Tips from an expert — Master gardener gives advice on starting seeds
Spiking gardening trend takes root in ’21
By Dawn De Busk
Staff Writer
RAYMOND — Like those gardeners who start seeds indoors, it behooves people to be proactive when it comes to purchasing gardening supplies.
The national trend of an increased interest in gardening and spike in gardening supply sales, which began during quarantine in 2020, has taken root in 2021, too.
According to
Local businesses are seeing a continued increase in people getting busy in their gardens this year, especially after warmer weather came sooner.
“We definitely are [seeing that]. We’ve sold even more seeds and potting soil and jiffy planting pots. The sales of all kinds of garden materials have gone up. Not as much as last year, but they’ve definitely gone up,” according to Al Hayes, the owner of Hayes True Value in Bridgton.
“We have a lot of loyal customers. We have also new customers that have moved to the area. It seems the population is growing and we see new faces every day. We also see people who have been in the area for quite a while and never took up gardening before,” Hayes said.
Last year, garden hose and fittings were hard to get, and fencing was difficult to find so suppliers have compensated.
“A lot of companies like Scotts have adjusted to the phenomenon last year. For some companies it is still hard to get gardening tools so they have substitutes that have been sent. For the most part, we’ve been able to get a lot more products because companies have been able to adjust to the pandemic situation,” Hayes said.
“We tried to order soil ahead of time. So this spring, we had it ready. We had most of the product ready. We have a large supply of different soils right now.”
Not only have purchases been fast-paced but also rentals have increased noticeably.
“We rent all kinds of products to get the garden ready: rototillers, dethatchers and aerators for the lawn, hydro-seeders for spreading grass seeds on the lawn,” he said. “We rent tractors and backhoes to bring in soil for people who are building a garden.”
The starters for the garden aren’t on the shelves yet. The shipment of vegetables starters and potted flowers should come in sometime in mid-May, Hayes said.
Soil testing is something that has been more popular than usual this year — for whatever reason.
“We’ve sold a lot more soil testing kits,” he said.
“It is just good practice to test the PH of the soil to see if it’s right, and adjust it so [plants] will grow better,” he said.
At Paris Farmers Union in Raymond, Store Manager Amy Burgerhas noticed more people buying supplies sooner as well as an uptick in soil testing.
“The trend has not tapered off since last year,” Burger said. “The trend is expanding. Everyone is continuing to garden. People are definitely trying out new and adding to. They are definitely expanding upon what they started last year. I don’t see any decrease” in people purchasing gardening supplies.
“People — what they are looking for is something to do right now. People are kind of stir crazy. What people want is to get out in the yard and focus their energy there,” Burger said. “People are more into their gardens. People are more interested in their yards.”
And, people are taking a closer look at the soil.
“We’ve seen influx in people who used [University of Maine] Cooperative Extension,” she said. “Cooperative Extension does free soil tests. Lots of people got soil samples and come in looking for recommended soil amendments.”
While gardening supplies are a hot ticket item, the biggest problem lies in the supply chain rather than with customers buying everything.
“Everything is selling really well. The variety is not there. We may have had 800 options now we have 10,” Burger said.
“Seeds — we haven’t had problems with seeds” being available for customers, she said.
“We’ve managed to get ahead of the curve. We have ordered from multiple sources to makeup for deficits,” she said.
“Trucking seems to be the issue. Lots of businesses that we work with are having difficulty hiring so not being able to load the product on the trucks has slowed down delivery. The supply chain is impacted— that’s what we are hearing from our vendors,” she said.
While the national supply chain might be challenging, at least the weather has been cooperative — prompting people to think about gardening.
“Since we had early spring, it’s been busy. Normally we don’t have a spring that starts in March. This year we did. People wanted to get at stuff earlier than usual. We weren’t ready because it was a month early,” she said. “People are really anxious to get out there.”
By Dawn De Busk
Staff Writer
Starting seeds allows gardeners to grow plants indoors before the weather is agreeable enough for an outdoor garden. It’s giving the plant a boost, some protection from finicky Mother Nature.
Starting seeds indoors involves a lot more than just plopping seeds into the soil. Master Gardener Nancy Donovan provides some valuable tips for partaking in this spring ritual.
B-News: How soon should people be starting seeds indoors?
Donovan: The decision of when to start seeds depends on two factors: 1.) What are the guidelines on the seed packets that you have purchased from reliable sources, and 2.) What is the average last spring frost date? According the Old Farmers Almanacthe average last spring frost for Bridgton is May 14. Another source for information about frost dates is the National Gardening Association. Personally, I am more comfortable delaying the day that I plant vegetables outside. (Currently the vegetables I grow include tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, beets, Italian string beans, and squash). I wait until June 1 to plant my seedlings. It seems that every year I hear that some decide to place seedings in the garden earlier due to warm weather and then they lose the seedlings due to a frost. When I took the master gardener class there were a lot of moans from the gardeners that had first hand experience with planting seedlings too soon.
B-News: Which seeds are appropriate to start in early May?
Donovan: According to the guidelines from the Maine Cooperative Extension, the most common plants to start as seeds indoors include tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower. The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) also has an outline of plants and when to start seeds indoors that is available online.
B-News: Some people have heat lamps for starters — are those necessary or do sunlit windows work?
