AngelsGarden's Blog

This year my strategy for strong veggie seedlings is a bit different than the last couple of years. 

Last year I had trouble with the Eggplant and others taking forever to germinate.  Those tiny soil gnats were also a problem. 

This year I decided to try Rashells idea of using the bedding plastic zippered bags to put my trays in.  It has worked beautifully with all of the trays so far.  I haven't had the problem with the gnats like last year.   They are still around though.  They are in some of my other pots that are bigger.  Even the eggplant germinated in a VERY timely manner.  The bags seem to work even better than the plastic cover trays that came with the trays, I used those alot last year.

I read an article last summer about how airflow and water control will produce stronger seedlings.  So I am trying not to 'baby' my babies.  I don't want them to get too leggy.  After almost all of the tomato seeds had sprouted I quit watering them.  I don't want any damping off, I did have some of that last year.  The soil is still moist but I am not going to water the whole tray again until the soil starts to dry a bit.  There are a few of the cells that have seeds that haven't sprouted yet, I will just mist the top of each of those until they sprout. 

The article also recommended exposing your seedlings to a mild breeze.  This prompts the roots to go deep and has a mild drying effect on the outer cells of the stem and leaves.  The plant in turn responds by stengthening its stem and conserving water.  They don't get as leggy and consequently are a sturdier seedling.

So today the tomato babies went outside without protection, in the shade, for a few hrs.  There was a nice breeze this morning.  I kept an eye on them though.  I don't want too strong of a wind yet, if the stems were to bend too far that could cause a problem too.  Since I am starting this soon after sprouting they aren't so tall that they might snap though.  I hope to continue this until they are strong enough to keep outside for good, maybe in a week or two.  Some of them are already working on their second set of leaves!

I am already leaving out the baby dill seedlings.  I will start acclimating the eggplant and peppers a little later, they aren't ready yet.

TOMATO BABIES

 DILL BABIES

 EGGPLANT AND PEPPER BABIES