seed starting

10 years ago

Is it too soon to start seeds indoors (veggies and flowers)? I started seeds indoors last year and either I started too late in the season (March) or I just didn't do things right. My tomatoes and peppers came in so late and just didn't do well (in pots). I have been doing some research and so I started a flat already with tomatoes, peppers, marigolds and a few others. I made a diy heat mat that seems to be going exceptionally well. Tomatoes have already germinated (2 days). I've moved these from the heated dome and now have them under fluorescent lights. I want the roots to be strong and healthy. last year they just got too leggy and just never really seemed to be strong or well rooted plants. I hope I have not started too soon. I now have my grow lights adjustable to try to keep the plants from getting too leggy. I am very new to gardening and have so many questions....Any info or advice would be greatly appreciated. Zone 8b, Kyle TX. Oh,..and so I made my own seed starting mix and now don't know if I need to make or buy a new mix for the seedlings so they get their nutrients. (seed starting mix I made: 8 parts coco coir, 4 parts perlite , 3 parts worm castings-from my own small worm farm ;-) ). Thanks again.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

bostedo: 8a tx-bp-dfw
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
No - not too soon for much of Texas. The grow-lights were always turned on in January in our Dallas (8a) neighbor's large unshaded south facing window... and he was a very successful farm-raised vegetable gardener. Last average freeze in DFW is around mid-March, so he scheduled to have things big enough to put in the ground shortly after then - though, could be a bit sooner for you in 8b.

Sounds like you're on the right track with lights for the "... too leggy" problem.
CC thanked bostedo: 8a tx-bp-dfw
gmatx zone 6
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
If you have them under florescent lights, you need to keep the lights almost touching the plants and run them no more than 14-16 hours/day. Also, to make stems "beef up", put a small fan a short distance away from your seedlings and run it on low. The pressure from the air making the seedling stems move causes a chemical reaction in the plant and tells the plant to produce whatever is necessary for the stem to grow firmer. Keep them as cool as possible after they get their first 2 sets of true leaves. That will encourage them to not be so "leggy".

If you ever have tomato plants that become too leggy, just dig a trench and bury them laying down in the trench up to the last 2-3 sets of leaves. They will withstand hot and dry weather so much better because the stem will produce roots all along the part buried under the soil.
CC thanked gmatx zone 6
Related Professionals
Mobile Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Jackson Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Merced Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · San Luis Obispo Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Norfolk Landscape Contractors · Greenfield Landscape Contractors · Manhattan Landscape Contractors · Scranton Landscape Contractors · Olympia Landscape Contractors · Wilmington Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Knoxville Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Auburn Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Plainfield Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Syracuse Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Bridgeport Stone, Pavers & Concrete
daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
10 years ago
Seems to me that the seed starting date is pretty flexible. If you're going to drop your tomatoes in the ground in late March, they'll just be kinda big when you do if you start them now. If you wait to seed until February, they'll just be a bit small. The relevant issue is how big your pots are. If they are really tiny, the seedlings will outgrow them before you can plant out. I seed into 4-inch pots, and I plant out when the plants are 6-inches high. Them's tough plants.
CC thanked daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
publicpollenhas
10 years ago
I have sowed tomatoes, peppers and some Basil (which I intend to keep sheltered for a while). Seems that a lot of people thinks it's difficult to grow your own plants. It is not. Be confident. When the seeds has sprouted you need to place your tomato plants as bright as possible, and at a fairly low temperature. You can read about it here.