FEBRUARY I MARCH 2021 birdsandblooms.com 41
Luke Miller grows a number of plants
from seed, including spaghetti squash,
and later has to protect the plants from
health-conscious squirrels looking to
boost their fiber intake.
“As soon as the seedlings come up,
take off the plastic, put the trays under
lights and let the germination medium
dry out—not completely dry out but
just enough to dry out somewhat—then
water again,” Richard says.
Light is very important. “If you put
the seedlings in a window, even a sunny
window, they’re not going to get enough
light, so they stretch and get very spindly,”
Richard says. “I typically use an ordinary
fluorescent light with two 40-watt tubes.
The light needs to be very close to the
seedlings when they come up, typically
within 4 to 6 inches.”
Moving Out
Once the seedlings develop a second set
of true leaves, Richard transplants them
into cell packs filled with potting mix.
“I just use a knife and dig them up really
carefully by hand,” he says.
When it’s time to take plants outside
(see the seed packet for guidance), start
by acclimating them to the conditions.
This process, called hardening off, can
be done by placing plants outside in the
shade for a few days, gradually moving
them to increase the amount of light
they receive every few days.
“I like planting in the morning or in
the evening, not during the heat of the
day when the plants might suffer a little
bit,” Richard says. “Water them well
and they should be OK.” If seedlings
appear a bit pale, he suggests adding a
water-soluble fertilizer when watering,
and wait for your plants to flourish. •
Compostable pots,
usually made of wood
fibers, manure, peat
or coconut husks, are
a convenient solution.
Look for them
online or at local
garden centers.