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31-08-2004, 02:34 PM

wrote:
On 26 Aug 2004 15:52:38 -0700, (Udayan) wrote:

Thanks a lot pam. Yes it is easier to start out with plants, but more
satisfying to grow from seeds, I think... I'll try both...

Uday

I had some good luck starting some containers from seed. They took
longer to get going, but they did just fine. It is easier with
plants, but cheaper with seeds, and I agree that its very satisfying.

Swyck

The best way to start containers is to start the plants separately. Get
(or save) some of the plastic cells you buy plants in and start your
seeds in them, one per cell. Seeds are cheap, so start twice as many as
you need. When the plants are large enough to transplant pick out the
best ones and put them into the container(s). Keep a few for backup in
case of transplant shock problems. This method avoids problems with
plants germinating at different times and avoids weak plants in the
container, which leads to holes in the resulting foliage (at least until
the rest of the plants take over).

Plants in cells will be large enough to transplant when the roots fill
the plastic cell. This will hold the soil together so it will come out
easily. It helps to water the plants in the cell about a half hour
before transplanting. This ensures that the water will soak the whole
cell and will make it easier to slide the rootball out of the plastic.
To see if the rootball fills the cell, water, wait a bit, then tug on
the plant stem close to the soil. If it comes out easily, the plants are
ready for transplanting. If it breaks off, well that's one reason for
you to plant more than you need. With a little experience, you will
break off fewer plants.

Many greenhouse operators will seed into really tiny cells (around 1/2"
square) and then transplant plants into larger and larger cells (maybe
even up to a 5" pot) until they finally assemble a container about two
weeks before selling it. The two weeks gives the roots a chance to
stabilize the plants in the container. Again, this allows you to pick
the strongest plants for the container and gives you the flexibility to
change your mind about the container contents right up to the last minute.