Sample Chapter – Gardener’s Guide to Marigolds – Propagatio

Sample Chapter
Gardener’s Guide to Growing Marigolds
Chapter title -Propagation:
Gardener’s Guide to Growing Marigolds
Propagation:
Marigolds may be propagated by planting seed, layering the plans or taking cuttings.

Seed

Plant marigold seed about six to eight weeks before the last spring frost. Use a soilless potting mix, available at garden, hardware or farm stores, to plant he seeds. Fill bedding packs, pots or other suitable container with the soil, place the seeds about 1 inch apart on the soil surface and cover with about 1/4 inch of soil. Use a fine mister or watering can with a fine rose (sprinkler head) to wet the soil thoroughly and place the pot in a sunny window or grow light. Marigold seeds need a temperature of 70 – 75 degrees and should germinate in five to seven days. Once the seeds have germinated, remove the plastic and continue growing on until the first true leaves have emerged.
Here is a general guide for starting plants from seed.
You will need a few essentials to get started, such as a container to start the seeds in, some potting soil, labels, a south facing window, and, of course, the seeds.
Containers
Containers for starting seeds indoors can be purchased from a garden center or from seed catalogs. Typically, a seed starting pot will be shallow and have a clear plastic lid which fits tightly. The clear cover admits needed light; and creates the humid environment which is required by the germinating seeds.
Soil Mix
Choose a commercial soil germination media to fill your indoor seed containers. Commercial seed starting media is sterile, which is essential to prevent diseases like damping off from wiping out newly germinated seedlings. Seed starting media will have a fine texture, which allows the seedlings to push through easily.
Labels
It is important to label the seeds when they are planted, especially if you are new to growing seeds indoors and are starting several different types at the same time. The labels should be impervious to the damp conditions they will be exposed to. Be careful what type of pen you write with, as some types of ink may run or fade in the moist air under the cover. Suitable labels can be purchased from a garden center or seed merchant, as well as marker pens.
Seed
When purchasing seed, make sure that the seed is fresh and has been packaged for the current year. There should be a notation somewhere on the label stating the year the seed was packaged for. Fresh seed usually germinates quickly, with a high percentage of seeds sprouting. Older seed, especially if not stored properly, may germinate poorly, if at all. Purchase the seed from a reputable garden center or seed catalog.
Preparing the Containers
Fill the seed containers with the sterile potting media. The soil should be moistened well, but not soaked. Use a spray bottle or a watering can with a very fine rose to water the soil. A spray bottle with an adjustable nozzle works best, especially when the seedlings first emerge and are quite tender.
Sowing the Seeds
Sow the seeds in the media using the seed package as a guide. Most seed packets will have a lot of valuable information printed on the back, so don’t throw it away. There will be information about how to sow the seed, lighting conditions the plant needs, spacing, etc. After sowing the seed, cover the seed thinly and water with a fine mist of water.
Aftercare
Once the seeds are sown, the containers should be covered and placed in a south facing window for maximum sunlight. Failing that, a west or east window will work, but the resulting seedlings may get leggy if not given additional light. A fluorescent fixture is best for this, as it will provide the needed spectrum of light. Incandescent bulbs will not provide suitable light for most seeds started indoors. Gro lights that provide the ideal lighting conditions for growing plants are also available at home improvement and big box stores.
Rewarding
Starting seeds indoors can be a fun and rewarding experience. So many types and varieties of garden plants can be grown from seed, dwarfing the selections of bedding packs and pots available from garden stores. When you decide to grow your own seeds, you truly enter a whole new world of gardening.