Snoozing Dogs Farm

With a blizzard in the forecast, it hardly seems like gardening weather. It’s not quite time for vegetable seed planting, but now is the perfect time to sprout your flower seeds. Unlike vegetables that have a long growing season for a single harvest, flowers will bloom, drop, and rebloom many times over the summer. It’s best to get your flower plants as mature as possible during the winter so they are ready to bloom as soon as the weather warms enough to put them outside.

Flower seeds can be particular in their sprouting habits, epecially for the tiniest of seeds. One way to get the most out of your flower seed plantings is to pre-sprout your seeds. Using this method, you plant only those seeds that germinate – saving the pots and soil needed to grow the flowers. It’s also a good method to grow from seeds that are older. To pre-sprout, place a few seeds on a moist paper towel or coffee filter. Coffee filters tend to be more fabric-like and that keeps the roots from embedding in the fibers.

Fold the towel or filter over the seeds, and then fold in half again. Place the towel or filter in a zippered bag and keep in a warm place (about 70 deg F). Check the bags every day or two and spritz a little water in the bag if the towel or filter is dry. When you start to see roots emerging from the seeds, take them out and plant them in your potting soil. Be careful when transplanting so that you don’t damage the seedlings. If you find the seedlings are stuck to the paper, just cut out the piece where the seedling is stuck and plant it all. The paper will decompose in the soil. Leaves should emerge soon, and then you can transfer to your lighted grow area.

As with any seed germination, keep the soil watered (preferably from the bottom) and the plants well illuminated. Your lights should be kept at 2″ above the tops of the plants to keep the plants from getting spindly and weak. As soon as the weather warms, start hardening off your plants by placing them in a protected area for an increasing time period each day. Gradually increase the sun exposure to the levels your flowers will see in their final location. Once your plants can tolerate the environment where they will grow, then feel confident in placing them outside around the clock. But, it IS Colorado, so be on the lookout for a late frost or snow and take steps to protect them!

Vegetable planting starts in early March. While you enjoy the flower seedlings, get your supplies ready to plant your tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers!

As published at Examiner.com