- Sowing in a square in your garden box
- Thinning your seedlings: what, why, and how
- Pre-sprouting snow peas, winter peas, and sugar snaps
- How to pre-sow tomatoes indoors
- Pre-sowing courgettes, cucumbers and pumpkins
- Afharden van zaailingen
- How long do your seeds stay good?
- Are your old seeds still good?
- Harvesting seeds yourself
- How do you take care of pre-sown plants?
- Sowing in a square in your garden box
- Thinning your seedlings: what, why, and how
- Pre-sprouting snow peas, winter peas, and sugar snaps
- How to pre-sow tomatoes indoors
- Pre-sowing courgettes, cucumbers and pumpkins
- Afharden van zaailingen
- How long do your seeds stay good?
- Are your old seeds still good?
- Harvesting seeds yourself
- How do you take care of pre-sown plants?
Technieken
(Voor-)zaaien
Ice Saints and hardening off your seedlings
Hardening off, what the heck is that?
Yeah, it's a weird term. But that's what it's called when you gradually let your pre-sown plants get used to the outdoors. You do this before you move them into your garden box for good.
All seedlings that you pre-sow indoors need this special treatment. But it's especially true for summer vegetables.
Yeah, it's a weird term. But that's what it's called when you gradually let your pre-sown plants get used to the outdoors. You do this before you move them into your garden box for good.
All seedlings that you pre-sow indoors need this special treatment. But it's especially true for summer vegetables.
Tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini absolutely cannot stand the cold. Just 1 night of frost and they're done for.
It doesn't even need to freeze. If the temperature gets below 5°C, they can die. If it's below 10°C, they won't grow.
So: only move these plants outside when the weather gets warm enough.
It doesn't even need to freeze. If the temperature gets below 5°C, they can die. If it's below 10°C, they won't grow.
So: only move these plants outside when the weather gets warm enough.
What do Ice Saints have to do with it?
The Ice Saints are Catholic saints: Saint Pancras, Saint Servatius, and Saint Boniface. Their name days are May 12, 13, and 14.
Folklore tradition tells us that the very last frost of the spring should occur on these days.
There's little chance of frost after that, and temperatures rarely reach below zero.
Rare, but it still happens sometimes. So keep a close eye on the weather forecast mid-May.
Folklore tradition tells us that the very last frost of the spring should occur on these days.
There's little chance of frost after that, and temperatures rarely reach below zero.
Rare, but it still happens sometimes. So keep a close eye on the weather forecast mid-May.
Cold Sophie
The Catholic Church is full of saints. May 15 is the name day of Saint Sophia of Rome. She died a horrible death in 305. And she's the patron saint of late frost and thriving crops. As the saying goes:
"No summer before Boniface, no frost after Sophie."
But you know, that no frost part is never guaranteed. In 2020, it froze on the night of May 15-16. The ground temperature went down to 7°C in some parts of the Netherlands. Not common, but it happens.
"No summer before Boniface, no frost after Sophie."
But you know, that no frost part is never guaranteed. In 2020, it froze on the night of May 15-16. The ground temperature went down to 7°C in some parts of the Netherlands. Not common, but it happens.
Hardening off seedlings
Plants you grew on the windowsill or in the greenhouse can't be transplanted into your garden box straight away.
You have to get them used to the outdoors: to the wind, the changing temperatures, and the direct sunlight. That's called hardening off.
Preparing your plants for the wind is equally important: plants need to be strong enough not to get blown over.
Think of your plants as bodybuilders. A bodybuilder can't lift 100 kg without training. If they try, they'll injure their muscles, back, and knees.
Step-by-step and little by little. That's how training works for people. Same goes for pre-sown plants.
Preparing your plants for the wind is equally important: plants need to be strong enough not to get blown over.
Think of your plants as bodybuilders. A bodybuilder can't lift 100 kg without training. If they try, they'll injure their muscles, back, and knees.
