No, seeds do not germinate faster with fertilizer than without. FAQs Do seeds germinate faster if fertilizer is applied? You can over-fertilize plants and seedlings and too much fertilizer can cause unwanted straggly and unhealthy growth, or ultimately result in a salt build-up around the plant’s roots - which can cause the plant to shrivel up and die. An example of a slow-release granular fertilizer is the Miracle-Gro Shake 'n Feed All Purpose Plant Food available at Amazon. Try to ensure that no granules touch the stems or roots of the plant, as it could burn the plant’s tissue. However, many are slow-release and will only require one application until the plant is large enough to be planted out in the yard in a flower bed, vegetable garden, or as part of a container garden. Granular fertilizers take longer to break down and therefore do not have the nutrients available to the plants as instantly as liquid ones. An example of a liquid fertilizer is the FoxFarm Liquid Plant Food available at Walmart. When using a liquid feed, it is advised to never apply it to seedlings at full-strength - always dilute it down. You can use either liquid or granular fertilizers to feed seedlings, but never apply fertilizer at a rate higher than recommended on the container. It is best to opt for a balanced fertilizer or one with a higher ratio of nitrogen and phosphorus. At this stage of the seedling’s life, nitrogen is also very important. Immature plants need more phosphorus than older ones and the nutrient is important when it comes to ensuring young plants are healthy. The Shasta Master Gardeners Program can be reached by phone at 53 or email The gardener office is staffed by volunteers trained by the University of California to answer gardeners' questions using information based on scientific research.Seedlings want a fertilizer that is high in phosphorus, which is the nutrient that is responsible for strong root growth and helps with photosynthesis. This makes for a much stronger and resilient plant because of the much larger root zone. For larger seedlings you can lay them into a trench and bury them. Tomato starts are almost always leggy when grown indoors, so when transplanting outside you can remove the lower leaves and bury a good portion of the stem in the planting hole. Historically we do get frosts up until mid-April however this year seems to be an early spring. More: Gardening during drought: Prepare your California garden for less waterĬheck the long-term weather forecast before transplanting seedlings in the garden to make sure there won’t be any cold snaps or hail for the next 10 days. We do so until finally we are opening doors and running fans at night to get plants used to cooler nighttime temperatures and wind. Each day, gradually increase the time you leave seedlings out until you’re leaving them out all day and overnight for a day or two before planting them into the ground.Īt Shasta College, where we have thousands of seedlings to harden off at once, we start by shutting off heat in the greenhouses and then opening the doors for a couple of hours.
For the first day set seedlings out in the shade for around an hour and then bring them back inside. If you’re using a grow light, adjust lights to mimic daylight hours so seedlings become adjusted normal daylight hours.Ī week before you plan to transplant out into the garden, start introducing the seedlings to outdoor conditions. Using a fan will also help prevent seedling from becoming leggy - tall and skinny - and will help prevent fungal diseases. This will simulate outdoor windy conditions and will prompt seedlings to start developing stronger stems. You can also add an oscillating fan on the lowest setting so the seedlings get a gentle breeze. If plants are on a grow cart, move it to a cooler room in the house just make sure the seedlings are still getting adequate light. Start by dialing down the heating mat or greenhouse heater by a few degrees over a period of a few days.
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