I AM SOWING MY FIRST SEEDS other than onions about now—Brussels sprouts and broccoli today, with tomato-sowing time just ahead here at mid-month—with a comforting, luscious copy of Ken Druse’s just-released paperback edition of “Making More Plants” by my side. Maybe you’d like a copy, too, so I bought two to give away, and meantime, I’m sharing some of Ken’s advice on preventing that most dreaded of seed-starting mishaps: the fungal killer called damping off.
Like all of Ken’s 18 books (!!!), “Making More Plants: The Science, Art and Joy of Propagation” is rich in instruction, but also visually arresting, since he’s an award-winning photographer, too. It covers the botany of propagation—the why’s behind how you can make more plants of a particular species sexually or asexually or both—because as Ken says:
“It is not essential to learn about botany to garden well; it’s inevitable.”
Then in words and intimate pictures he covers virtually every tactic for doing so, from seed-sowing to leaf and root cuttings, to layering, grafting, division and more. The photos are so beautiful, and Ken’s obvious enthusiasm so evident on every page, that I want to try everything. (Just what I need: more plants!)
But trying to be timely and topical, I asked Ken for his most popular seed-starting tip—which he said without hesitation was how to prevent damping off. It’s all in the poultry grit, you see:
How Ken Druse Prevents Damping Off
(By Ken)
A LOT OF PEOPLE have trouble with damping off, the fungal diseases that attack seedlings. I do not use potentially toxic fungicide. Instead (like alpine plant people do), I fill pots to the brim with sowing medium (recipe below), tamp that down, sow and sprinkle on a little more medium to cover the seeds followed by a thin layer of fine chicken grit or very coarse sand.
Flaked granite chicken grit (“starter” is the finest grade for small seeds) is available at all agricultural supply stores. It is inexpensive but comes in large and heavy bags. Perhaps you can get some friends to share the lifetime supply you’ll get for about ten bucks, but it can also be used as a potting soil amendment for improving drainage. (I used to be able to substitute parakeet gravel, but lately the product seems to have changed and is no longer simply very coarse sand.)
Filling the pots to the brim reduces the area where air might be trapped along with pathogens. The inert grit is an inhospitable material for fungal growth.
I sow most seeds in very clean, 3.5-inch square pots, from 6 to 60 seeds or more, depending on their size. Fewer seeds if big (squash, for instance), more if small (flowering tobacco). Cover the seeds to a depth equal to their thickness (Nicotiana and seeds that need light to germinate get no extra medium).
Recipe: The medium can be a store-bought, peat-based sowing preparation with the addition of grit or perlite to “open it up” a bit–improve the drainage–since regular sowing media tend to get waterlogged. The medium can be around 20% grit or perlite.
“I usually use sifted coir (coconut hull fiber– available as compressed blocks from mail-order garden suppliers and better garden centers) and perlite, or sifted compost with perlite. I place compost or any questionably clean seed-sowing medium in a store-bought roasting bag in a microwave-safe pan and zap it for approximately 10 minutes on full power until an instant-read thermometer plunged into the center registers around 160 degrees F.
Be careful opening the bag in case there might be a cloud of steam.
After sowing, I water the seeds from the bottom by placing their pots in a shallow pan of water until the grit on top changes color–from white to gray. The pots may not need watering again until after they are up and growing.
Where to Find Ken and His Books
- Ken will be speaking about winning plant combinations in my town (Copake Falls, NY) on Aug. 18, 2012, when my garden is also open for tours. Details.
- He’ll also be doing a plant-propagation workshop here that afternoon. Details.
- Visit Ken’s website, Ken Druse [dot] com
- Order “Making More Plants” now
- Listen to/subscribe to Ken’s weekly “Real Dirt” podcast
How to Win ‘Making More Plants’
TO ENTER TO WIN A COPY of “Making More Plants,” simply comment below, answering the question: What seeds are you sowing indoors (or out) this spring, and what seeds have given you the hardest time in the past?