Step-by-step and little by little. That's how training works for people. Same goes for pre-sown plants.
How do you get your plants used to it?
Most plants are pretty tough. But if you put your pre-sown, frost-sensitive plants outside without getting them used to it first, they'll stop growing or even die.
So, on May 15 - or a few days later - put your plants outside for an hour. The next day, 2 hours. The next day, 3 hours. Keep going like that slowly: every day a little longer.
So, on May 15 - or a few days later - put your plants outside for an hour. The next day, 2 hours. The next day, 3 hours. Keep going like that slowly: every day a little longer.
Hardening off with the Planty Gardening app
The app will help you through every step.
It waits until May 20, - just to be on the safe side - but it also depends on the weather. If it's been nice for a while and the weather forecast looks good, you can start earlier and harden off faster.
If it's still cold outside, wait a few more days until it warms up.
It waits until May 20, - just to be on the safe side - but it also depends on the weather. If it's been nice for a while and the weather forecast looks good, you can start earlier and harden off faster.
If it's still cold outside, wait a few more days until it warms up.
Heb je een kas - of een lichte en onverwarmde serre - dan kun je vanaf begin mei je voorgezaaide plantjes daarin zetten.
Laat je ze daar ook verder opgroeien, dan hoef je ze uiteraard niet af te harden. Maar zijn ze voor buiten, dan moet je ze wel weer eerst laten wennen aan de buitenlucht. Net als de plantjes van je vensterbank 🙂
Laat je ze daar ook verder opgroeien, dan hoef je ze uiteraard niet af te harden. Maar zijn ze voor buiten, dan moet je ze wel weer eerst laten wennen aan de buitenlucht. Net als de plantjes van je vensterbank 🙂
The right spot
Choose a nice sheltered place outside to leave your plants while they harden off. A sunny spot, but not in the burning sun.
After about five days, most of your plants will be ready to stay outdoors.
As long as the temperature at night doesn't drop below 10 °C. If it does, then you should bring the plants inside in the evening. To a room that isn't heated.
After about five days, most of your plants will be ready to stay outdoors.
As long as the temperature at night doesn't drop below 10 °C. If it does, then you should bring the plants inside in the evening. To a room that isn't heated.
Overigens is dat niet meteen een ramp: de plantjes groeien daar wel weer overheen. Maar hoe meer gezond blad hoe beter, dus voorkom die schade en zet in de (half)schaduw.
Na een dag of vijf zijn je plantjes redelijk gewend en mogen je planten buiten blijven. Ook 's nachts, als de nachttemperatuur maar niet onder de 10 graden zakt. Doet ie dat wel dan zet je de planten ‘s avonds nog binnen: op een plek zonder verwarming.
Na een dag of vijf zijn je plantjes redelijk gewend en mogen je planten buiten blijven. Ook 's nachts, als de nachttemperatuur maar niet onder de 10 graden zakt. Doet ie dat wel dan zet je de planten ‘s avonds nog binnen: op een plek zonder verwarming.
Transplanting to your garden box
At the end of May or beginning of June your plants will be completely accustomed to life outside. You can transplant them into your garden box:
Enjoy pre-sowing - you'll be glad you did it 🙂
PS:
Looking for the best tomato, cucumber, and zucchini to grow on your trellis?
We've picked them out for you: you'll find them in the shop.
Looking for the best tomato, cucumber, and zucchini to grow on your trellis?
We've picked them out for you: you'll find them in the shop.
(Pre-)sowing
- Sowing in a square in your garden box
- Thinning your seedlings: what, why, and how
- Pre-sprouting snow peas, winter peas, and sugar snaps
- How to pre-sow tomatoes indoors
- Pre-sowing courgettes, cucumbers and pumpkins
- Afharden van zaailingen
- How long do your seeds stay good?
- Are your old seeds still good?
- Harvesting seeds yourself
- How do you take care of pre-sown plants?