Caring for Young Seedlings
Your seedlings will do best if they have care and attention after transplanting.
Daily Watering
Your seedlings need water every day. It is best to water when the sun is low, either in the early morning or evening. Water each plant at the base, rather than dousing the fragile stems and leaves with water from above (such as with a sprinkler). If you do not want to water each plant individually, then use a soaker hose or drip irrigation system. Provide enough water so that soil is moist to a depth of 3” (7.6cm). As your plants grow, you can start top watering rather than continue with the
Frost
Despite the best planning, a damaging frost may come your way. Keep an eye on the weather for any reports of frosts (temperatures below 32°F/0°C) and be prepared to cover young plants if necessary. Some easily found household items that
make good covers are yogurt containers, card- board boxes, milk jugs, flower pots or baskets. Just remember to put a rock (or other weight) on top of these containers to stop them from blow- ing away. It is a good idea to place a small rock over the hole in a flower pot, to provide the best protection from a hard frost. Be sure to remove covers when the weather warms up.
What to Expect
It takes about one to two weeks for your seed- lings to adjust to the change in environment. After that, your seedlings will start to grow again. Follow the directions on your seed packets for fertilizing and caring for your plants. Soon you’ll have wonderful harvests.
HAPPY GARDENING!
Troubleshooting
My seeds are not germinating.
What can I do?
If seeds in your Garden Starter Tray do not germi- nate, the first thing to check is the expiration date on the seed packet. Viability of seeds decreases significantly with age. Also verify that your seeds were stored properly. Excessive humidity and/or heat can ruin a seed.
A hard outer coat on a seed may also hinder ger- mination. Refer to your seed packet for suggested
Finally, make sure you plant more than one seed in a Grow Sponge. Even the best seeds do not germi- nate 100% of the time. See page 7 regarding how many seeds to plant in each Grow Sponge.
Why are my fully grown carrots such strange shapes?
The change in conditions between the Grow
Sponge and garden soil triggers some bizarre growth patterns in carrots. Enjoy the surprise of these unique shapes. Kids love to harvest these Crazy Carrots and eat them too!
Two examples of what your Crazy Carrots might look like.
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