Donovan: Growing seedlings in sunny windows is not recommended for a couple reasons. In Maine we still have shortened daylight, and we often have days that are cloudy or rainy (or snowy). Also, while the days may be warm, the nights can still be quite chilly which is definitely not conducive to happy and healthy plants. The best way to start seeds indoors is to use supplemental lighting. A great source for guidance is Bulletin number 2751 titled “Starting Seeds At Home” from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service, which is available online. The document provides information about using fluorescent lights, LED lights, grow lights, and also how to build a lighting system. Again, the document is available online.
B-News:Where do you recommend people go to purchase seeds and gardening supplies?
Donovan: We have so many good places here in Maine that I do not have a specific recommendation. The only comment I have is that buyers should make sure the seed packet says that the seeds are dated for 2021. Also, there are organic and non-organic seeds. Regarding supplies, the only recommendation I have is to buy from local businesses as much as possible.
B-News:What should people do to keep soil from getting too moist or too dry for seeds to germinate?
Donovan: Seedlings should be watered thoroughly and then not again when they are almost dry. Watering too much might result in the growth of fungus.
B-News: Is there a way to remedy seeds that won’t germinate?
Donovan: The best way to promote germination is to use a sterile, soilless mix. There are seed-starting mixes that can be purchased, or it is also possible to prepare your own. Personally, there are other things I would rather be doing and so I choose the easy way. I purchase a prepared mix. The only caution I have is that garden soil should not be used as it may contain weeds or pathogens. It also compacts more than prepared mixes. And then there is the pH thing… a very important thing that I learned the hard way. You may also notice that prepared mixes tend to repel water and so the Maine Cooperative Extension guidance is to use warm water in the mix when planting the seeds “…until it is uniformly moist, but not oversaturated.” To keep the soil moist during seed germination it is advised that the growing container be covered with a clear plastic dome or with clear plastic.
There are several reasons that some seeds will not germinate. These include overwatering, underwatering, too cold, too hot, not enough air circulation. The best chance to have successful germination is to ensure a good growing environment. Another important factor about growing successful seedlings is that the first set of leaves that emerge from the soil are called the cotyledons. The cotyledons are actually part of the seed and serve as a source of food for the seedling. The next leaves will look different form the cotyledons and are called “true leaves.” When the seedling has grown enough to see one or two sets of “true leaves” then it is time to plant them into larger containers.
B-News: What do you think about using cardboard egg cartons for a seed starter tray? Any other suggestions?
Donovan: I have read about using egg cartons to start seeds, but have never done it myself. As I read a few reliable sources, the main principles are the same. Make sure there is good drainage and use a sterile mixture and don’t overwater or underwater.
B-News: What is the most common problem that novice gardeners run into when it comes to starting seeds indoors?
Donovan: The most common mistake is overwatering. Of that I have been guilty. I actually note on a calendar when I water a plant in my house so that my plants do not experience drought or pooling. There is a problem called “damping-off” that is caused by a fungus that can develop in warm, moist environments. It can be identified by a rot that occurs at the base of the seedling stem that results in the plant collapsing. Again, using a sterile soilless mix and watering the plant thoroughly and then waiting until it is almost dry before watering again gives the seedling its best chance.
B-News: Which seeds should NOT be started indoors?
Donovan: For this answer I referred to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Bulletin 2751. The advice is based on the fact that some seedlings do not do well when transplanted. These include beans, beets, carrots, corn, peas, spinach, lettuce, turnips, and zucchini.
B-News: Do you recommend soil testing? Where?
Donovan: I always recommend soil testing before planting. When I built my home here in Bridgton, I did not have a lawn put in because I am not fond of mowing. For my back yard I thought it would be really nice to grow low-bush blueberries for myself and for the birds. I purchased 6 plants (not inexpensive, at least for my budget) and planted them in my soil. Sadly, they did not produce any berries. To be totally honest, they died. When I asked someone at a nursery what I may have done wrong, I was asked about the pH of my soil. I think my response was something like “The what of my soil?” As I now know, blueberries thrive in acidic soil. A subsequent soil test revealed that my soil was 7.0 (not acidic). Those beautiful plants would have had a much better chance at survival if I had performed a soil test and applied amendments based on the recommendations from the soil lab before diving in!
The University of Maine Analytical Lab and Maine Soil Testing Service will test a sample of your soil that you can send to them in a box they provide. The soil sample test will record the nutrient levels, the pH, the amount of organic matter, and recommendations for nutrients to be added as well as fertilizer needed and which formula to use. While the soil test purchased at gardening center can measure pH and some nutrients, I have really benefitted from the analysis performed by the Maine Cooperative Extension as I can speak directly with them and they will tell me exactly what I must due to fix my soil. The phone number is 207-581-3591 and the website is https://umaine.edu/soiltestinglab/ The cost is $18.00
After receiving the results of my soil test (every three years), I am in the process of planting perennial beds that should thrive in my soil. In addition to enjoying the many colors afforded by perennials, I also have the goal of supporting pollinators (bees, butterflies, moths, etc) which have been shown to be decreasing. The bees are especially needed to pollinate the garden. And, now that I have learned during the master gardener volunteer classes about the importance of planting flowers native to Maine that support pollinators, I am focused on planting seeds and plants that are native to Maine. Lawns do not support pollinators,
and the herbicides and pesticides are the enemies of pollinators
It may be of interest to readers that the Maine Cooperative Extension has established a Pollinator-Friendly Garden Certification Program. There is an application form at https://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/pollinator-garden-certification/
The major requirement is that 70% of the plants in the area being certified are native to Maine. There are many sources to assist in the determination which plants/flowers are native to Maine. Last year I counted 17 bees on one plant. It was a joyful moment!
