Regardless of the container used, it is important that it drain excess water freely. Waterlogged vegetable plants will not grow properly

Growing Media

Basic requirements of satisfactory plant growing media are that they:

1. Have good water drainage 2. Have adequate water-holding capacity 3. Be free of harmful substances such as herbicide residue 4. Be reasonable in cost and readily available 5. Be free of weed seeds, insects, and diseases Not too long ago practically all plants were grown in soil that had been improved by adding sand and peat moss. These were added to improve aeration, drainage, and water-holding capacity, since most top soil is not suitable for growing plants satisfactorily without being modified somewhat. The main reason for this is because plants are normally grown in small containers, making it necessary for the media to be in nearly perfect condition to support satisfactory plant growth and development.

Many problems are associated with making a satisfactory soil mixture. One is simply finding good topsoil to use. Even if good topsoil is available, it must be heated or chemically treated to kill weed seeds, insects, and disease-causing organisms. Also, if the top soil comes from a cultivated field there is the possibility of herbicide residue which might be harmful to certain plants. For example a herbicide that is registered for and safe to use on corn might leave a residue harmful to tomato plants.

For the average home gardener wishing to start vegetable plants, the best growing medium is one of the soilless mixes available commercially; or you may purchase ingredients to make a soilless mix. Ingredients for one mix are listed below. Quantities shown will make up 2 bushels of growing medium.

Sphagnum peat moss 1 bu Horticultural vermiculite 1 bu Ground dolomitic limestone 1 lb Superphosphate 4 oz Calcium nitrate 2 oz Calcium sulfate 7 oz Fritted trace elements (FTE 503) 1 oz Chelated iron (Sequestrene 330 Fe) 2 g If you live where bark from Southern yellow pine is available, the small particle sizes (half inch or smaller in diameter) may be substituted for peat moss.

Unless you have ready access to the ingredients shown, it is simpler to purchase a ready mixed medium for plant growing. In calculating your needs for a ready mixed medium, bear in mind that 1 cubic foot of medium will fill approximately 275 peat pots 2 1/4 inches square, 60 four-inch round pots, and 20 packs measuring approximately 5 by 8 inches by 2 3/4 inches deep.

Media for seed germination should be somewhat fine textured, drain well, and be free of weed seeds and diseases. Most commercially available mixes are suitable for germinating seed. However, it is important not to contaminate the plant-growing medium with dirty tools, containers, and so on when using it. The best way to avoid problems with weeds and diseases is to keep all materials used from becoming contaminated.

In most plant-growing media the nutrients added at the time of mixing may not be adequate to grow the plant to proper transplanting size. If the plant foliage color becomes yellowish green, more nutrients are probably needed. This situation may be corrected by dissolving 1 ounce (2 level tablespoons) of a water soluble fertilizer such as 20-20-20 in a gallon of water and applying this as a regular watering at 7 to 10 day intervals. Wash off with plain water any fertilizer solution that remains on the plant foliage.

Sowing Seed

Before purchasing seed, determine the best varieties for the area, as well as the quantity you need. Usually the small packet size will provide ample seed for home gardener needs.

Most vegetable seed, except warm season cucurbits, should be sown in rows pressed into the growing medium with a board which makes a flat bottom trench about a half inch wide. Enough seed should be evenly distributed in the trench to obtain about 8 to 10 plants per inch of row. Depth of covering will vary, depending on seed size. Most vegetable seed will germinate properly if planted a quarter inch deep, provided proper temperature and moisture levels are maintained.

Before planting seed, water the medium thoroughly and allow it to drain overnight. Check the medium daily after planting and water lightly if it appears to be drying out. Take care to avoid overwatering, since seeds germinate poorly or not at all in water logged media. Water very gently all seedling containers and small plants.

As soon as seedlings emerge they should be grown at a somewhat lower temperature than that required for germination. Most warm season vine crops, eggplant, and peppers should be germinated at a temperature of 80 to 90 F, whereas most other vegetable seed will germinate properly at 60 to 80 . Plant growing temperatures should be 60 night and 70 to 75 day for warm season crops. Cool season crops and tomato plants may be grown with night temperature as low as 45 to 50 .

All vegetables discussed in this section except the cucurbits may be, and usually are, sown too thick to make a satisfactory transplant unless "spotted" out into another plant-growing container. Do this when the seedlings are about 1 inch tall and while still in the cotyledon stage that is, before the first true leaves have developed appreciably.

To spot out, first fill with moist media whatever container is being used to grow plants in, or soak compressed peat pellets in warm water if these are to be used. The media should be moist but not waterlogged. With a round pointed object press a hole into the center of the pot as deep as the root system on the seedlings. Then carefully remove the seedlings, lifting them out with a flat wood label and gently separating them. Most of the medium they were growing in may fall off the roots. However, this should cause no problem so long as the seedling is immediately placed into the prepunched hole and the medium in the growing container pressed around the roots. Take care to avoid injuring the seedling's stem and roots. Immediately after spotting out, water the seedlings carefully.

With some transplants it is advisable to keep the plants in a shaded area for a day before exposing them to full sun. However, no later than one day after transplanting, place the plants where they will receive maximum sunlight.

"Spotting" out seedlings into individual containers.

Larger seeded crops such as cucumber and muskmelon may be direct seeded into the container they will be grown in. Expanded peat pellets or peat moss pots filled with a growing medium are suitable for this. Press 2 or 3 seeds 1/4 inch deep in the medium and cover with the same medium the plants are to grow in. Water, lightly with warm water and keep in a location where the daytime temperature is at least 75 F and night temperature does not go below 65 . After the seedlings emerge they may be thinned to 1 or two per pot by pinching off or very carefully pulling out excess plants. Seeds of these frost sensitive crops should not be planted more than 3 weeks before the average last frost-free date for your area.

Some general precautions to observe in planting seed include:

1. Buy good seed of recommended varieties.

2. Plant at the proper rate and depth.

3. Cover seed with the same media in which seed are planted.

4. Do not use plain sand for germinating seed.

5. After an initial soaking and drain, water sparingly until seedlings become established.

6. Use room temperature water for all watering.

7. Observe safe dates for setting in the garden to determine seeding dates.