Seed starting questions!

**Daisygirl** · 05-11-2011, 08:27 AM

I have a notoriously "black thumb". However, I am determined to learn to garden. It's gotta be mind over matter. I have kept a house plant alive for two months now and I want to graduate to veggies.

Soooo....we bought some seeds - decent quality - not the dollar store ones. I'm in Canada and you are not supposed to plant outside, according to my neighbor, until the end of May, beginning of June. I have planted my seeds in wee containers as directed on packages and they are residing on cookie sheets in front of a sunny window. I'm using the biodegradable containers that you can just stick in the ground.

Questions:

1.) My oldest and I have been arguing about the amount of water the little seeds need. I've been filling the bottom of the cookie sheets daily and letting the water soak in from the bottom. I have itty bitty shoots coming up from the lettuce but nothing else yet. Am I overwatering? The water is all gone in the morning when I go to put more in. The soil is damp but not soggy.

2.) Should there be something over the things for a greenhouse-type atmosphere?

3.) How long should I expect to wait to see more shoots or have I killed these little suckers already? (Planted on Saturday and Sunday - I think I am being impatient....maybe.)

Total NOOB here! Thanks in advance!

**Contrary Housewife** · 05-11-2011, 10:04 AM

1. damp but not soggy is good. If the paper pot feels moist you're ok.

2. no, they will mold

3. up to two weeks for some seeds. Depends on the seed, the temp, and amount of sun it's getting. The packet might give you a 'germination' time. You can look it up on the web, too.

**Missy** · 05-11-2011, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by Contrary Housewife

1. damp but not soggy is good. If the paper pot feels moist you're ok.

2. no, they will mold

3. up to two weeks for some seeds. Depends on the seed, the temp, and amount of sun it's getting. The packet might give you a 'germination' time. You can look it up on the web, too.

yup, what she said. The germination rate is based on perfect conditions, so there will be some variation across the board.

**Daisygirl** · 05-14-2011, 07:49 PM

I'm so excited! All my seed starting pots look like little chia pets!!! Everything has sprouted. This is probably not news for most of you but it is front page, headline news for me!

I got my supplies to build my raised bed today but unfortunately it poured all day. Hopefully tomorrow will be sunny enough to get the bed going!