First off – first year starting seeds indoors and how do you explain this feeling to somone who doesn’t garden?! Seeing sprouts for the first time was like being a kid of Christmas morning 🙂
BUT, I thought germination would take a little bit longer for the parsley and onions, and now I’m a bit worried I’m too ahead of schedule. Can these be transplanted to larger cells with a grow light, or an open tray with soil + grow light if they become ready for the ground before the first freeze?
I know this would be further down the line, but just want to be prepared with supplies in case the time comes.
In 7b, both the parsley and onions were started on 1/6.
Thanks all!
by Sudden-Violinist-722
3 Comments
Im afraid you are a bit early. I live one zone north. I usually start cold weather plants on Feb 1st to put outside in mid to late March. Start your other stuff on March first. Your plants will get too big starting them now.
Just a bit of warning. If you go the grow light route, you need a REAL grow light. Not the flexible neck ones people get from Amazon for $20. Those are a waste of money for anything above a low light house plant. It’s possible to do but it takes some effort, money and space.
If it’s just parsley and onions, I think you’re okay. Onions in particular are slow growing and cold hardy. You can trim the onion leaves to 4-5″ long to keep them compact while they’re growing indoors, and you can plant them out a bit earlier than other cool weather crops. You can also plant them out under a row cover to give them some additional frost protection.
Congrats by the way! I’ve been growing mostly from seed for a few years now and I agree it is incredibly rewarding.