Tremendous satisfaction can be gained from growing your own plants from seeds. Some plants, like tomatoes and peppers, need to be started early by sowing seeds indoors. Ellen Speicher, Mill Creek MetroParks Assistant Horticulture Director, answers some questions about sowing seeds inside.
Q: I want to start seeds indoors. How much light will the seedlings need?
ES: Lots! Usually more than a windowsill can provide during winter. Also, growing seedlings will lean over toward the light from a window. An inexpensive way to grow better seedlings is to provide artificial light. Set up a work light with 2 – 4 cool white bulbs and suspend the lights only a couple of inches above the seedlings. Raise the light to keep it above the plants as the seedlings grow. Your plants will grow strong and straight!
Q: Why is temperature important when starting seeds indoors?
ES: There are two different temperatures that help grow strong seedlings. First is the germination temperature, which is the temperature at which the seed sprouts best. This temperature can be higher than the temperature in your home so it helps to use a heat mat especially made for seed starting. As soon you see green growth, remove the heat mat and grow the seedlings at the second temperature range, called the “growing on” temperature. This temperature is often lower than the germination temperature and allows for strong seedling growth. Most seed packets list these temperatures, which vary depending on what plant you are growing.
Q: When should I start my seeds?
ES: Check the seed packet for the proper sow date. Often the date will be written as a certain number of weeks before the last frost in spring. Count back from the last week in May to find out which week you should start your seeds inside.
Q: What is “hardening off”?
ES: This is the process of getting your tender indoor seedlings adjusted to the outdoors. Once temperatures are warm enough to grow the plants outside, slowly adjust your plants to outdoor conditions by putting them outside for a little longer every day. Start by setting them in the shade and gradually get them used to being in the proper amount of sun.
Need seeds? Visit Fellows Riverside Gardens to borrow seeds from our new Seed Library! “Check out” donated flower, herb and vegetable seeds to take home and plant in your own garden. In the fall, harvest seeds from your plants to bring back to the library to restock the Seed Library for next year.
https://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.png00Mill Creek MetroParks Staffhttps://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.pngMill Creek MetroParks Staff2014-03-12 10:43:452014-03-17 11:00:47Starting Seeds Indoors
Richard Wyant of Youngstown, Ohio won first place in the ‘Monochrome’ category for his photograph, Girls Skipping Stones.
RS: My father, Gus Wyant, was an amateur photographer back in the days of dark rooms, chemicals and film developing so I suppose that’s where my original interest [in photography] came from. I’ve been taking pictures of the MetroParks for approximately 6 years. My brother Tom invited me along for a walk on the trails and I’ve been taking in the sights of the MetroParks ever since. I believe we’ve walked every trail on the map and some that aren’t.
My winning photo was taken a few hundred yards down from the Mill. The young ladies throwing rocks in the creek seemed to take me back to a time when life was slower and enjoyment was simple and innocent. This is my second First Place win in the photo contest. A few years ago I won first place in Creative Photo with my Mill Mosaic picture. I’m looking forward to getting a better camera (I’m using a Kodak 12 megapixel camera now) and getting some pictures of the wildlife inhabiting the MetroParks.
The Nature Photography Exhibit runs through March 9 at Ford Nature Center. Click here for event details. Look for more profiles of photographers featured in the exhibit all this week!
https://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.png00Mill Creek MetroParks Staffhttps://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.pngMill Creek MetroParks Staff2014-03-07 14:45:202014-03-07 15:34:28Nature Photography Exhibit 2014 | Photographer Profile: Richard Wyant
Sue Ramdin of Canfield, Ohio won first place in the ‘Wild Animals’ category for her photo, Junco, and also took first place in ‘Wild Scenes’ for Lake Milton State Park!
LC: How did your interest in photography begin?
SR: When I was in high school I got my first “real camera” and have been photographing since.
LC: How many years have you been taking photographs?
SR: 40+ years.
LC: Tell us about your winning photographs.
SR: Junco: I’ve taken many photos of stationary birds in my yard and I wanted to take it up a notch and get them in flight. This was taken in my back yard.
Lake Milton: I was going home from the lake at the right time and the light was perfect so I pulled over and photographed it. I was at Lake Milton from the Ellsworth Road bridge looking south east.
LC: What kind of camera/gear did you use?
SR: Canon 5D Mark ii
LC: What’s your day job?
SR: I am a registered nurse at Akron Children’s Hospital of Mahoning Valley, and I have no desire to earn a living with photography. I am lucky enough to be able to do it simply because I’m passionate about it.
