13 - Friday, January 23, 1987 - North Shore News

Start seeds indoors

LAST WEEK, we discussed moisture. Be sure to leave a “- growth.
some of the annual flowers inch gap between the soil surface See Looking

that should be started in- and the covering to allow for some Page 14

doors now in order to
achieve a reasonable show
of color this summer. We
also gave some indication as
to which areas each of these
would be best suited in order
to assist in planning.

over the
garden gate

ES

by Geoff Tobiasson

Now that you have made your
decisions, gone to your local seed
supply house, and made your pur-
chases; I thought I should let you
know that there is more to this in-
door seed sowing business than
simply throwing some dirt in an
egg carton, burying some seeds
and waiting.

Besides desire and good inten-
tions, seeds require proper soil,
light, temperature and water in
order to become seedlings.

First, let it be understood that
dirt is something we gossip about
with our neighbors and soil is what
we use to grow plants and seedl-
ings.

Soil used for any purpose in-
doors, especially starting seeds
should be sterilized. There are
three basic methods of acquiring
Sterilized soil suitable for use in-
doors: cooking finely screened top
soil in the oven at 450° for one
hour, purchasing a pre-sterilized
mix from a reputable retailer, or
you can make your own ‘‘soil-
less’? mix. ;

A soil-less potting mix suitable
for starting seeds indoors would be
two parts fine peat, one part each
of vermiculite, perlite, and washed
sand.

Fill any one to two-inch deep,
clean, well-drained container with
your pre-moistened seed starting
mix and tamp down lightly.

Used egg cartons with % inch
holes in the bottom make fine
home-made seed flats for the win-
dow sill. The flats which the com-
mercial growers use are usually

available at very reasonable prices °

from the local garden centres;
these are generally more versatile
and better suited to seedling pro-
duction. :

Place seeds on the potting mix-
ture in groups of twos or threes
with one to two inches between the
groups. Cover the seed with fine
peat moss to a depth no greater
than twice the diameter of the
seed; very fine seed such as impa-
tiens should receive only a light
dusting of peat if any at all.

Until your seedfings have
emerged and are not likeiy ic be
disturbed by pouring water on
them, it would be best to water
from the bottom. Simply submerge
the drainage hole of your container
in % inch of water in the sink for
15 or 20 minutes, then empty the
sink and allow to drain.

Place your container in a dim,
sheltered location with a
temperature of 70 to 75°. Place a
sheet of glass or plastic wrap Over
the top in order to hold in the

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2.
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Please contact Mr. Cunliffe at 980-5714 or
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. North Vancouver 980-5714

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