Starting From Seeds Part 2: Planting
Welcome back! This is part two of what I learned planting my first garden from seed. Last time I talked about why I chose seed and a little about the types I chose. Today I will talk more about planting, and what I learned trying to change those little seeds into glorious productive plants.
So what have I learned? My biggest lessons this year went something like this:
1) Understand (and don't underestimate) your local weather.
2) Start indoors, or in a greenhouse if possible
3) Have a pest plan
4) Have back up plants and back up plans (be flexible!)
Understanding your local weather:
This breaks down to more than just knowing when your last local frost date is and checking the ten day forecast. Go even further. Learn your micro climate, learn your yard. For example, I live in Southern California, but there are several micro biomes within our zone. We have coastal, we have flatland, and then where I am, canyon and foothills. The weather, precipitation, and sun exposure is vastly different in each. If your area has a local Facebook group I highly suggest joining one. Nothing beats advice and experience right from your area. Chances are they'll be able to give much more specific help. I joined one this year and it has been endlessly helpful to talk to people that know your exact conditions.
As far as understanding your climate goes, I went a little nuts this year and got myself a weather station with wifi capabilities. The primary reason for this was because I knew the micro climate of my canyons was different, and I really wanted accurate data I could curate right from my yard, In particular I was looking for rainfall data and “chill hours.” I wasn't really getting accurate weather for my area from the big websites (often they didn't even recognize my location.) Knowing the canyon gets just a little colder and wetter, I was hoping to collect data to inform me on what types of plants might thrive. I realize this is not feasible for everyone, but it has been working well as a solution for me in my unique but data dead area.
There are certain things you will learn about your zone with time and experience as well. For example, the intensity of the sun in Southern California means that when a nursery plant is labeled “full sun” it might not really mean SoCal full sun. I often plant things in closer to part shade or have copious amounts of shade cloth to get my plants through the summer and fall. A lot of companies and packaging is done with a more Northern or Eastern bias. If you live in the south, you may find you need to tweak what the packaging says.
Starting Seeds Indoors:
Then there was winter in the canyon. Much to my surprise I also learned, after a couple impatient rounds of failed direct sowing, that it was a bit too cold in January. I hadn't been expecting this, my grow season was basically 365 days in my first home, but again, that micro climate difference. As usual I was almost totally unprepared. I did not have a heat mat or grow lights but luckily I did have a massive south facing window sill. The previous owners literally built to house plants, score! Grow lights are a fabulous solution to start your plants indoors, if you don't have an 850 square foot house with four people and four cats.
If you, like me, can't do grow lights, I would definitely suggest the heat mat, they are fairly inexpensive and boost the speed of germination substantially. Just having south facing window garden will do in a pinch, but I found in my southern (no snow) environment, I got better results rotating the plants outside for the day and bringing them in at night. To test this, I even planted two flats of identical tomatoes, bringing one outside daily and left the other inside 24/7. The outside flat grew quicker and healthier by a wide margin. Our eventually goal is to build a small table top greenhouse outside to help the winter seed starting.
Pest Control:
Now then, fast forward to February. My seedlings look fabulous. They are bursting out of their starter pots. It's time to transplant! I get them in the ground, they are doing great! I go to sleep and in the morning...gone. Mowed down. Ugh. After careful observation I determine that bean sprouts and the Curcurbita family are the food of choice, and the feasting is always nocturnal, and insect based. I bust out the neem oil. Still they get devoured. I put down DE. Still they get devoured. It's infuriating because when I moved in last year in June, I grew cucumbers just fine! Frustrated after losing my umpteenth one I surf my local gardening group. Earwigs. All the extra rain this year made extra earwigs, and they are hitting everyone locally, bad.
On the advice of my group I set off a multi-prong attack. Neem oil, cloches to cover the plants at night, and earwig traps made of veggie oil and vinegar. Finally, I started seeing some results. So my hard fought conclusions? Observe, ask for help, and experiment. The first challenge is determining what is getting your plants. Secondly get help, even if a google search is all you can do. Chances are you're probably not the first to battle earwigs, beetles or deer. Lastly start trying stuff. Like all things with gardening, what works will vary a bit from garden to garden. I should note, too, that different individuals also make different choices for their gardens regarding chemicals etc. Personally, neem oil is about as high as I will go on the chemical list, so that effected how my battle plans were drawn.
Flexibility:
Now I'm brought to my last point which is, have a back up plan. You will lose plants. Especially if it's a new garden like mine. I'm still working out what works where, if my soil needs amending etc. I currently have a straight up empty bed. I hate it, haha. I've tried a bunch of plants, nothing will stick. It's frustrating as all heck, but I'm not giving up. I've been slowly getting it up to health with better soil, and pest removal. Be flexible! I've moved several crops to new area because they ended up being more successful somewhere else. If one thing doesn't work, try something else! Ultimately, if nothing works, you can always redesign your garden to not grow in that spot. It sucks to not have your vision come out just the way you wanted, but gardens are creatures of change. The more mental flexibility you have, the saner you will stay.
Well, folks, those are some of the things I have learned planting from seed this year. Observe, learn, plan and persevere. If you can start your seeds early, do it. Be prepared for the war with bugs and keep back up plans in your pocket.
Thanks for hanging out with me in my garden,
Love Bethany
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