The Nature Photography Exhibit runs through March 9 at Ford Nature Center. Click here for event details. Look for more profiles of photographers featured in the exhibit all this week!
https://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.png00Mill Creek MetroParks Staffhttps://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.pngMill Creek MetroParks Staff2014-03-05 10:27:072018-05-25 15:52:34Nature Photography Exhibit 2014 | Photographer Profile: Susan Ramdin
Starting Seeds Indoors
/in Blog/by Mill Creek MetroParks StaffTremendous satisfaction can be gained from growing your own plants from seeds. Some plants, like tomatoes and peppers, need to be started early by sowing seeds indoors. Ellen Speicher, Mill Creek MetroParks Assistant Horticulture Director, answers some questions about sowing seeds inside.
ES: Lots! Usually more than a windowsill can provide during winter. Also, growing seedlings will lean over toward the light from a window. An inexpensive way to grow better seedlings is to provide artificial light. Set up a work light with 2 – 4 cool white bulbs and suspend the lights only a couple of inches above the seedlings. Raise the light to keep it above the plants as the seedlings grow. Your plants will grow strong and straight!
Q: Why is temperature important when starting seeds indoors?
ES: There are two different temperatures that help grow strong seedlings. First is the germination temperature, which is the temperature at which the seed sprouts best. This temperature can be higher than the temperature in your home so it helps to use a heat mat especially made for seed starting. As soon you see green growth, remove the heat mat and grow the seedlings at the second temperature range, called the “growing on” temperature. This temperature is often lower than the germination temperature and allows for strong seedling growth. Most seed packets list these temperatures, which vary depending on what plant you are growing.
Q: When should I start my seeds?
ES: Check the seed packet for the proper sow date. Often the date will be written as a certain number of weeks before the last frost in spring. Count back from the last week in May to find out which week you should start your seeds inside.
Q: What is “hardening off”?
ES: This is the process of getting your tender indoor seedlings adjusted to the outdoors. Once temperatures are warm enough to grow the plants outside, slowly adjust your plants to outdoor conditions by putting them outside for a little longer every day. Start by setting them in the shade and gradually get them used to being in the proper amount of sun.
Need seeds? Visit Fellows Riverside Gardens to borrow seeds from our new Seed Library! “Check out” donated flower, herb and vegetable seeds to take home and plant in your own garden. In the fall, harvest seeds from your plants to bring back to the library to restock the Seed Library for next year.
Nature Photography Exhibit 2014 | Photographer Profile: Richard Wyant
/in Blog/by Mill Creek MetroParks StaffRichard Wyant of Youngstown, Ohio won first place in the ‘Monochrome’ category for his photograph, Girls Skipping Stones.
RS: My father, Gus Wyant, was an amateur photographer back in the days of dark rooms, chemicals and film developing so I suppose that’s where my original interest [in photography] came from. I’ve been taking pictures of the MetroParks for approximately 6 years. My brother Tom invited me along for a walk on the trails and I’ve been taking in the sights of the MetroParks ever since. I believe we’ve walked every trail on the map and some that aren’t.
My winning photo was taken a few hundred yards down from the Mill.
The young ladies throwing rocks in the creek seemed to take me back to a time when life was slower and enjoyment was simple and innocent. This is my second First Place win in the photo contest. A few years ago I won first place in Creative Photo with my Mill Mosaic picture. I’m looking forward to getting a better camera (I’m using a Kodak 12 megapixel camera now) and getting some pictures of the wildlife inhabiting the MetroParks.
The Nature Photography Exhibit runs through March 9 at Ford Nature Center. Click here for event details. Look for more profiles of photographers featured in the exhibit all this week!
Nature Photography Exhibit 2014 | Photographer Profile: Susan Ramdin
/in Blog/by Mill Creek MetroParks StaffSue Ramdin of Canfield, Ohio won first place in the ‘Wild Animals’ category for her photo, Junco, and also took first place in ‘Wild Scenes’ for Lake Milton State Park!
LC: How did your interest in photography begin?
SR: When I was in high school I got my first “real camera” and have been photographing since.
LC: How many years have you been taking photographs?
SR: 40+ years.
LC: Tell us about your winning photographs.
SR: Junco: I’ve taken many photos of stationary birds in my yard and I wanted to take it up a notch and get them in flight. This was taken in my back yard.
Lake Milton: I was going home from the lake at the right time and the light was perfect so I pulled over and photographed it. I was at Lake Milton from the Ellsworth Road bridge looking south east.
LC: What kind of camera/gear did you use?
SR: Canon 5D Mark ii
LC: What’s your day job?
SR: I am a registered nurse at Akron Children’s Hospital of Mahoning Valley, and I have no desire to earn a living with photography. I am lucky enough to be able to do it simply because I’m passionate about it.
The Nature Photography Exhibit runs through March 9 at Ford Nature Center. Click here for event details. Look for more profiles of photographers featured in the exhibit all this week!