Jumping into Spring with Seedlings

By Sharon Vaughan Smith and Christie Nix, Fairfax Master Gardeners

Have you noticed that the weather is getting warmer and the days are getting longer? You may wish for more time outdoors while you are at school and less time indoors doing math problems or studying your spelling words. If you are feeling restless, you might be experiencing spring fever. This doesn’t mean you have a fever or are sick. It just means you are excited about getting outside to enjoy the warm sunshine. This is very normal. Many adults experience spring fever, especially gardeners.

bean seedlingSpring is a great time of year. A long time ago, this time of year was called “springing time,” and it referred to plants “springing” from the ground. Eventually the name was shortened to springtime and today we refer to is as just spring. The reason plants are springing up now is because what they need to grow is more available. Water in the form of rain is happening frequently. You have probably heard of the saying “April Showers Bring May Flowers.” Warmer temperatures outside help soil temperatures rise. Depending on the type of seed, most seeds will germinate or start to grow when soil temperature reaches between 55 degrees to 70 degrees F.

Some gardeners just can’t wait and start growing seeds indoors while the weather is still cold. Once both the weather and soil are warm enough, it is safe to plant seedlings or baby plants outside in the ground or in a larger pot filled with additional soil. If the seedlings get the right amount of water, sunlight and nutrients from the soil, they will grow to mature, adult plants. These big plants might be flowering plants like nasturtiums, or they may produce fruits that you can eat like bean plants.

Remember it is important to check on plants every few days to see how they are doing outside. Sometimes plants may need water, especially if it hasn’t rained and the ground is dry. Plants in pots dry out faster than plants in the ground. You can test the soil for moisture by putting your finger in the dirt by the stem of the plant and pushing down to your second knuckle. If the soil feels moist, there is no need to water. If the soil feels dry, then it is time to give the plant a drink.

It is important to always water the soil around the base near the bottom of the stem of the plant. Water slowly and gently so that the water seeps deeply into the ground. Avoid getting the plant leaves, flowers or fruit wet. Too much water on the plants might cause the plant to get a disease.

Plant life cycle

            Plant life cycle

The mature plant will be able to reproduce through its flowers. Once pollinated by the birds, bees, bugs, bats or butterflies, if fertilization was successful, the flowers will develop seeds, or the flower will produce a fruit, like a bean or a tomato, with seeds inside. This process of going from seed to seedling to mature plant to flower/fruit and then seed again is called the plant life cycle. Once seeds are created, they will remain dormant or asleep until the conditions are just right for it to spring from the ground as a seedling and start the life cycle all over again.