Starting Seeds Indoors

DON'T BE IN a rush to start your tomato seeds. Delay until early April in the Northeast and Midwest, and start them in a sunny spot at about 70°F. Keep the soil barely moist, watering in the morning and letting it dry throughout the day to prevent damping-off disease.

Peppers have the highest germination rate when the soil temperature is 70° to 80°F. Pamper them by watering from the top with warm water.

Get an early cucumber crop going by starting seeds indoors, giving them bottom heat of about 70°F. If you don't have a heat mat, put the seed flats on top of the refrigerator, or perch a few four-packs on top of the water heater.

SUPPLIES:

PICK UP A GOOD name brand of soilless potting mix. Beware of bargain brands, because they may contain disease organisms that could wipe out your seedlings soon after they germinate. Add a layer of vermiculite (sterile, heat-expanded mica) to cover the seeds -- it cuts down on the chance of seedling diseases. A small bag is adequate; you need a layer only about 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep. Most mail-order seed catalogs offer seedling flats, peat pots, and other growing containers, but tin cans and Styrofoam cups make good containers, too. A recycled plastic butter tub makes an excellent seed flat -- it even has a cover to keep the seeds moist until they germinate.

Be sure to poke holes in the sides near the bottom of the containers you use. To make the holes, use a large nail with something solid inside the container -- such as a small piece of wood -- for punch-through backing, if necessary. Space three to four holes evenly around the circumference. An electric heating mat would be a nice accessory for growing, but it is a relatively expensive item. Usually, you can find a place in the kitchen where there is natural bottom heat -- on top of the refrigerator or near the oven. Just be certain there's no open flame that could cause a fire.

Label everything. There's nothing more frustrating than to realize you have a great new variety in the garden but you can't remember its name. Styrofoam cups are nice because you can write on them and the impression stays in the foam. Since you'll discard the cups when you plant the seedlings, be sure to have big, easy-to-find labels to place in the garden.