I know–some of you are shy (or aren’t sowing anything!) so in those cases just say, “Count me in!” and you’ll be entered for the random drawing. My answer: Besides the Brussels sprouts I mentioned, I’m going to give broccoli another try this year–those will be among my first indoors sowings.
I’ll pick a winner after entries close at midnight Sunday, April 8. Good luck to all–with the contest, and with this year’s seed-sowing adventures.
(Photos courtesy of Ken Druse, from “Making More Plants.”)
I’ve planted Spinach and Khol Rabbi in my raised bed gardens so far this spring. Have not decided yet what other plants I will try growing this year. I have not had much success with gardening, either from my own seeds or from bedding plants I’ve bought. I seem to be better at flowers than I am at vegetables, yet I still want to grow what I can eat and be healthy from it.
Count us in! Thanks for all of your info. We will be starting some peas. Our garlic has survived the few cold nights of late (we too are in the same zone in Columbia County). Probably will buy tomato and pepper plants locally. Can you recommend a source?
This year I’m sowing tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cardoon, basil, Florence fennel and Papaver rupifragum indoors (so far). Outdoors, I’ve started flats of Portuguese kale ‘Beira Tronchuda’, castor beans, bunch onions, Swiss chard and Romaine lettuce. Everything else at this point has been direct-sown in the garden: salad mix, arugula, snap peas, carrots, beets, Swiss chard, radishes.
Eggplant and peppers are the seeds I have most trouble germinating and growing up to strong transplants. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I never allow enough time (pre-last frost date), the seeds take longer to germinate, and by May I give in and buy transplants instead. This year, I’m sticking it out because I found a couple of nice varieties that I know I can’t find at the farmers market or garden center.
Happy Spring!
Right now only planting lettuce and spinach outside. Trouble growing just about everything at one time or other…basil for example usually works well, but sometimes not at all.
I’ve been doing wintersowing for years and love the experience of watching the little seedlings pop up at just the right time in the spring. I also overwinter more and more of my tender plants and would love to have tips and ideas on plant propagation. Thanks for the contest!
Count me in Please! this is great advice as I’ve just moved and have to start everything off from scratch again.
I’ve sown arugula and peas outside…slowing down on indoor seeding because my cat tries to eat the seedlings! But I may try my favorite Pruden’s Purple tomato in a few weeks.
I’ve never grown from seed before, so I’m going to start with some lettuce and see how it goes.
I am sowing tomatoes, peppers, lavendar….I am most excited about the ‘Sweet Olive’ grape tomatoes that have just germinated from seeds I saved from last year!
We’re going to sow several kinds of heritage tomatoes this weekend. The seeds that have given me the worst time have been milkweed, arnica, and comfrey… just took FOREVER to germinate, and the infamous dampening off took a lot of them too!
Having my first spring in Hawaii, I’m happily sprouting melon seeds for the first time. Fingers crossed!
I fell for the hot weather a couple weeks ago and started my seeds. Now I have Ali Baba watermelon seedlings and no where to plant them until June.
This year I’m growing Cour de Bue tomato, Topepo Rosso peppers, Ali Baba watermelon, Charentais melon. Petit Gris de Rennes melon, Suyo long cucumbers, crookneck squash, zucchini, unkown pumpkin and unknown kubocha squash (saved seeds), all from seed in pots. Others, like carrots and peas, are seeded right into the garden.
Peppers I think are the hardest to start from seed. They seem to have a hard time coming up and then, if they do germinate, are still puny a month later at transplanting time.
I am sowing tomatoes, basil, cilantro, and zinnias to start….then lettuce, carrots and beets in the ground soon. Looking forward to spending time with my children in the garden this year! Helping to increase their knowledge, curiosity and the importance of healthy eating and self sustainability. They have a ”Children’s Market” in our town, and my children will be selling starter plants for people to enjoy, while making a bit of money to put in their piggy banks.
I’m going to grow some cucumbers and squash from seed. We’ll see how it goes.
