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Webinars 2022

Seed Starting | Spring Webinar Series 2022

Posted on by Brandi
Seed Starting | Spring Webinar Series 2022
17
Feb

Hello gardener!

How exciting is it that we are talking about seeds again!

Thank you to everyone who came and hung out with us at our first webinar of the year! We appreciate your patience while we worked through some technical issues, and appreciate your enthusiasm and questions! If you would like a copy of Colin’s PowerPoint Presentation, it’s here:

GA Seed Starting Webinar PowerPoint 2022

We have a helpful seed starting guide now available on our website: Calgary Seed Starting Guide

There is an encore presentation of today’s webinar now available on our YouTube channel. You’ll also find more helpful gardening videos!

Let’s recap some of the important points from today

The Parts of a seed

  • Seed Coat: Acts as protection
  • Food Store: The essential proteins, oils, and cards to seed requires to grow
  • Seed Embryo: The DNA of the plant to grow leaves, roots, and stem.

Germination

  • Seed development – Seed coat breaks down giving way to the first signs of development.
  • What you’ll need:
    • Seeds
      • We carry West Coast Seeds, McKenzie Seeds, and Renee’s Garden Seeds
    • Growing Containers: Trays/Inserts, Pots, Kits
      • No right or wrong answer here. Whatever works with your space.
    • Growing Medium: Seed Starting Soil
    • Heat Source: Heat Mats
      • Seeds require warmth, or energy, to produce the chemical reaction required to germinate. A heat mat, on 24/7 until seedlings are thriving, is always a good addition to your setup.
    • Moisture
      • Damp enough to activate the seed, but not too wet that your seed will suffocate. There needs to be room for gas exchange to happen.
    • Light: GrowLights
      • Light enables photosynthesis, essential for plant growth. If there’s not enough light present, your plant may start to suffer or stretch. If there’s too much light, your seedling could burn. Applying a growlight 8-12 hrs a day will promote healthy growth.
    • Suitable area
      • One location that is warm, sunny, clean, and not too drafty.
      • Isolate seeds away from houseplants that may carry pests. Your seedlings won’t be able to recover as well as your established houseplants will.
    • Labels
      • Label your seeds as you plant them. Trust me, you won’t remember what they are!

Planting Seeds

  • Prep area and clean everything including trays and tools.
  • Layout containers
  • Add soil, firm but not compressed down.
  • Get seeds ready to plant.
  • Plant at the required depth found on the back of the seed package.
  • Add moisture (spray bottle advised)
  • Move onto heat mat and label to avoid confusion later on.

Tips & Tricks

  • Do not fertilize.
    • This is done at the transplanting stage. Use an all-purpose fertilizer, or this seed starting one. Make sure to follow the instructions carefully. Don’t over fertilize!
  • Move lighting accordingly.
    • Monitor seedlings as they grow to ensure they are maturing evenly.
  • Plant more than you need.
    • Don’t count your chickens before they’ve hatched, right? Same with seeds. Some won’t work out, and that’s okay. Plant more than you need and thin out later.
  • If needed use a fan for better air circulation.
    • Our goal here is to replicate the conditions these plants would normally receive outdoors. A little fan will strengthen their stems and leaves so they aren’t too shocked when they get exposed to the great outdoors later on.
  • Don’t become too attached. Accidents happen.
    • Colin dropped one last year… it’s okay! Don’t be too hard on yourself!
  • Label everything, do not trust memory. 
  • Watering will change as plants grow, adapt accordingly.
    • Monitor how your seedlings are doing on a daily basis to ensure they’re happy and healthy.

As always, if you have any questions, we’re here for you! Please feel free to reach out to us on social media, by phone, or by coming into the store.

Happy gardening!

Brandi

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Calcium Nitrate:

Mix Ratio: Apply ¼ teaspoon per 2 litres once a week. I full scoop makes 24 litres or 6 gallons.

Recommended preventing blossom end rot and calcium deficiency in tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, pumpkins, zucchinis, and cannabis. It is also highly beneficial for all leafy greens and cruciferous plants (cabbage, Brussel sprouts, broccoli etc.).

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

Iron Chelate

Mix Ratio: Soil drench – apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water once every 2 weeks. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

Mix ratio: Foliar spray - apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 4 Litres of water once every 4 weeks. A full scoop makes 24 litres or 6 gallons.

Recommended for correcting iron deficiency in a variety of plants grown in high pH soil. Iron deficiency is diagnosed by the yellowing or pale colour of the plant leaves, especially in young growth.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

High Drainage

Moisten Thoroughly before use: (optional) Peat moss can be water-repellent. Before use, thoroughly wet the soil.

Potting:

Use pots with drainage holes to prevent root rot.

Fill the pot with the moistened soil, leaving enough space for the plant's root ball.

