4 Photos
Seedlings of Lychnis, marigolds, asparagus, digitalis and three varieties of columbines in cells that are nested in flats. Sown in late February, this shot is from late April. In all, 144 new plants ready for the garden. All the seed is garden collected so the cost of the entire production was under $25. As potted plants for the garden their value is way over $1,000. ANDREW MESSINGER
Peat pots, often referred to as the brand Jiffy pots, are compressed peat in the round or square form of a pot. Available in various sizes they’re great for direct seeding of melon and pepper plants that don’t like having their roots disturbed by transplanting. Peat pellets about the size of a silver dollar are also available. Soak the pellets in warm water until they’ve expanded then just insert a seed or two, no pot needed. ANDREW MESSINGER
Once seeds are sown in a flat or pot, how do you water them? The best and maybe the safest ways are with an inexpensive spray bottle with an adjustable nozzle (right) or bottle-top waterers as seen on the left and atop a plastic water bottle in the center. ANDREW MESSINGER
On the left are four different size cell packs as well as a single-cell pot. They are set in a solid (no drain holes) standard plastic flat (11 by 22 inches). Depending on the cell size you can fit from 24 to 96 cells in a flat. Once filled and seeded, the cells should go into a mesh or open flat as seen on the right. The filled or partially filled mesh flat can lowered into a solid flat with 1 inch of water in it. Capillary action will allow the water to be soaked up by the soil in the cells. Let them sit for 15 minutes. If all the water is soaked up, add water to the solid flat then check again in 15 minutes. Remove the cells and mesh flat from the solid flat. ANDREW MESSINGER
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