Seeds are living but in a state of hibernation. With the addition of warmth and moisture, when the Moon is correct, you’ll stir them into expansion and start them on their path to adulthood. You may choose which seeds you’ll bring to life, and if you want them to awaken.
Moon Phase
It’s nearly like magic and very convenient for the Moon Phase Gardener. Some seeds are so large and sturdy they may be implanted directly in the soil of the garden. Others are tiny, or have these exacting requirements of humidity and warmth they need special soil, sterile conditions, and careful attention.
Get an Early Start
Some crops, like tomato plants, need a fairly long growing season and in colder climates need you to start them indoors weeks prior to the weather permits planting them in the backyard.
Look through the screen of seeds in your nursery or hardware store. Each seed packet carries directions concerning the length of the growing season in addition to light and temperature requirements for the plant. If you’re a beginner, stick to the simple ones the first year. Plants such as tomatoes, peppers and herbs are best for the novice gardener.
When the moon is at the appropriate stage (i.e. waxing or growing in size) place sterile peat moss or vermiculite and the seeds to containers that are large enough to take the seeds out of germination to transplanting. If done properly, and you’ve sized the planting medium correctly, the plants will have the ability to be placed straight in your garden without the need to move them from pot to pot as they grow. I’ve found that 4″ peat cubes are the easiest to work with.
Sow seeds by placing two or three in every dampened container. Do not include any fertilizer now. Cover with newspaper and place them in a warm location. Check daily for signs of germination. Remove the paper when this occurs and transfer the young plants into a location where they can find some light.
Once the seeds have germinated, and create their first true leaves, thin them out by eliminating all but the hardiest seedling from each holder. When the weather has stabilized, the moon is at the appropriate stage and the seedlings have grown to transplant size you’ll have the ability to plant them directly into your backyard.
Now that the plants are thinned them out thoroughly and put on a tray in a big plastic bag. Make some ribs to support the plastic bag from old coat hangers or elastic rods to allow for expansion.
Keep your miniature greenhouse at a temperature of approximately 75° at a bright, but not shining, place. Make certain they stay moist but not soaked. Add a weak starter solution of compost tea or a fantastic organic fertilizer into the water to encourage hardy evolution of the plants and their root systems. Monitor the moisture attentively. If the soil is too wet the plants will die from dampening off disease, too dry and they won’t grow as well as they should.
When plants are 4″ to 6″ high, and the weather and moon phase allow, they are prepared to be hardened-off and transplanted to the garden. Your plants will take a period of adjustment to outdoor conditions before placing them out.
Hardening Off
Harden off your plants by moving them out into a shady and wind protected area. Do this about two weeks before setting them out in the backyard. Start by putting them out in the middle of the day for a couple hours. Gradually increase the duration of time that they’re exposed to the outside and in a few days they could stay outside. Watch them carefully to see they don’t wilt and keep them sheltered from the wind.
Transplanting into your Garden
Transplanting should be done on a cloudy day, early in the morning or in the day once the sun isn’t shining directly on them. Water them with a weak starter solution after they’re set into the ground and keep the soil moist until they are created.
Make certain to observe the appropriate moon phase planting times (i.e. waxing moon) when performing your gardening chores. This will improve the development of your crops.
