Seedlings are important to farmers, as they are the basis for planting next year’s crop. Planting quality seedlings is essential because it will lead to a higher crop yield. However, most farmers do not take enough care in selecting the quality seedling they will plant. This can lead them to incur losses in their crops and money and contribute further decline in global food security. To avoid these losses due to improper selection of quality seedlings, farmers must ensure that their selected plants are high-quality before planting them into the soil.
1) Astro Arugula
This peppery, bright green can brighten your salad mix. It is heat tolerant, tends to grow quickly, and offer a signature piquant peppery flavor, which stays mild when the plant matures. You can grow it year-round if you live in mild climates. When grown indoors, the first harvest can be done within three weeks and the final harvest after five weeks to avoid bolting.
2) Dianthus
This seedling is typically grown in the Spring season. You can harvest flowers after they have bloomed or leave them in your garden to achieve extra color. You can keep the stems attached if you want to use the blooms in an arrangement or wrap. The first harvest can be done indoors within seven weeks, and the final harvest after ten weeks to avoid bolting.
3) Ironman Kale Mix
if you live in mild climates, you can grow this seedling throughout the year. When grown indoors, the first harvest can be done within two weeks, and the final harvest after four weeks to avoid bolting. You can harvest at the baby leaf stage for use in preparing salads or leave them to mature for a mélange of kales for braising or juicing.
4) Dappled Butter Lettuce
if you live in mild climates, you can grow this seedling throughout the year. When grown indoors, the first harvest can be done within three weeks, and the final harvest after six weeks to avoid bolting. You can cut the leaves as required or harvest the full head after the lettuce appears to have some firmness.
5) Classic Butter Lettuce
if you live in mild climates, you can grow this seedling throughout the year. When grown indoors, the first harvest can be done within three weeks, and the final harvest after six weeks to avoid bolting. You can harvest the entire plant after the leaves start forming a dense head which you can feel after gently squeezing the outside. When its stems start to fatten and elongate, you should immediately harvest the plant before the leaves become small and it turns bitter.
6) Swiss Chard
If you live in mild climates, you can grow this seedling throughout the year. You can place this hardy plant anywhere on your farm, such as shaded places when harvesting it for salads at approximately 2 to 5 inches. It is recommended that you place the seedlings near the top level so that roots and stalks can grow thick and encourage larger leaves suitable for cooking. When grown indoors, the first harvest can be done within four weeks, and the final harvest after six weeks to avoid bolting. You can cut larger leaves that grow on the outside first near the base at 15-24 inches to use them in sautees, braises, stir-fries, and wilted salads.
7) Alaska Nasturtium
It can be planted during the Fall and Spring seasons. The first harvest can be done after five weeks, and the final harvest after eight weeks. This vine-like and trailing flowering plant is supposed to be planted at the lower levels of your farm to enable it to hang down. Its leaves will become more fibrous when they grow. You can harvest the flowers anytime except when waiting for the seed pods.
8) Bok Choy
if you live in mild climates, you can grow this seedling throughout the year. The first harvest can be done after three weeks and the final after six weeks. This seedling will grow quickly because it is a smaller variety. Experienced farmers recommend planting anywhere in your garden but remember to monitor bolting and caterpillars. After the bok choy has grown up to 5 to 6 inches, you can harvest the whole plant, even the growing medium.
Different seeds can be planted in the garden to produce a high-quality harvest. You can use many combinations of seeds for your crops, but some are better than others. High-quality seedlings such as Astro arugula, dianthus, ironman kale mix, dappled butter lettuce, classic butter lettuce, Swiss chard, and Alaska nasturtium are certainly one of the best combinations.