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.”)
Count me in!
Sugar snaps! we sow the first rows in early March, and harvest through June.
Toughest? starting things inside.
I am starting basil inside.
statrting black krim tomatoes, troubles with eggpant start, giave up after several tries
happy spring!
This chicken grit tip is new to me…will try it for sure. Count me in…
Count me in!
Thanks for your wonderful website, Margaret. I always love reading your posts and looking at the photos and cartoons. Keep up the great work and happy spring…..
Mary
I have not sowed any seeds yet, but I am looking forward to sowing some herb seeds soon.
i’m planning on starting some lettuce indoors soon…
lettuce, peas, kale and arugula outside….tomatoes, basil and peppers inside
I’m sowing all in-situ this year! Verbena bonariensis, Papaver rhoeas, Eschscholzia, Myosotis, Verbascum blatteria, and Nigella damascena. Looking forward to seeing Ken Druse speak at MetroHort in NYC.
I’m starting “alcalde improved” chili peppers from northern New Mexico.
I’ve already started gernaium, impatiens, columbine, polka dot plant, dahlia, amaranth, and scabious. Each year, I think I’m limiting my seed starting efforts — and each year I am overwhelmed with how many seedling actually sprout. So far, my two experimental seeds have failed: hardy cyclamen and banana (non-fruit producing). Thanks!
You need two calanders one for the east an one for the south west.
Tons of poppies. Outdoors. Not enough light inside :(
Count me in. I cannot seem to get some hot banana pepper seed i saved from last year to germinate.
I’ve planted herb seeds.
Sweet Peas in the front yard, lettuce in the back.
Count me in! Starting lettuce – I’m late, I know. Have had no success with nicotiana from seed, and I bought some lovely colors with fragrance. sigh…
First year ordering seeds: now I dunno where to start! :)
I just discovered your site and feel I will become an eager student-
Looking forward to it!
‘Count me in’ and warm greetings from faraway Cyprus
I’ve started lettuce, first outside, then inside, then outside…..It’s a little leggy, but plugging along.
The peas are planted. Count me in.
We have started pepper plants and plan to start most of our seeds next year indoors. Onion, lettuce, carrots and radishes are started outside. Count me in.
The first time I sowed peas without a yard, I started them indoors in small containers – not realizing I couldn’t transplant them! They went crazy and grew up the window blinds as a trellis… right now sowing lettuce and arugula, nigella and leeks…
Count me in!
Thanks for all this wonderful information.
May the Force be with you and your seeds!
basil!!! count me in, thanks
Count me in! I’ve had a terrible time with tomato seeds of all things and done great with arugula and spinach.
Count me in!
Sounds like a wonderful book. I am putting in a greenhouse in the lower level to start seeds. Although I volunteer in a community greenhouse and garden, always looking for better or different ways to work with plants. Count me in. Thanks!
I usually sow my tomatoes indoors in August (SW Florida). May branch out to other things soon.
This mild weather has gotten me in the mood to get out and plant my seeds earlier than I usually do – lettuce, onion sets, and sweet peas. Inside I’m trying micro greens and mini sweet bell peppers. Thanks for the chicken grit tip!
I’m starting a couple of varieties of tomatoes, kale, arugula for my home. And at the farm I work on, I’ve started lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes and brussels sprouts in our newly built greenhouse!
I’m sowing Japanese Eggplant, Purple Artichoke and Lemon Lime Basil to
start!
Staring a TON of seeds inside, including rappini broccoli, beefsteak tomatoes, and atomic red carrots (literally, just to name a few). In the past I have had trouble sowing seeds that packaged and sold as seeds. That is to say, mostly tree seeds, conifers and others.
I’ve started eggplant, broccoli, peppers and celery indoors so far. The broccoli and eggplant have just started to sprout. Peppers usually give me the most trouble, I have never started them inside before, thought that might give me an advantage this year. First year for celery, wish me luck!
