Earlier sowing plants

I've only been starting plants from seeds for the past three years. In the past, I was always careful to start when suggested on the seed packet. I would count back from my frost date, six, eight or ten weeks and start sowing seeds at that time. Last spring, I noticed that some of the plants weren't as far along as I would have like when it was warm enough to plant them in the garden. The nursery plants were much larger than mine at the time.

I'm wondering now, how early I can start some of my seeds without having any repercussions (I'm not even sure what they would be). These are basicly annuals and perennials that flower the first year. Would it make a difference if I started them two weeks earlier than recommended or would I need to be further out like a month before I could see a difference? I'm thinking about getting a two week jump on most of them so that they can bloom sooner. Would I encounter any problems doing this other than running out of space?

pennefeather,

I'm thinking the same thing. I started a few weeks earlier than in past years. I plan to start heating the greenhouse Mar 1, so I shouldn't run out of space....but I do get a little carried away with seed shopping. Seeded my 1st tray of a bit of a mix today. All were about 12 weeks before last frost and we are actually about 15 weeks blf. Hoping for bigger plants. I do find that weekly feeding with diluted fish fert really makes a different with the plant size. I usually start fert after the 2nd set of leaves (diluted)

This message was edited Feb 1, 2009 8:14 PM

I've had the problem too of my plants being smaller than I would like at last frost/ time to plant. But since I don't have a greenhouse, the problem I run into is that I don't have room under lights to pot seedlings up into bigger containers. Since all the shelves are filled with flats of seedlings, there simply is nowhere to put that many plants in sep. pots.

I will try fertilizing a little more; I was afraid to overdo it.

So if you have room to grow them out, I don't see a problem with planting earlier.

Joanna, your setup looks so nice!

I find that I'm always dying to get my plants outside because I do run out of room, but I'm tired of being frustrated with small plants when it is time to plant. In addition, this year, I am adding in two large new beds in the back yard that will need a lot of plants, so I'm actually increasing the number of seedlings that I'm starting.

One of the things that I will be trying this year is starting my zinnias on a rotating basis. I found that toward the year of summer, some of them had just pooped out or were covered with mildew and I didn't have replacements. I also discovered that at least one new plant that I was trying last year, I didn't like, and in ended up pulling it out in the middle of summer.

Since I don't have a greenhouse either, maybe I will concentrate on some specific plants.

pennefeather, good idea on zinnias. We grew Giant Violet Queen last year and I was so impressed with its size and the butterflies loved it. But by August, the plants looked terrible. I think I will do as you're suggesting so I can still have this great tall plant.

To start early for earlier bloom, consider this. The first spurt of energy with a seedling is to produce enough roots to support all the leaves it needs to grow. Once that is done, it will direct its energy to growth and produce the leaves. When enough leaves have been produced blooms will follow.

However, you don't gain much by starting too early. A plant will not bloom until its roots are established. So, when you transplant that plant into your garden, you will lose blooming time, especially if the plant is large. A young plant with enough root system establishes quicker than an older plant. A potted plant does not have its roots spread out through the soil as it would if grown in the garden. They are confined in a pot which can stunt its growth, if potbound. No matter how carefully you replant it in your garden, you are bound to lose and disturb the roots, setting it back. Nor can you force a plant to grow and bloom by feeding it, unless the plant actually need it. Plants will bloom when established and conditions are right.

While they may not bloom sooner, I would like to have larger plants to put into the garden. In addition, If starting them a few weeks earlier allows their root system to grow more, this should still be helpful. Some of my annuals are already beginning to bloom when I transplant them.

I just find it frustrating when I stop by the nursery, and find that they are selling the same plant, and it is larger than mine. Of course, then I have to console myself with the fact that my plants are dirt cheap compared to theirs!

And yet, if I start Torenia seeds in early February, I can plant out small blooming plants that grow in my front bed and continue blooming their little hearts out.

I think it depends on the plant. Some definitely can benefit from an earlier start.

Is it the Thompson Morgan site that has all the great info for market growers, like "start first week of January for blooming plants by Mother's Day".. ?

I agree with it depends on the plant. There are many seed packages that state "for earlier blooms star XX weeks before last frost date".