Seed Starting – My Recipes

Starting Seeds
If they are large seeds like bean or squash seeds…1-2 seeds per cube will be fine.
If the seeds are smaller, feel free to use 3-5 seeds per cube.

Start pepper seeds (sweet and hot) in damp paper towel.

Tomato seeds

Keep the seeds at a consistent temperature of 70–80°F (21–27°C). You can use a heat mat to keep the temperature consistent.

Keep moist

Keep the growing mix moist but not wet. You can water from the bottom by placing the container in a tray of water for a few minutes. You can also mist the seeds.
Provide light

After the seeds germinate, move them to a sunny location with at least 14 hours of light per day. If you’re growing indoors, you can use a grow light or place the pots in a sunny window. If the seedlings are growing toward one side, rotate them every day.

Spinach seeds: Spinach germination likes a dark cool place to germinate. Best in medium temperatures between 55–65°F and usually take 7–10 days to emerge. Soil temperature: Spinach seeds germinate poorly in warm temperatures. Temperatures above 80°F can reduce germination rates to 30%.
Seed preparation: To improve germination rates and decrease germination time, you can soak seeds in room temperature water overnight and then let them air dry for a couple of days. This process is called “priming”.
Thinning: When the plants have 3–4 true leaves, thin them so they are 4–6 inches apart. In aeroponics, 1-2 to 1 rockwool.

Kale seeds can germinate in a variety of conditions, but here are some tips that can help:
Soil temperature: Kale seeds germinate best in soil that’s between 50–85°F (10–30°C).
Germination time: Kale seeds usually germinate in 6–12 days.
Germination in paper towels: You can germinate kale seeds in paper towels and a sandwich bag to avoid using seed starting trays.

Tucson Seasonal Growing

In Tucson, Arizona, the best time to start seedlings for spring planting is in December through February. The last frost date is usually around mid-March, which is the ideal time to plant warm-season crops.

Here are some tips for starting seeds in the Tucson desert:

Start tomato seeds early

Sow tomato seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost, which is usually early December to mid-January.
Consider the weather

Unseasonably warm weather can cause cool weather plants to bolt and go to seed instead of growing.
Plant wildflowers in early winter

Desert wildflowers need the soaking rains of autumn and winter to germinate, so it’s best to plan and plant them by early winter.
Cover seeds

Keep seeds covered before they sprout to create a greenhouse effect and keep them moist.

The ideal soil temperature for planting most plants is between 65–75°F.

Garden planting calendar for Tucson: https://www.harvestingrainwater.com/resources/plant-gardening-calendar/