CHENNAI: This week, we will cover about seed germination and transplanting.
Seeds, where it all begins!
There are various types of seeds — heirloom (naati), open pollinated (o/p), hybrid. However, heirloom or o/p seeds have the highest germination rate. A seed packet marked as ‘F1’ are hybrid varieties. A very common question asked by newbies is, the seed packets have ‘Poison’ mentioned on the packets, is it safe to use them? They are completely safe to use for sowing purposes. The seeds are coated with a very thin layer of chemical so that the seeds do not rot or decay and have a longer shelf life.
For plants such as methi, dill, etc seeds from the kitchen cupboard work but the germination rate is low, as they are processed for kitchen use. Most folks start off with buying seeds initially. Once they form a good network of gardening enthusiasts, they exchange seeds at meets and events. There are quite a number of ‘green’ events held in Bangalore, which have stalls dedicated for selling seeds and saplings.
Germination
One can invest in a seeding/ germinating tray. A basic one costs about `50. Else you can also reuse/recycle egg shells, coconut shells, milk packet, juice cartons, curd cups etc. The most basic need for a seed to germinate is moisture. For making a germinating potting mix, you can take a few handfuls of cocopeat and compost, with some neem powder.
The quantity of the ingredients need not be exact, since it will house the plant for just about 1-2 weeks. Germination time depends on various reasons like climate, source and health of the seeds. On an average seeds of bushy vegetable plants like tomato, brinjal, chilly take roughly 10 days. Methi seeds sprout in just 3-4 days.
- Fill the germinating container with the above germinating potting mix.
- Moisten the whole tray, by spraying water gently.
- Make a small hole in the middle of each slot, with your finger/pencil, just a few millimeters deep.
- Place the seed in the hole. Its a good idea to place 2-3 seeds so that at least one will germinate. Also there are sometimes lots of seeds in a single seed packet, which eventually one does not end up using. Use your own judgement !
- Cover the holes with the potting mix around the slot, then give a very gentle press.
- Place the tray in a bright but shaded place, away from direct sunlight.
Sapling / Transplanting
When you are transplanting from the seeding tray to the final container, make sure you are not doing it under direct sun. Do it around 6-7 am or 5-6 pm. Use extreme caution when taking out the sapling. Make sure that the stem along with the root structure and soil around the roots come out as a whole. Before taking the sapling out, you can gently press the outside of the seedling tray slot or container. You can use a spoon/fork to take out the sapling. Over a period of time, you will master this trick. TIP: If you plan to have, say, five tomato plants, then it’s a good idea to sow 10 seeds, just in case you loose some during the sowing, germinating or transplanting.
In the final container make a hole in the middle, wide and deep enough to hold the sapling. If you have some cow dung, you can place it in the hole, before placing the sapling, so that the young plant gets some extra nutrition to sustain its initial days.
Once transplanted, keep the container in a shady place. This will enable the sapling to bear the transplant shock. Water the container carefully, so as not to harm the sapling, as mentioned in the tips above. If at the initial stage (after transplanting), you feel that your plant needs support, you can stake the plant for support. Staking is placing a thin but strong piece of wood (similar to pencil). Insert it into the pot near the seedling, but not too close to the roots. Use a thread and tie the sapling loosely to the stick. This will give some support to the plant for the first few weeks of its life.
Enjoy watching your plant grow from a seed over a few weeks and months!