Is it difficult to start your seedlings indoors? Not at all! As a customer l’épicier, you are already enjoying the joys of greater food autonomy. What if you took this independence up a notch next summer by having fresh herbs and vegetables at your fingertips to complement your meat and produce meals? l’épicier ? Great, right? You don't even need a green thumb to start your seedlings indoors. Just follow the steps.épicier guides you.

First of all, why start your seedlings indoors?

Since the summer season is very short in Quebec, this technique is used for plants that need more time to reach maturity. If we waited until it was warm enough to plant them directly outside, we wouldn't have had the opportunity to harvest before the cold weather returned.

When to start sowing?

It all depends on the vegetables or plants you want to grow. Be careful not to sow too early, as they may not get enough light to grow.

Mars : pepper, eggplant, broccoli, celery, cauliflower, onion, leek, thyme, sage.
April : cabbage, kale, parsley, tomato, basil, chives, coriander, arugula, green onion.
Mai : cucumber, squash (zucchini and pumpkin), melon.

Start your seedlings

What do we need to grow our seedlings?

Seed starting soil, a bowl, a spoon, small plastic containers, a tray, a clear dome to act as a mini greenhouse, and your seeds. You can probably find almost everything you need in your recycling bin, such as small yogurt pots for containers, a lid as a tray, and a lettuce tray for the mini greenhouse. For the soil, however, you'll have to go to the garden center, as it's recommended to always use new soil.

What are the steps for starting indoor seedlings?

  1. Perforate the bottom of your containers so that water can drain.
  2. Pour some potting soil into a bowl and moisten it. Fill your containers, making sure to leave a 1 cm headspace. If the soil is too dry, moisten it again.

  3. Using the handle of a spoon, dig a small hole, then insert 3 seeds into the potting soil. To find out how deep to plant the seeds, check the back of your seed packet; the information is usually there. Cover with potting soil and moisten again. A little tip: don't forget to clearly label the pots of your different seedlings, as it's not always easy to recognize the plants when they start to grow.

  4. Place your pots on a windowsill in a well-lit area where the temperature reaches 21°C to 24°C. Ideally, choose a south- or southeast-facing window. Don't have one? You can also get a fluorescent or LED grow light.

  5. Place the containers on a plate or tray to collect any dripping water.

Start your seedlings

6. Cover your seedlings with a transparent dome.

7. Remove the dome when your seedlings have two leaves and rotate them regularly so that they do not rot. lean towards the sun.

8. On sunny days, start to acclimatize your seedlings to the outdoor climate. First, take them outside for three days in the shade, then three more days in partial shade, and finally, three days in full sun. Bring them inside for the night.

Once all risk of frost has passed and the outside temperature is warm enough, transplant your seedlings into the ground in your garden or into pots on your balcony.

Start your seedlings

You can grill all these delicious vegetables on the BBQ (check out our Top 8 tastiest vegetables to cook on the BBQ) and you will have enough to prepare delicious fresh salads during the summer. And why not a good homemade pesto with your herbs?

sources:
https://dujardindansmavie.com/conseils-idees/demarrer-ses-semis-de-legumes-linterieur/
https://nutritionnisteurbain.ca/diy/comment-faire-ses-semis-pour-le-potager-1/
https://dujardindansmavie.com/conseils-idees/legumes-a-faire-repousser/
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/mordu/1454/jardinage-faire-semis-soi-meme