Last year I lost many seedlings that I had wintersown during one unseasonably hot day. I forgot to take the plastic lids off the take-out containers. Fried seedlings! This year I won’t make the same mistake.
I’m trying tomatoes and peppers again this year. I didn’t have much luck with them last year. I could have called them Hot Legs because they were really tall and weren’t good for much else. Actually, of everything I’ve ever grown, I can’t get a pepper plant to do anything from seed.
Count me in! would love another book to add to the shelf. Tomato, cucumbers, melons, and zucchini are on my list to start this weekend. Thanks you for a beautiful site with wonderful information.
I started broccoli, both regular and purple cabbage, several lettuce varieties, kale, collard, and I put out some onion sets. Right now I have tomatoes and peppers going and my cucumber, zucchini, and summer squash are making their appearance. My biggest issue is leggy plants even though I have a nice plant stand with artificial lights. Damping off happened in the past, but so far so good this year.
I’ve gotten so frustrated with damping off that I’ve taken to only starting seeds in a flat outside, under the cold frame. The fresh air seems to help.
I love planting arugula and kale from seed.They always perform well for me. This year, I have also done some lupines and zinnias and sweet peas. I am starting tomatoes and cucumbers too. I have always had trouble in the past with tomatoes, but this year I’m trying to do everything that is recommended. We’ll see!
Ps. I just looked through your slideshow on shade plants, and I’m in love. I have a huge list to take to the nursery next time. thanks for such great information and pictures.
I only sow seeds outdoors since I don’t own any grow lights. This year, I’m growing lots of cool season veggies- spinach, broccoli, boy choy, etc. I’m trying to grow Bells of Ireland from seed again despite having failed in past attempts.
I have tomatoes – White Currant, Japanese Trifele and Green Zebra; peppers – Holy Mole and hmmm, what’s the name of the other one? Basil and shiso.All in newspaper pots on a heating pad in my cold greenhouse. I’m also trying to get some cosmos going, with only a 50% success rate. Out in my raised beds I’ve got two kinds of peas, endive, radicchio, watermelon radish, kales and lettuces and spinach all popping their heads up through the sodden soil.
I have a hard time getting annual, and perennial, flowers to germinate, though I had beautiful scarlet flax waving around everywhere last summer, I’m hoping for more of that.
Count me in!
This year I’ve planted an apple tree, some catnip, various flowers, a few cukes, pepper plants, and a pumpkin. All indoors, obviously, giving them a headstart before the time to plant them outdoors.
In the past I’ve had a rough time with getting my peppers to fruit, but they’re doing fine this time!
I’m growing a lot of seeds this year and trying to chart my progress on my website. The hardest variety from seed for me this year is petunia.
Tomatoes, broccoli, peppers, cauliflower, and various flowers are up under grow lights. Spinach, radishes, carrots, beets, peas, kale, and lettuce are up in the raised beds.
I’m sowing so many things this year since this is my first time in a house for about ten years. Currently my largest seedlings are Nemophila ‘Penny Black’, Helipterum roseum, Gilia tricolor, and Scabiosa ‘Stern Kugel’. Today I potted up two types of Dierama and a few other odds and ends. I have about 20-30 things germinating now or under grow lights and probably about 40 different varieties waiting to be planted. I spent the morning washing plants and I may sow some of the seed tomorrow.
Currently the seeds giving me the hardest time are some South African plants. I tried watering them with a liquid smoke solution to see if that helps.
Err…the above should be “I spent the morning washing pots”. I don’t generally wash plants. =)
Great Advice! I am so happy to see my seeds coming out through the dirt where I planted them in a flat plastic bins. The tomatoes, beans, squash, okra and cabbage showing a sign of life excluded the peppers which I think needs more sunlight. I actually host a weekly gardening link up every Friday on my blog. I’d love for you to drop by and join in.
Oh…this looks like a great book! Thanks for the opportunity!
