DATE:    1/30/04
WRITER:  Chuck Burgess, 1-888-656-9988
EDITOR:  Susan Bedingfield, (864) 656-3876

Start annual 
plants from seed

		By Chuck Burgess, Information Specialist,
	Clemson Extension Home & Garden Information Center

	CLEMSON - If you are like some gardeners, winter can pass 
slowly as you ponder warmer days when daylilies emerge to enliven the 
landscape. 
	One way to distract yourself from the wintry weather and to get
a jump on spring is to start seeds indoors.
	The simplest method for growing transplants is to plant seeds 
in containers where they will remain until they are planted outdoors. 
	You can use a variety of containers such as plastic or clay 
pots or the small plastic containers holding six individual bedding 
plants sold in most retail stores. Just be sure that the container is 
clean and has drainage holes so that the soil is never soggy.
	Seed-starting mixes made from finely ground peat moss are 
available commercially and provide a sterile environment because the 
soil is free from weed seeds and diseases that would likely be found in
garden soil. 
	As you begin, pre-soak the mix and fill the container to within 
one-quarter inch from the top. Plant seeds according to the packet 
instructions. Keep in mind that some seeds such as begonia and coleus 
need light to germinate and therefore, should not be covered.
	Germination depends primarily on two factors -- moisture and 
temperature. 
	To avoid displacing small seeds it is best to place the 
container in one to two inches of water and allow the mix to saturate. 
Afterwards, remove the container to allow it to drain. 
	Seeds are sensitive to drying out. A higher percentage of seeds
will germinate and will do so more quickly if containers are covered to
keep the mix consistently moist and humidity levels high. Cover 
containers with clear glass or plastic or enclose them in a plastic 
sheet or bag. Be sure to remove this as soon as you see growth.
	Temperature refers to the temperature of the medium; not the 
surrounding air. 
	All seeds have a temperature range that is required for 
germination and an optimum temperature at which the highest percentage 
of seeds germinate. For most seeds, 75 F to 90 F will result in good 
germination. 
	This is easily attained by the use of a bottom heat mat or a 
heating cable placed under the container. Both of these can be 
purchased at feed and seed stores. Alternatively, you may choose to put
seeds in a warm spot in your house such as near a furnace or on top of 
the refrigerator.
	As plants grow they will need lower temperatures, light and 
fertilizer. Optimum temperatures are 60-70 F during the day and ten 
degrees cooler at night.
	Indoors, especially in winter, it is difficult to provide the 
right amount of light required by seedlings. Supplemental light can be 
provided by two 48 inch, 40 watt, cool white fluorescent bulbs. These 
come closer than other artificial lights to duplicating the color 
spectrum of sunlight. 
	Position the seedlings so they are two to four inches below the 
lights and leave the lights on for 16-18 hours per day. Be sure to 
raise the lights as the seedlings grow. Reflective surfaces such as 
aluminum foil or mirrors can be positioned around the containers to 
direct more light to the plants.
	When fertilizing, use a water-soluble fertilizer at one-fourth 
the label recommendation and feed at every other watering. Continue 
until the plants are ready to set outside. Monitor soil moisture 
carefully by checking daily, and watering when the surface is dry.
	Before the baby plants are placed outside, they need to be 
hardened off, which prepares them for the transition from indoor to 
outdoor environments. 
	Begin by setting the plants outside during the day and bringing 
them in before sundown. Start with one hour of full sun the first day 
and gradually increase the exposure over a two to three week period. Be
sure all danger of frost has passed before setting out summer annuals.
	When seeding plants, timing is very important. Be aware of the time each plant takes to go from seed to planting size, so you do not 
have plants outgrowing their containers before it is warm enough to 
plant them. For example, salvia, impatiens, and ageratum are ready in 
eight to ten weeks, while dwarf marigolds need only five to six.
	There are many benefits to growing your plants from seed. You 
can save money, enjoy earlier harvests and be assured that your 
seedlings are healthy. 
	Most important, you are not limited to growing what is offered 
by your local retailers. So gather those seed catalogs, your materials 
and have a great start to a beautiful spring. 
	******************************************
        For answers to your gardening, pest and food safety questions, 
visit the Clemson Extension Home & Garden Information Center
website at http://hgic.clemson.edu , call us toll-free at
1-888-656-9988, or write to PSA Media Relations, 120 Lehotsky
Hall, Clemson University, Clemson, S.C. 29634-0129.
				END