by: Charlene Rennick
Getting a head start counts for a lot, especially if it means you can double your annual crop of your favourite harvest. For many gardeners, the growing season is limited. This curbs seed selection to varieties which will germinate quickly and increases the expense of planting by adding the cost of purchasing small plants for transplanting during warmer weather.
Hydroponics Extend your Growing Season
Make the best use of your resources! A light bulb, a shallow tray, some germination cubes and lots of TLC are materials that can fill in the winter months with an uplifting spring-like project. Germinating seeds indoors is an easy and educational way to entertain the whole family. Plants can even be pollinated indoors by your child’s hand. All you need is a gentle touch and a small paint brush with which to carefully stroke each blossom.
Materials for Indoor Hydroponic Germination
Heat can be trapped by covering a wide, flat growing tray. Keeping the air humid will provide the warmth and moisture seeds need to germinate indoors and spilt their casing. Once the casing cracks (germinates), the root tendril will extend. Next, a pair of small leaves develop, followed by a secondary set of leaves. Oxygen-rich environments facilitate root growth, in fact, they cannot grow without it. Changing the water often, sprouting seeds on a moist surface rich in oxygen or good air flow will help make germination a sure thing.
Alternative Methods of Germinating Seeds
An inexpensive alternative to a kit is a serving tray lined with paper towelling and covered with plastic wrap. A light, frequent misting will stimulate germination. Placing the tray near a sunny window traps heat and removing the plastic wrap during misting will maximize the flow of oxygen.
Perfect Starts is the trade name for cubes made of organic compost. They keep their shape inside a breathable polymer binder which protects the delicate roots during transplant to the next stage of growth. A plastic tube can be purchased to house these germinating sponges. It keeps the roots suspended to maximize the air and water flow around them.
Recipe for Success
- Pre-soak seeds in 1 tbsp of hydrogen peroxide per cup of water and/or pre-moisten the growing medium with it.
- Keep the moving air between 72 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Maintain a 70 to 80 percent environmental humidity ratio.
- Use 20 watts of light per square foot until the seeds sprout.
- Spray with a fifty percent diluted nutrient solution until germination.
- Compost the ‘weak links’ and deformed seedlings.
- Move the seedlings to the next stage of growth after the second set of leaves appear.
Getting a head start can be achieved in many ways. If germinating seeds is not your thing, cloning can produce a genetic match to your favourite plant by rooting a sprout over the winter.