by Mary Leigh Oliver 

For the Enquirer  

Christmas might be thought of as the season of giving, but it is also near the time for purchasing seeds to grow indoor summer transplants. It might sound crazy, but it’s true.  

Bethany O’Rear, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System home grounds, gardens and home pests regional agent, said when purchasing seed for early summer transplants, availability will be greatest right after Christmas. 

“January is the prime month for most seed catalogs to arrive in the mail,” O’Rear said. 

CHOOSING SEED 

Figuring out what seeds to purchase for summer transplants can seem like an overwhelming task. The most common transplants grown indoors include peppers, tomatoes and eggplant. When searching for the best seed, O’Rear said she has three rules of thumb: 

Look for disease-resistant cultivars. Choosing disease-resistant varieties is one way to avoid problems before the growing season begins. Diseases can be a costly and time-consuming issue to deal with during the season, so choosing a disease-resistant variety can help ward off those problems before they begin. 

Consider the garden format when choosing seed. Since there are so many ways to plant a garden – containers, raised-beds and large-scale gardens – it is important to consider the end-goal when purchasing seed. There are hearty garden plants, as well as patio-type cultivars, to fit any size or shape of a backyard garden. O’Rear said if growers decide to use containers on a patio or porch for the season, selecting patio-type cultivars is best. 

Purchase more seed than needed. Even if your gardening plans only include a few tomato plants, purchasing extra seed can be beneficial. 

“Over the past couple of years, finding certain selections of vegetables has been difficult, and supplies have been limited,” O’Rear said. “Buying extra seed is a good insurance policy for future gardens.” 

TRANSPLANT CARE 

Once the seeds have been planted, they will require special care until they are transplanted into the garden. 

To ensure healthy, strong transplants, the seeds will require 16-18 hours of bright light. O’Rear said it can be natural or artificial. Less light results in a weak transplant. 

“To produce enough light, gardeners can use 40-watt 48-inch fluorescent light bulbs,” O’Rear said. “Place these bulbs 2-4 inches above the seedlings on a timer.” 

Lights should be just above the soil line initially and then raised to keep a 2- to 4-inch space between the light and the plants. 

When determining when to water, O’Rear said to wait until the transplant starts to wilt slightly, then water the plant until water runs out of the bottom of the container. She said it is important to plant in a container with drain holes for proper watering.  

Fertilizing every other watering will help ensure a healthy transplant. Begin this alternating pattern with a water-soluble fertilizer once the first true leaves appear. 

As summer approaches and the transplants are almost ready to be moved to the garden, they will need “hardening off,” which refers to thickening the cuticle on the leaves to prevent the loss of water during exposure to the elements. 

The process helps to prevent transplant shock, a term used to describe languishing or stunted seedlings after sudden changes in temperature and light exposure.  

Hardening off requires gradually exposing to plants to natural elements: sunlight, temperatures and wind. O’Rear said it is best to begin this process seven to 14 days before planting in the garden. The hardening-off period varies by plant and seedling. 

For more information about purchasing seeds for transplants, visit the Alabama Extension website, www.aces.edu, or contact a local home grounds, gardens and home pests regional agent.