It's seed startin' time!

Start yer ‘maters!

By Amy McDowell

The green flag is out, garden fans. Seed starting season is upon us here in central Iowa. At the finish line we’re not greeted by the checkered flag, but the red ripe tomato. Is your adrenaline pumping? I hope so, because you are in for another gorgeous garden season and one fantastic ride.

Gather the tools you’ll need and let’s get growing. Any clean container with drainage holes in the bottom will work. Choose a quality seed starting mix and moisten it with water until it’s spongy. Fill the containers with the mix and tap it down lightly. Now sow the seeds and sprinkle a little more seed starting mix over the top. Don’t forget to label your pots.

Cover the pots with clear plastic to keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate. After they germinate, the covers can be removed for good, but you’ll have to keep a closer eye on the soil to make sure it doesn’t get too dry.

Most seeds will germinate better if you can provide bottom heat. If you can, set your pots on the top of your warm refrigerator or some other warm spot.

As soon as the seeds sprout, move the pots to a bright window or under grow lights. Bright light is important at this stage so the plants don’t get too tall and spindly. The window location may get cooler at night, so you might need to move the plants out of the window at night and back into the bright light during the day. If you use grow lights, keep the lights suspended just above the growing plants, and use a timer so the lights are on for at least 12 hours a day.

New seedlings are tender; don’t let them get too dry or keep them too wet, because they can collapse in either extreme.

One last note and then you’re off and racing. If you have the space in your garden, think about growing a little extra for the Plant A Row for the Hungry program. Because of the recession, the demand for hunger assistance has skyrocketed in recent years, and sometimes food pantries are forced to turn people away because they don’t have enough resources to assist everyone.

The DMARC Food Pantry will take garden produce, but you’ve got to drop it off weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at 3816 36^th Street in Des Moines. Maybe you can even organize a Plant A Row group in your neighborhood or church. Whatever you do, gear up and get ready for a great season.