This is the first spring we’ve had grow lights in the house so I’m kind of going crazy with sowing right now…tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, broccoli, eggplant, loofah, lots of herbs…
I’ve struggled with eggplant in the past…have never gotten it to grow for me…but I’m determined to get ‘em to grow! :-)
Unfortunately I’m not sowing anything right now. I’m in the process of selling my house and buying a new one (both scheduled to close on April 30 th ) so I can’t. I’m sad but also excited to get my hands on the new garden!!
I have difficulty getting parsnips seed to germinate. I planted brand new fresh seed for several years and only a very few plants eventually come up. I’m not giving up..this year I will be in a community garden and hope to have some luck there.
count me in! I’ve sown broccoli, lettuce, onion, parsley, pansy, marigold and even some cannas this year and they have all come right up… i’m keeping my fingers crossed for warm enough weather this summer for corn, peppers and tomoatoes to ripen (I’m in Seattle).
I love your site, Margaret, thank you! Your slideshows are always inspiring…
Indoors, Tomato, Basil, Leek, Brussells sprouts, Bell pepper, Dill, Parsley, Kale.
I have had great success with Tomato and Basil but the rest are new to me. My “secret” to Tomatoes is 24/7 under the grow light. Last year I never turned off the grow light and the plants were short, stout and fantastic. The best yet.
Oh, also direct sowed Fava beans for the first time this year. Wish me luck.
I grow all the plants for our veggie garden from seed as well as annuals and perennials. My greatest challenge now is waiting for the trillium to sprout.
Please count me in.
Each year I try something new to grow from seed and this year I have started more flowers and herbs than usual. My wife and I have a goal of making a hedge of lavender so I ordered some Hidcote Blue. Only after did I begin reading how fussy lavender can be after you have it growing (can’t put it outside until almost fall, needs to be transplanted a few times?). The day I was sowing the seeds I read the package which stated that to get best results, I should have put the seed in the refrigerator while mixed in some soil for a few weeks prior…
I just sprinkled them into my starting pots and we will see what happens. At worst, I lose $3.
Count me in please!
Count me in too! I just planted my carrots, peas, beans and chard, directly in the garden. Unfortunately, I don’t get enough sun to start the seeds inside – but I use raised beds so the soil does warm up early. Love your blog – thanks for all the helpful advice!
Count me in.
Count me in…I want to learn more!
I’m trying to make more hellebores (Foetidus) from seed I collected last summer, following instructions I found online. No luck so far! This year I will try the method outlined here.
I have been sowing my own seeds for years but really find his damping-off hints
helpful as it has been an occasional problem for me. Right now I have over 5 doz. tomatoes and some leeks growing by my patio window. Hope to start digging the earth next week and then will really get busy. Love your blog. Thank you
Tomatoes, including Corne de Buoc, Goldman’s, Eva’s Purple Ball, Matt’s Wild Cherry, Ruth’s Perfect, and Lumpy! Sounds like a party! And of course, lots of basil. Flowers include ceratotheca and shoofly – an exquisite blue flowering annual also called Apple of Peru. My wild indigo is taking a long time – not sure it will germinate.
Count me in! I’d like to start sowing my own seeds!
I already have peas coming up in my garden. I will plant tomatoes, tomatillos, and eggplant indoors. I am trying eggplant again!! I never have gotten to eat any. They end up so small and rot before I can get them off the plants. I will also start okra indoors. My okra does so well here in MA. Who’d believe it? I always thought that they would never mature; that they needed a longer growing season. And the flowers are so beautiful, I would plant them just for the flowers. The okra is an added plus.
I don’t have a garden living in a 740 square foot condo, but I’d love to give a copy of the book to my gardening friend.
My greatest challenge this year is simply the weather. To start (seeds) or not start seeds-that is the question. Inside or maybe outside this year. I have all the usual veggies and can not begin to think about the outcome of our planting season. Timetables, moon charts and old farmers all seem confused. Forsythia and magnolias are almost over and lilacs are almost blooming- Mother Nature is playing a cruel April Fool on gardeners this year.
I’d love to win this one. Happy gardening.