container but peat pots and other compostable materials allow for easy insertion into the garden bed without damaging roots. As an added bonus, the container will break down and add nutrients to the soil.

Hardening off is a step that shouldn't be skipped. This is done before your plants are introduced to the garden bed. Two weeks before planting them outside, gradually introduce your babies to the conditions. Move them outside for longer and longer periods to acclimate them to wind, light levels, temperature and generally get them used to the idea that they will be outdoor plants soon. This will prevent the stress that is associated with seedling failure after outdoor transplanting. After a couple weeks, plant the seedlings in a prepared seed bed and watch them grow.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Seedling Care Tips: Caring For Seedlings After Germination

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Care for seedlings once sprouted amounts to more than just giving them water. Healthy, robust plants produce faster with higher yields, which is a winning situation for the gardener. A few tips on how to take care of seedlings can be found here.