After a long, cold and snowy winter, members of the Tweed and District Horticultural Society eagerly welcomed Laura Moses who spoke about seed planting. Laura is the founder of Fine Lines Landscape and Design located in Kingston. She is a double horticulturist with over 18 years experience in the field.
Tips Laura offered throughout her presentation….
-seeds need to be fresh as some only last one year; keep seeds dry until planting; read the back of the seed package as it contains information about germination, watering, planting, light etc.
-containers (pots, trays, cello packs, whatever you use) need to have holes for drainage; clean containers in a solution of bleach and water
-soil blocks can be made and seeds planted into the blocks
-soil needs to be “light” as the seeds are not strong as they start to germinate; she suggested Pro-Mix “MX” as it has nutrients to help support the new plants; also mushroom compost, peat moss, and even a mixture of vermiculite and perlite
-check the back of the packages for seed preparation-soaking, scratching surface of seed
-plant the seed to the correct depth as instructed on the package as seeds have limited energy to push through the soil; space seeds accordingly
-watering is the most crucial element in the process; pre-moisten soil before planting seeds; use a gentle mister to water; bottom watering is preferable as then the seeds near the top will not be disturbed by the water; do not overwater
-humidity domes will help with moisture while seeds are germinating; once seeds start to grow, remove the dome as there will be too much moisture which will create weak plants
-correct temperature is important as some plants (those that flower) like tomatoes, peppers like hot temperatures while “leaf” plants like lettuce, spinach prefer cooler temperatures
-if using a heat mat, purchase one that has settings that can be controlled; once the seed has sprouted, remove the heat mat as you want the conditions to mimic outside where the plant will be growing
-most seeds require 14-16 hours of light daily; window light is not strong enough; if using grow lights, make sure the light source is close to the plant so the plant does not need to reach for the light-this creates “leggy” plants
-placing a small fan near the plants makes them stronger for the outdoors and helps reduce fungus caused by excess moisture
-to help with “damping off” issues, sprinkle cinnamon over the soil
-using yellow sticky cards helps to control gnats and fungus; a fan also helps with this
-when it is time for the plants to head outside, it is important to “harden them off” by putting them outdoors for short periods of time to acclimatize them; be aware of direct sunlight and wind during this process
-seasonal extenders such as greenhouses, cold frames and row covers can lengthen the growing season
-mistakes over-enthusiastic gardeners often make…starting their seed planting too early-read the seed package; overwatering or forgetting about watering; not enough light; leaving dome on too long
To achieve success, Laura suggests planning your garden, do successive planting and most important, don’t let failure deter you…try again!
LOOKING AHEAD….
May 5 7pm …. Roseanne Ballast from Stonepath Greenhouse will share the garden trends for 2026.