Once you have your planting box, fill it with a suitable seed raising mix. A



good medium would be 80-85% washed river sand and 15-20% peat moss.

If you prefer to buy a bag of seed raising mix, visit your local garden supply

store. One you have your medium, fill the box almost to the top, and then

pat down the medium firmly.

Prepare the medium for planting your seeds by making rows across the

box. They should be one quarter to half inch deep and 2 inches apart.

The seed should be distributed 8 or 10 to the inch in the rows and then be

covered. Move the box to a warm shaded place.

It is important to water regularly during germination, however the soil

should be kept moist not wet. If the water starts running out the bottom

of the box you are over doing it and the soil will become waterlogged. If

this happens, the seeds could rot and fail to germinate.

If you can cover the box with a piece of glass or even saran wrap, this will

hold the moisture, creating a microclimate, which will hasten germination.

Once the seedlings germinate the lid can be removed and the seedlings

can gradually be introduced to stronger light - next to a window would be

ideal.

When the plants are one inch to an inch and a half high they should be

thinned to one or two inches apart in the row, to give them space enough

to make a strong stocky growth. If you wish to keep the plants that have

been thinned, they must be planted two inches apart each way in boxes

similar to the seed box.

When the weather becomes mild, the box of plants should be set out of

doors part of the time so that the plants will harden in preparation for

transplanting to the garden later. Give the seedlings a good watering just

before transplanting so that a ball of earth will stick to the roots.

By raising seedlings in this controlled climate of germination, they will be

hardier and flourish. You will also have the added satisfaction of having

done all the work yourself.

For more information on gardening, visit the link at the bottom of the page.