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NOTE
Seeds
are living things, it breathes and is delicate.
There
are 5 very important factors to consider when germinating seed :
Moisture
:
Oxygen
:
Light
:
Temperature
:
Good/Fresh
:
Common
Queries
Q. Do tomatoes and snake beans need staking?
Yes, they do.
Use 1.5M canes or strings for support (only tomato bush varities do not need
stalking).
Q. Can I save my own seed?
Hardly worthwhile drying and cleaning it, because F1 varieties do not 'come
true' from your seed.
Q. Can I grow them in
the same location every year?
Not advisable to do so because it encourages diseases to build up. Either change
the location or the soil.
Q. The flowers have dropped off and no fruit has set. Has it something to
do with the bees?
No. It's usually dry air that prevents the flowers setting. Try spraying the
plant with plain water and make sure that the soil is moist.
Q. Can't I just sow the
seed straight in the garden, no messing around with Seedlings trays?
Yes, particularly with large seeds like sunflowers, nasturtiums, and beans.
Smaller seeds get off to a better start in a seedling tray where you can give
them more attention. It also enables the seedlings to be transplanted easily
with little setbacks when conditions are favorable.
Q. How can I sow very
small seed thinly?
Very fine seeds, like those of begonias and petunia, are difficult to sow evenly.
To make it easier, mix the seeds with an equal volume of sand, place the mixture
of seeds and sand in a folded piece of paper and tap them out slowly with your
finger.
Q. Which is the best weedkiller
to use in a vegetable garden?
Use a hoe.
Q. Should I pick off the
lower leaves?
No, not if they are still dark green and healthy.
Q. Why many seeds are
sealed in airtight foil?
Seeds are living things and need careful handling and storage. Seed life is
adversely affected by excessive humidity and temperature and this is why many
seeds, particularly those sold in warmer areas are sealed in airtight foil.
Q. How do I presprout
pokey (slow to germinate) seeds?
Soak the seed in water overnight, and then place them on a damp paper towel.
Roll up the towel, wrap it in plastic wrap and put a rubber band around each
end to hold it all together. Place the wrapped towel in a plastic bag with a
few air holes punched in it and seal. Keep the bag out of direct light until
the seeds sprout.
Q. Can I speed up germination?
For seeds of morning glory, okra and asparagus, water them the first time right
after planting, with a fine spray of water (room-temperature). Or you can let
them soak overnight, rinse, drain on a paper towel and plant.
Q.
How do I fertilize my vegetable garden?
A. A fertilizer application before planting, when preparing the soil, gives
seeds and transplants the nutrients they need right away. Throughout the season,
application of fertilizer as a “side dressing” keeps them healthy and growing.
Q.
My seeds didn’t germinate. What happened?
A. Germinating seeds need moisture. Small seeds are planted close to the soil
surface, which dried out very quickly. These seeds may need to be watered more
than once a day. Larger seeds, planted deeper, need less frequent but deeper
watering. Over-watering, where the soil surface stays soggy or there is paddling
on the surface, is also a problem. It cuts off air to the seed and encourages
fungus growth.
Side-dressing fertilizer
on established plants.
Weed
Control:
Q.
What do “selective” and “non-selective” mean?
A. A selective weed killer will only control a certain type of plant when used
as directed. For example, Horti Weed N Feed spray only controls broadleaf weeds.
Grassy weeds and turf grasses are not affected. Horti Grass Killer is a non-selective
herbicide, which will damage or kill any actively growing vegetation it contacts.
Insect
Pests & Diseases:
Q.
What does ”systemic” mean?
A. A systemic insecticide is absorbed into the plant and moved throughout the
plant’s sap stream. It controls most chewing and sucking insects.
