Join Mariah Wilde from West Coast Plants for a 2-hour, indoor class on seed starting for the home vegetable garden.
March is prime seed starting time for crops like tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, peas and lettuce. Whether it's your first year gardening or you're just looking for some new tips and local connections, this class is timed to get you ready for a successful season and bountiful harvest. Head home ready to plant your own seeds!
Topics covered will include:
When to start seeds and transplant seedlings
Hardiness zones and last frost dates
Cool season versus warm season crops
What to start indoors versus outdoors
Seed variety, family, age, germination rate, planting depth, spacing and days to maturity
An overview of seed starting methods, including seed starting mixes, wet paper towel method, winter sowing, direct sowing, cold frames and greenhouses
Indoor seed starting demo and practice
Seed and seedling light, temperature, water and nutrition requirements
Use of heat mats, humidity domes and air fans
Comparison of LED and fluorescent grow lights, with an opportunity to see both in use
Illuminance meter demonstration to illustrate how light intensity changes with distance from grow lights
Cold stratification: what it is and when it's needed
Vernalization and tips to avoid bolting
Potting up seedlings and moving them outdoors
Tips on how to identify and avoid some of the most common issues encountered when starting seeds indoors
Succession planting to extend your harvest
Seed storage and organization tips
Brief overview of seed saving, including isolation distances and hybrid versus open pollinated seeds, so you know which seeds you can save for next year!
Expect to leave with a gardening goodie bag, including printed notes for future reference, a seed starting calendar and an assortment of heirloom tomato seeds.
Class sizes are small, allowing for maximum engagement and a relaxed atmosphere, where all questions are welcome. Space is limited to only 5 participants per class and pre-registration is required.
