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Proper watering in the greenhouse can make or break the success of seed germination and seedling growth. Shallow flats of potting soil dry out fast, especially in hot greenhouses. Over-watering can overly cool the soil, cause roots to rot, as well as increase the risk of damping off and other diseases. 1. Pre-soak flats before planting them. Potting soil will get hydrophobic when it has been allowed to dry out. When this happens, water splashes off the surface of the soil, causing a big mess and washing seeds away. Pre-soaking flats before planting, especially when dealing with dry potting soil,...

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Finding the perfect potting soil for seeding vegetable starts poses a particular problem to the organic and frugal small farmer. Organic potting mixes must use organic amendments to provide enough nutrients released over time to sustain the plant while it's in pot, but not so much initially as to inhibit seed germination or attract pests and diseases. Organic amendments can get expensive, and we are always concerned with what other farming and resource harvesting practices our own farm is supporting. It's an area of small farming that could be a lot more creatively explored than it is, with successes potentially...

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