Growing outdoors: When to get started?
You’d think it’s best to start when winter is over and the sun has made its return, but you’d miss out on some valuable months if you did that. You can get a head start in February by beginning to germinate your plants. Besides, you can already prepare the soil outside if you’re planning on growing in open ground.
From the first seed
If you’re cultivating from seed, you’ll germinate seeds first. You can put the seeds in a seed tray with soil, but be sure to use Seeding and cutting soil, like Plagron’s specific product. Don’t put too many seeds in one compartment. Around four seeds to a compartment are enough. Alternatively, you could germinate on cocoplugs, like those in Plagron’s Seedbox. Within ten days, you’ll have little plants: seedlings. The soil in an uncovered seed tray will get dry quickly. A germination box with a plastic lid is your best option, since this will preserve humidity. After a short while your young plants will need more room. Transplant them all to their own little pots and put them in a light spot in a heated room, for example at a south facing window.
Preparing the soil
Even outside, you can already prepare things in February. If you’re planning to grow in open ground, you could look into improving your soil. Professional cultivators advise to break up the soil and mix in compost, fertiliser or even worms. These products add nutrients to the soil and improve the structure of the ground. This gives a plant more room to spread its’ roots and improves the water holding capacity, drainage and airiness of the soil. Some species of worms even make their own ‘humus’, which is very beneficial to plantlife. You can bring all these advantages home if you use Plagron Mega Worm in your garden. Just break up the soil and mix in Mega Worm according to the instructions on the bag.
Ready to get out there
Once it’s the middle of May and your seedlings have turned into young plants in the growing phase, they can move outside. Had you started with seeding or planting only now, you’d have missed out on several months of growth. Then again, nothing is stopping you from germinating or raising another batch of plants so you can enjoy another harvest later on in the summer.
Do you want to know more about growing outdoors?
In our download area you can find our whitepaper guide "Growing outdoors for beginners in 8 languages". Check it out right away.
Are you a first time grower and do you need help? Order our Startersguide here.
