timing of starting seeds indoors

14 years ago

Hi All,

I am new to square foot gardening this year. I have started to pick up the ingredients to make my Mel's mix, and am planning on two 8x4 boxes. I plan on using 2x10 untreated wood to make the boxes, as I feel that 6 inches of Mel's mix is just too shallow for my liking.

I was researching timing of starting some seeds indoors and came across a discrepancy. For instance, I was looking at broccoli. Mel's book suggests starting seeds indoors 12 weeks before the last spring frost. I also have a traditional gardening book, and it suggests starting 6-8 weeks prior. That is a HUGE difference! This traditional book states that starting too early will cause very small broccoli heads.......called "buttoning".

Can someone shed some light here? I'm assuming the timing discrepancy has something to do with square foot vs traditional, but I just need to understand how. I don't want to miss the window of starting the seeds!

thanks,

Kim

PS....I live in the Boston area.

Comment (1)

daylilyfanatic4
14 years ago
Hi, I think most of the gardeners here don't go by the letter of the book including myself. I live in SE NY and I start all of my Vegtables by seed.

I actualy just started my broccoli today which is about 8 weeks before transplant which is about 1 - 2 weeks before my ast frost date. Buttoning is cuased by stress on the plant most commonly from cold or lack of moisture. However It's not cuased by cold on young broccoli plants only just before and during head formation. You want to time your broccoli such that about 4 weeks after you plant out night time temperature won't drop below 55* and daytime temperatures won't go over 85*. then count back 12 weeks and plant your broccoli then. 8 weeks later you transplant the broccoli and if all goes perfect you start to form heads in
~ 6 weeks. This is tough to do and is one of the reasons broccoli is tuff to grow.

Most of boston is zone 6 so I would plant broccoli around now.

About the soil depth I have found that plants do better if the soil is deeper I like to aim for 12" although after the winter before I replenish the beds with compost my soil is at 6".

hope this helps.
Related Professionals
Ballenger Creek Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Anderson Landscape Contractors · Bethel Park Landscape Contractors · El Sobrante Landscape Contractors · Fishers Landscape Contractors · Little Ferry Landscape Contractors · Nutley Landscape Contractors · Porterville Landscape Contractors · Soddy Daisy Landscape Contractors · Teaneck Landscape Contractors · Wilsonville Landscape Contractors · Charleston Fence Contractors · Parkway Fence Contractors · Hermosa Beach Fence Contractors · La Verne Fence Contractors