Gently place the plant in the pot and fill in around it with more soil.

Firm the soil gently.

Watering:

This is crucial! Water frequently, especially during hot weather.

Check the soil moisture regularly by sticking your finger into the soil.

Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry.

Fertilizing:

Since peat moss is low in nutrients, fertilize regularly with a balanced liquid fertilizer.

Consider Amendments:

For plants that prefer more moisture retention, you can add a small amount of coco coir or vermiculite to the mix.

Important Notes:

Overwatering: While frequent watering is necessary, avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot.

Plant Selection: This type of soil is well-suited for seed starting as well as plants that prefer well-drained conditions, such as cacti, cannabis, succulents, and some tropical plants.

Adjustments: You may need to adjust your watering frequency based on the specific plant and environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, sunlight).

Alberta Blend

Moisten the Peat Moss before use: (optional) Peat moss can be hydrophobic (water-repellent) when dry. Before using it, thoroughly moisten it. You can do this by placing it in a container and adding water, then squeezing out any excess.

Mixing: (optional) Our Private Label Alberta Blend comes ready to use, expertly formulated for your plants, either indoors or outdoors.

If you're using this mix as your own base, combine it with worm castings, volcanic dust, vermiculite, etc. to improve nutrition, drainage and/or aeration.

Potting:

When potting your plants, ensure that the pot has drainage holes.

Fill the pot with the moistened potting mix, leaving enough space for the plant's root ball.

Gently place the plant in the pot and fill in around it with more potting mix.

Lightly firm the soil around the plant leaving ½ inch to an inch of space at the top for watering.

Watering:

Because peat moss retains water, be careful not to overwater.

Allow the top layer of soil to dry out slightly before watering again.

Fertilizing:

Since peat moss is nutrient-poor, you'll need to provide your plants with regular fertilization.

Use the correct fertilizer according to the plant's needs.

20-20-20 Houseplant Complete

Mix Ratio: For all houseplants apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water once a week once every week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

It is highly recommended to start your houseplants on a fertilizer regime, but only while they are actively growing. Houseplants tend to have a period of dormancy (normally winter, however poinsettias, Xmas cacti etc. are exceptions to this rule) and whilst dormant they should not be fertilized.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

22-6-15 Plus Herb and Leafy Vegetable

Mix Ratio: For all herbaceous and leafy vegetable plants apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water once a week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This fertilizer is ideal for all leafy vegetables and for herbs. This product can be used year-round if you grow herbs indoors.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

20-12-28 Tomato and Fruiting Vegetable

Mix Ratio: For all fruiting vegetable plants apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water once a week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

Use this fertilizer on planting day and push right through until the plant either stops producing or reaches the end of season. In the case of transplanted seedlings this fertilizer should be used after the 2 feedings of Js - Jump-Start & Transplant.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

10-52-10 Jump-Start & Transplant

Mix Ratio: For outdoor summer plants apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water. Normally two applications, one at the time of transplanting, the second application can be done one week later from the initial fertilizing. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

Mix Ratio: For seed starting - apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water. Do not over water seedlings, feed every 2 weeks until transplanted outside. Feed them at the time of transplanting outdoors, then one more feeding a week later. After that start using the correct fertilizer for type of plant. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

 e.g. Vt Vegetable: Tomato and Fruiting for tomatoes, F3 Flower flower flower for bedding out/annual plants.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

4-5-28 Perennial Complete

Mix Ratio: All perennials (in warm seasons) apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water every 2 weeks from spring to late summer. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This formula is professionally blended for all your perennials. For existing perennials, we recommend starting to fertilize when you see active growth (i.e. new shoots etc.). For new perennials we recommend that you start fertilizing at time of planting and go through to mid August.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

28-14-14 Plus Trees and Shrubs - Fruit and Flower

Mix Ratio: Trees and/or shrubs (in warm seasons) apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water per week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This formula is professionally blended for all your fruiting and flowering trees and shrubs.

For existing trees, we recommend starting to fertilize when you see active growth (i.e. bud break, new shoots etc.).

For new trees we recommend that you start fertilizing at time of planting and go through to mid August.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

14-7-21 Tree and Shrub Leaf & Needle

Mix Ratio: Trees and/or shrubs (in warm seasons) apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water every 2 weeks. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This formula is professionally blended for all your evergreen/coniferous and deciduous trees and shrubs.

For existing trees, we recommend starting to fertilize when you see active growth (i.e. bud break, new shoots etc.).

For new trees we recommend that you start fertilizing at time of planting and go through to mid August.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

15-10-30 Flower, Flower, Flower

Mix Ratio: Outdoor plants (in warm seasons) apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water twice a week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This formula is professionally blended for all your annual plants. We recommend starting to fertilize at time of planting outdoors and go through to first frost.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.