AeroGarden Heirloom Salad Greens Seed Pod Kit, 3
- INCLUDES SALAD GREENS SEED KIT - 3 pre-seeded Grow Pods, featuring gourmet lettuce varieties: Black Seeded Simpson (1), Deer Tongue (1) and Parris Island (1)
- PLANT TO PLATE – Non-GMO seeds; No herbicides; No pesticides. Harvest lettuce directly from your AeroGarden for the freshest salad possible.
- COMES WITH EVERYTHING - Also includes a 3 oz bottle of patented, specially formulated Liquid Nutrients, grow domes for optimal germination, and a Growing Guide with step by step instructions.
- GERMINATION GUARANTEE - 100 Percent Germination Guarantee; if a Seed Pod doesn't sprout, we'll replace it for free.
- WORKS WITH ANY AEROGARDEN - For use in all AeroGarden models.
Necessary environment for proper seed germination
It is interesting to know how seeds germinate and grow and develop into healthy seedlings to establish a successful crop. Few decisions are more important to successful vegetable production than the selection of an appropriate
The seeds must be of high quality, clean, and purchased from a reputable seed company. With very few exceptions, it is a requirement that certified organic growers use only certified organic seeds and seedlings.
All well-developed seeds contain an embryo and in most plant species a food reserve wrapped in a cuticle that covers the seed. The seeds generally "wake up" and germinate well when the soil is moist and the temperature conditions are favorable for them to grow. But not all seeds have the same germination requirements, so it is important to know what each type of seed needs.
Temperature, humidity, oxygen and light conditions must be suitable for the seeds to germinate. All seeds have optimal temperature ranges for germination (Table 1). The minimum temperature is the lowest temperature required for the seeds to germinate effectively. The maximum is the highest temperature at which they can germinate properly. Any temperature above or below these can damage or cause the seeds to revert to a resting state. When temperatures are optimal, germination is fast and uniform.
All seeds need adequate moisture and oxygen to germinate. It is very important that there is good contact between the seed and the soil. To plant directly in the ground, a seedbed with a fine-textured soil that does not compact too much is recommended. For greenhouse seedlings the growing medium must be soilless, but moist and fluffy. The soil or growing medium must have enough moisture so that the seeds can absorb the water to begin the germination process. Like any other living organism, seeds also need oxygen to breathe, and the oxygen comes from the air that circulates in the soil when it is not compact or too humid.
Not all seeds have the same light requirements. Most seeds germinate best under dark conditions, and light can prevent germination. However, some others need light to germinate. But once the seeds have germinated and emerged from the soil or growing medium as seedlings, they all need sunlight to grow.
TABLE 1.- OPTIMAL SOIL TEMPERATURES FOR THE GERMINATION OF VEGETABLES
Growing vegetables Minimum (° C) Optimal Range (° C) Optima (° C) Maximum (° C)
Beetroot 4 10-29 29 29
Beans fifteen 15-29 26 35
Cabbage 4 7-35 29 37
Cauliflower 4 7-29 26 37
Celery 4 15-21 twenty-one 29
Chard 4 10-29 29 35
Cucumber fifteen 15-35 35 40
Eggplant fifteen 23-32 29 35
Lettuce 1 4-26 2. 3 29
Cantaloupe fifteen 23-35 32 37
Onion 1 10-35 2. 3 35
Parsley 4 10-29 2. 3 32
Pea 4 4-23 2. 3 29
chili fifteen 18-35 29 35
Pumpkin fifteen 21-32 32 37
Spinach 1 7-23 twenty-one 29
Butternut squash fifteen 21-35 35 37
Sweet corn 10 15-35 35 40
Tomatoes 10 21-35 29 35
Germination management for seedling development
Germination test on old seeds
Seeds are generally stored from one year to the next and if stored incorrectly or for too many years, they can lose vigor and germinate poorly when planted. There is a very simple germination test that can determine whether stored seeds are viable. The test consists of taking a sample, about 25 seeds, gently wrapping them in a damp paper towel without being soaked for five to ten days. After those days have passed, unwrap the paper towel and count how many seeds have germinated; if they are less than 85 to 90%, it is better to discard them and throw away the rest of the stored seeds, buy new seeds.
Uniform germination
We know that seeds need proper conditions to germinate quickly. Whether the seeds are planted in trays in the greenhouses or directly in the field, the goal is for all the seeds to germinate at the same or close to the same time and grow at the same rate. A uniform transplant tray is easier to handle and will lead to a better harvest. Uneven germination due to slow growth, differences in soil moisture or temperatures, or differences in depth when planting seeds can result in seedlings of different sizes, half will be ready to transplant directly into the ground and the other half will be too small, with the roots curled up without the roots easily coming out of their cells.
In the greenhouse, one way to achieve rapid and uniform germination is to use the germination mats underneath the trays. These mats will allow you to set the temperature according to the requirements of the seeds. Make sure to provide optimal temperatures for crops. Providing good oxygen circulation to the seedlings during germination will help them control disease as they begin to grow during this early stage of growth.
We cannot control field conditions like we can inside greenhouses, but we can still take steps to ensure that seeds planted directly in the field germinate evenly. A fine-textured soil bed provides good seed growth conditions, good soil-seed contact, and the ability to plant them at a uniform depth. Planted when soil temperatures are near optimal will speed germination and seedling emergence. Sometimes in the rush to sow in the spring, the seeds are sown in soils that are still very cold. This can result in slow germination, weak and diseased seedlings, and their death. It is better to delay planting until the soils have warmed up.
Seedling development
The optimum temperature for seedling growth may be different from the optimum temperature for germination. In Table 2 the range shown temperature day and night that are best for the growth of seedlings in a greenhouse where they can control temperatures. Lower temperatures generally cause seedling growth to be slower and higher temperatures make it faster.
All seedlings need plenty of light to grow. If the light levels are low or if the seedlings are too crowded, the stems become very long as the plants seek more light which results in weak and elongated transplants. If the light levels are low in the greenhouses consider adding supplemental lights to have a better light level for the seedlings.
All crops need an acclimatization period before transplanting them from the greenhouse to the field or they will be damaged by adverse conditions. To acclimatize the seedlings, they are gradually exposed to the conditions they will have directly in the field. Most transplants can be acclimatized by gradually reducing the temperature in the greenhouse and / or reducing watering. The seedlings that are acclimatized in this way will be in a better condition to withstand the transplant and to continue growing without interruption directly in the field.
TABLE 2.- TEMPERATURE AND TIME REQUIRED FOR THE GROWTH OF THE SEEDLINGS.
Growing vegetables Day (° C) Night (° C) Time (weeks)
Broccoli 15-21 10-15 5-7
Cabbage 15-21 10-15 5-7
Cauliflower 15-21 10-15 5-7
Celery 18-23 15-18 10-12
Cucumber 21-23 15-18 3-4
Eggplant 21-26 18-21 6-8
Lettuce 12-18 10-12 5-7
Cantaloupe 21-26 18-21 3-4
Onion 15-18 55-15 10-12
chili 18-23 15-18 6-8
Butternut squash 21-23 15-18 3-4
Tomatoes 18-23 15-18 5-7
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