The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-03-25
Ypsilanti;s Victory Gardens
Indoor Planting

paper towel is allowed to remain
until the young seedlings begin to
appear, after which II is removed.
Sometimes when the atmosphere
Is damp and the soil remains very
moist too long. certain microscopic
fungus organisms stack the young
plants and cause their stems TO
wither at the surface of the ground
so that most OF the plants eventual
ly die. This trouble is commonly
called 'damping-on'' ana the organ
ism that causes 1t is called damp
ing-off fungas". Damping-of Is
more common in greenhouses than
in homes, because the atmosp..eCe
OF greenhouses is usually more
damp. There are several methods
OF prevention. One method is TO
raise the temperature and fan the
air in order to eliminate damp
ness and to increase the evapora-
ton of excess moisture. Another
method is to sterilize the soil by
heating il before the seed is plant
ed, thus destroying not only the fun
gus spores but also any weed seeds
that may be in the soil. Still an
other method is to treat the seed
with organic chemical compounds
containing mercury. Usually this
is done by placing very small
pinch OF mercury compound dust
into a small jar together with the
seed, then sealing the jar tightly
and shaking it vigorously for a
minute or two. after which the seed
is removed and planted. Since
mercury compounds are deathly
poisonous &c the stomach and also
the lungs, il is best not to taste
nor breathe the dust, although the
dust is harmless TO the skin OF
the hands.
Although light is not necessary
for the termination OF many OF the
seeds, nevertheless it is essential
for the proper growth OF the young
plants. IL boxes OF plants are
placed near a window. 1t is con-
sidered best to turn them end for
end every few days to keep the
plants from leaning toward tho
window. 1t is natural for the tenn
perature OF plants to be lower at
night than in the daytime. There
fore II Is unnecessary to maintain
daytime temperatures throughout
the night. The main idea is 10
prevent freezing, but 1t is usually
considered desirable that the night
temperature should not fall much
more than Is or 90 degrees below
the day. temperature.
As soon as the cotyledons Cor
seed leaves) are fully expanded
and the first true leaves begin to
appear. the young plants should be
transplanted into another box or
soil in order to allow enough space
for each plant to develop salts
factorily. This is particularly i'm
portant for cauliflower, tomatoes,
peppers, egg plant, asters and
similar plants. Sometimes carrots.
beets, and onions are spaced prop
GRIP by mere pulling out and dis
carding Tor transplanting) the ex-
cess plants. Cabbage and head
lettuce plants may be either trans
planted or thinned unless it is de-
sired to raise large plants, in which
case transplanting is usually pre-
ferable. The amount OF space to
allow each kind Of plant depends
upon the nature of the plant and
the number Of weeks before it
will be transplanted into the gar
den. Broad-leaved plants such as
celery, tomatoes. peppers, egg
plant. asters, beets, lettuce, and
cabbage require more room than
slender or cut-leaved plants such
as Spanish onions and carrots
which do very we'll when spaced
no more than 1a-inch apart before
being set in the garden. Usually
all OF the broad leaved plants ex.
cepting celery will make full use
OF two by two inch space within
three weeks after transplanting.
They should then be transplanted
again so as to allow four by four
inch space II 1t is not yet time
for them to be put into the gar
den; otherwise they will become
tall and spindling and will lack the
vigor and form characteristic OF
strong plant. A plant is judged
by the diameter and not by the
height of the stem. In some green
houses the four by four space Is
given at the first transplanting so
that no further handling Is neces-
sary. Also, some gardeners who
wish TO have exceptionally large
plants. transplant the seedlings
into four-inch flower pots or into
paper or wooden dirt.bands which
are shaped something like square
bottomless berry box. These pots
or boxes confine the roots so that
few are lost when the plants are
set in the garden. This precaution
enables the plants to mature earli-
err. and is especially helpful for
the first early tomatoes, peppers,
and. egg plants, but is entirely un-
necessary for midseason and late
varieties ip this climate. Special
methods applicable to melons and
sweet potatoes will be discussed
later IN connection with the gen
eral culture OF these plants.