How to Keep Your Seedlings Growing Strong

Growing your own vegetables, and even your own flowers from seeds is very fun, and also can save you money. However growing them from seed might seem a little tricky at times. One of the keys to getting healthy starts is keep them growing fast. There are a few simple tricks you can use to keep them healthy and growing fast.

1.  After all of the seedlings have their true leaves, with a very light fertilizer, feed the seedlings.


2.  Thin them out with a pair of scissors or something that will not disturb the roots. However if you are growing onions, they will grow back if thin them out with scissors so they have to be very carefully pulled out. Thinning out will make it so they are not competing for light and nutrients.


3.  Lightly brush the plants with your hands everyday or as often as you think about it. This will help them build up stronger stems. It is what the wind dose for them out in the real world. You can even keep a fan on in that room to help the plants get good air circulation and it helps so that no fungus or mold grows on the soil.


4. If you seedlings are spindly and look as though they are stretching to reach the light, they are not getting enough light. This can happen if you are using a window seal to grow them, or if the fluorescent lights are not close enough to the plants. I keep them just a few inches and move them up as the plants grow.


5. Water the plants from the bottom. This encourages the plants to extend their roots downward and gives them a better foundation.


6. Transplant the seedlings when they start rubbing leaves with the next door neighbor plants. Root bound plants if left long enough, can cause the plant to be stunted it's whole life.

Happy Gardening!

 

How to Care for Seedlings

How you care for your seedlings can mean the future for your garden. So what do you do when they pop through the soil and show their faces? The key is to keep them growing and growing fast.
The first obstacle is to maintain a steady moisture for your seedlings. Letting the tender roots dry out can stunt their growth and even kill them. Just beware to not to drown them. The roots also need oxygen and if the roots sit in water it is hard for them to breathe. So to check the soil, stick your finger down in the soil just below the surface, and if it is still moist, then wait to water, if not, water it.
Watering from the bottom is a great way to encourage root growth. Pull out a few of the plants and add the water then replace the plants. The soil will pull up the water as it needs it. Watering this way will also help to stop the top of the soil from growing mold.
A few weeks after the seeds come through the soil, you should fertilize them with a watered down even fertilizer. Choose organic if you plan on growing fully organic vegetables. Fertilize every few weeks until it is time to plant outdoors to keep them growing quickly.
Lastly, you should transplant them into a bigger pot when the roots fill up their pot, but don't start wrapping around the out side. If they start to do that, their growth might be set back permanently. So transplant as soon as they need, it.
Move the lights up often, and keep them about 2 inches above the plants so that they get enough lights.
One last thing that might help is to gently stroke the plants daily to help them develop strength and keep transplant shock at bay.

Here is a picture of our tomatoes growing this year. Happy Gardening!