Propagation: Starting Seeds 2013, Part 3, 1 by RickCorey_WA

RickCorey_WA wrote:
>> And Rick, when are you going to start your babies this season?

You noticed that I'm still procrastinating? I'm about 1-2 weeks before my avg last frost date, so I'm about 10 weeks late starting Lobelia, Petunias and Salvia indoors. I'm so late that I'm considering starting no flowers indoors this year, only Brassicas. Maybe even start most seeds outdoors this year, since it's been amazingly dry lately.

The two-week forecast predicts a low of 36 one night, and 37 another night. All the rest are warmer.

I finally kicked my butt into the garden for the last two weekends: serious weeding on two beds that had been taken over by Ranunculus and Snapdragons-from-Heck. My legs HURT!


schaff20,

I wouldn't add any more fertilizer until I was SURE they needed it. Like, widespread turning pale green and slowed growth. Even then, I would ask: "Do they want more fertilizer, or a bigger pot?" If they have 3-4 pairs of leaves, they might want a pot bigger than 2-3".

Or listen to them at night: are they scratching at the door, trying to get outside and put their roots in the ground?

I tend to use very dilute Miracle-Gro soluble chemical fertilizer, if I add any to seedling trays at all. Mostly, if I keep them indoors so long that they can "take" or want any fertilizer, I've been keeping them indoors too long.

But the people who use fish or kelp emulsion instead of soluble chemicals may have a better idea. It is harder to kill plants with organic fertilizer!