How to Grow Plants from Seeds 



and protecting them 

 from hot sunlight pro- 

 vides vigorous young 

 plants for transplanting. 

 Time required to 

 grow seedlings for 

 transplanting. To be 

 most successful in grow- 

 ing seedlings for trans- 

 planting, the gardener 

 must have plants of 

 suitable size and hardi- 

 ness ready for planting 

 at the proper time. The 

 length of time required 

 to bring plants to this 

 condition differs for the 

 various kinds of vegeta- 

 bles and for the differ- 

 ent varieties of each 

 kind. It also varies for 

 a single variety according to the differences in the prep- 

 aration and management of the window boxes, hotbeds, 

 cold frames, or seed beds. The beginner can safely 

 start the germination of seeds of cabbages, lettuce, and 

 tomatoes from 5 to 6 weeks before the time for trans- 

 planting to the garden. Peppers and eggplants are con- 

 siderably slower in growth and require a longer time. 

 Corn, beans, squashes, and melons grow very quickly 

 if proper conditions are supplied ; 2 or 3 weeks may be 

 sufficient for these. 



FIG. 117. An outdoor seedbed. Such a 

 seedbed is especially useful for starting 

 seedlings for the autumn crops. 



