Spring is in the air, and it’s the perfect time of year to begin working on your raised bed garden. To ensure you get the gardening experience you desire, you must decide whether to use seeds or starts. Before jumping straight to planting those seeds you’ve been dying to germinate, or running to the nearest garden supply store for transplants, follow this simple guide to help you help your garden.
By germinating seeds indoors, you are preparing seedlings that will be planted outdoors at the appropriate time. Starting seeds can be done a few different ways, but it is best to germinate them indoors, as they are easier to monitor and protect from the cold and pests (my favorite way to do this is in egg crates). Once you have chosen your seeds, doing plenty of research about growing requirements and complications of that particular variety will make caring for them much more successful.
You might choose to purchase starts for a number of reasons. Perhaps your seedlings didn’t make it, you were out of town when you were supposed to germinate your seeds, or you just don’t want to wait so long for seeds to emerge. Don’t be afraid to be picky about your choice of starts. Be certain they look healthy – they should neither have any yellowing or spots on the leaves, nor should they be overgrown. Also check the bottom of the container to see if the roots are protruding from the bottom – these starts have likely been overgrown.
Once you’ve determined what you want to grow, don’t wait! Now is the time to get those seeds and starts together to create your edible oasis. Jump into this gardening season with confidence by checking out The Urban Bounty, the ultimate guide to growing food in the urban northeast.
Great article!