Seed Starting Tips
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How to Get Started
We recommend that you utilize a special “seed starting” potting mix. These mixes are milled finer for smaller seeds like carrots, and they make it easier for you to transplant your new plants into larger pots or into the ground without doing damage to their roots. Not sure when to get them started, you can reference our Indoor Sowing Guide (above left) to know exactly how many weeks ahead to start sowing your seeds before our last average frost date of May 15th here in the Burlington area.
If you are referencing the information on your seed packets, remember that “Days to Harvest” does not include the days it takes for your seeds to germinate. For instance, plants like peppers may take up to 21 days to emerge.
Burlington Garden Center has a variety of seed trays and plastic domes to help get you started. The plastic domes keep the humidity levels high until your seeds can sprout. The domes should remain covering the trays until your plants develop their “true” leaves and a root system. The first leaves you will see are known as “cotyledons” or seed leaves. The true leaves will appear after the seed leaves and these leaves are capable of performing photosynthesis, making it possible for your new plants to start feeding themselves. These leaves also look like what you would expect for that particular vegetable plant.
Seedlings that are outgrowing your seed trays can be gently transplanted into larger peat pots until the ground is ready for them to be placed directly into the soil. You can reference our Outdoor Sowing Guide (above right) to see when your plants are safe to plant. Note that cucurbit plants in the gourd family (melons, cucumbers, pumpkins) are not safe to plant until the ground temperature has reached 70 degrees. This usually doesn’t occur until after June 1st in our area. It is also important to note that young plants need as much protection from the wind as they do from the cold temperatures.
Happy Gardening!
If you are referencing the information on your seed packets, remember that “Days to Harvest” does not include the days it takes for your seeds to germinate. For instance, plants like peppers may take up to 21 days to emerge.
Burlington Garden Center has a variety of seed trays and plastic domes to help get you started. The plastic domes keep the humidity levels high until your seeds can sprout. The domes should remain covering the trays until your plants develop their “true” leaves and a root system. The first leaves you will see are known as “cotyledons” or seed leaves. The true leaves will appear after the seed leaves and these leaves are capable of performing photosynthesis, making it possible for your new plants to start feeding themselves. These leaves also look like what you would expect for that particular vegetable plant.
Seedlings that are outgrowing your seed trays can be gently transplanted into larger peat pots until the ground is ready for them to be placed directly into the soil. You can reference our Outdoor Sowing Guide (above right) to see when your plants are safe to plant. Note that cucurbit plants in the gourd family (melons, cucumbers, pumpkins) are not safe to plant until the ground temperature has reached 70 degrees. This usually doesn’t occur until after June 1st in our area. It is also important to note that young plants need as much protection from the wind as they do from the cold temperatures.
Happy Gardening!