Selecting seeds.
For optimum germination, purchase new seed every year from a reliable company. Old seeds may be slow to germinate and often result in uneven spacing within rows or even empty gaps. Seeds saved from last year’s crop increases the possibility of producing plants that do not breed true. Seeds from hybrid plants often revert back to their original parents whose characteristics may be interesting, but sometimes are plants of inferior quality. In addition, diseases can be transmitted from generation to generation through their seed. Seed companies select disease-free plants for their stock. Seeds from heirloom plants should breed true as long as there has been no cross pollination from other varieties.

When to direct seed outdoors.
To insure optimum germination, the soil temperature is of prime importance. The temperature of the soil at planting time affects the rate at which seeds germinate, or if they germinate at all. Some seeds can be planted as soon as the ground can be worked without becoming cloddy (late March to early April). These include beets, peas, radishes, spinach, carrots, and lettuce. Crops that should be seeded when soil temperatures are greater than 60 F and after the danger of frost is past (about mid May) include beans, corn, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, and squash. The seed packets often give information on when a crop should be planted outdoors.

How to direct seed.
First, rake the seed bed as smooth as possible and remove large clods and rocks. Then, mark straight rows with stakes and a string. Make a shallow furrow by drawing a rake handle along the string. The seed packet often describes how deep the seeds should be planted as well as the spacing between seeds. If saved seeds are one or more years old, plant them thicker than you would sow fresh seeds. Generally, the large seeds should be planted more deeply than smaller seeds. Lettuce seeds should be planted very shallowly because light is necessary for germination. After covering the seeds with soil, tamp the soil with a rake or hoe to insure that the seeds have good contact with the soil. After the seeds have germinated and the seedlings are established, thin or remove the extra seedlings to the desired spacing. When thinning, try to save the strongest seedlings. The seedlings of some vegetables, if carefully removed during thinning, can be transplanted and used to fill in empty spaces in the row. Thin root crops before their taproots become fleshy. If the plants are spaced too closely, they become stunted with reduced yields.

Buying transplants.
When buying transplants, select recommended cultivars if possible. Cultivar trials of many vegetables have been conducted at the Experiment Station with the results described in Station Bulletins. Many of these Bulletins can be found online. Choose plants that are healthy, medium-sized, and free of disease or insects. Avoid yellow, spindly, or oversized plants and those with brown spots or markings on their foliage or stems. If possible, buy plants in containers with their root systems intact and protected. Bundles of bare-rooted plants should be fresh, have a good green color, and have moist and healthy roots.

Growing your own transplants.
Growing your own transplants has many advantages. They are often less expensive to grow. They are available when you need them and you can grow the varieties you want. You also avoid the danger of diseases and insects. You can successfully grow transplants of many vegetables by following a few simple guidelines.

To determine when to start your transplants indoors, read the seed packet. Broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower take 5 to 7 weeks to reach the size for transplanting while tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant may need 8 or more weeks.

Containers for growing transplants can be purchased or you can use plastic egg cartons, milk cartons, aluminum foil loaf pans, or pie tins. Provide drainage holes at the bottom of the container before filling the container nearly to the top with a soilless mix. Several commercial sterile soilless mixes are available. Garden soils may be contaminated with disease and weed seeds and drainage is often poor.