I started a tray of random things I eat. Romas, herbs, . . . the peppers are doing well by comparison to the rest. But I wonder if the seed starting mix I purchased has enough nitrogen. They’re all starting slowly. The celery is the worst. Anemic! This is my first garden in 25 years, and I’m feeling like a novice–well, I am a novice. Everything has changed! People like you are bringing me along. Thanks!
Peas, potatoes, onions, lettuce and fava beans outside. Tomatoes, peppers and trying celery this year, inside!
I’m going to start some cukes inside this year. I had two plants grow in the garden last year. Made for a very poor satisfaction to my cucumber desires! I’ve never been able to start sweet peas inside.
This will be the first spring I’ll be sowing peppers, tomatoes, and many flowers since my best friend and gardening soul sister passed from breast cancer two years ago. We’d get on the phone, look at seed supply websites, order seeds, and plan our gardens together. My heart just wasn’t in it without her. But this spring the heaviness in my heart has shifted and while I still miss her every day, I feel a sense of her being with me within the peacefulness of the garden. I’ll be sowing peace in my heart along with the seeds.
I am probably jumping the gun and starting WAY too many seeds this season for my measly 4×5 raised bed, but I figure it’s plenty of room if I only have 1 or 2 plants each! That being said, I am sowing indoors: tomatoes, eggplant, sweet & hot peppers, red onions, zucchini, summer squash. Outside I’ve started: green beans, peas, lots of herbs (cilantro, basil, thyme, oregano, parsley, chives; all in pots), mesclun salad mix, spinach, romaine, boston bibb, kale (all of which I have one entire row, with successive planting for all season harvest), small carrots (in container), and probably some more I am forgetting.
AND, for some reason, my peppers are giving me trouble this year! Brand new order, so I don’t think germination is a probably. Maybe a dud package? Everything else in the same light, moisture is doing great!
Thanks for the opportunity!
This is my fourth year to do seeds…This year I am doing 6 types of tomatoes, kholrabi, and peppers (which have not germinated and do not think tabhey will
have a flat of marigolds started for surrounding my vegtable garden
Giant coxcomb from saved seeds…and several more…The column was very helpful..thanks
I only have a small balcony at moment, so I’ll be sowing some easy small climbers like canary bird vine, cardinal climber, morning glory and nasturtiums. Anything else I’ll buy as starters. since I can only grow one of each. I’m tempted to try growing a couple poppy plants from seed. One day I’ll have more space.
Cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, and for the first time – hops, which I impulsively ordered from the seed catalog, hoping to interest my husband – and it’s worked. “Mmm, beer.”
This week I started 8 varieties of heirloom tomatoes. Three weeks ago I started 6 varieties of peppers. This year I went for a lot of the miniature pepper varieties. I also started cardoon from seed. I’ve never grown it before and I was just intrigued by it and I’m looking forward to seeing how it goes. These are all in the basement, started on a grow mat, under a plain old florescent light. I put some pre sprouted peas in the ground outside just this Monday.
I
Count me in. Thanks
blue scullcap, eastern figwort, monkey flower, swamp milkweed, American elm, swamp maple, bladdernut, jack-in-the-pulpit, American hazelnut, meadow rue, arrow arum, various asters and goldenrod — all hand collected local genotype seeds for use in local conservation areas. No luck third year running with clethra (why? everyone else says they can do this) and spicebush. We could use a copy of Ken’s book.
Tomatoes, herbs, pepper and eggplant. The damping off advice comes a little late, alas, for the peppers….
This year I’m sowing some woodland grasses and forbs in my yard.
I sowed carrots, lettuce, oakra, tomatoes, corn, sunflowers, beans, peas. First time with peas we’ll see.
I always have problems with petunia seeds. It works better to buy 1 0r 2 well-branched plants and to make more via cuttings. So far, indoors, I have some very nice geranium and mesclun plants coming along. And numerous small seedlings of basil, parsley, and thyme; 6 types of tomatoes; four types of peppers. Within the next two weeks, I’ll start planting outdoors: peas, potatoes, onions, and more garlic to supplement that which we planted last fall.
I have a terrible time with tomatoes! I’ll have to try the chicken grit to see if that helps me!