Life Cycle of Plant Growth
Seed
The first step in any plants’ life cycle is the seed. The type of seed you choose to plant is the most important step in determining the success of a farm. Some seeds have biological perks within them to help resist pests or fungus. Other seeds are generated to bare more fruit more quickly while others can resist harsh environmental conditions. Be sure to understand the needs of your garden to determine what seed is best for you. Seeds properly stored in a cool environment (like a refrigerator) will have a higher chance of success and produce a more bountiful harvest. This beginning step of the plant life cycle can be performed by nearly anyone by just dropping a seed in the ground or inserting it into one of the growing mediums.
Germination
The second step in the life cycle of a plant is the germination phase. In order to obtain good germination, you want to keep your seeds in a moist, dark environment. Imagine a seed out in the wild, underground, without sunlight, soaking up all the nutrients the earth has to offer - that is what we try and replicate in our farm. A plant germinates when you can see the first cotyledon. A cotyledon is not a true leaf, but instead produces nutrients and gathers sunlight for the embryo of a plant. Once you see the first cotyledons begin to sprout, you want to expose your little plant babies to sunlight! Once the plants are exposed to sunlight, they will begin to produce true leaves.
Transplant
The true leaves will continue to grow and, after a few weeks (depending on the type of plant), you will be able to transplant your plants into your garden. This step is not required in all types of farming as sometimes you might just put your seed directly into the ground. If, however, you used a growing medium to begin your plant growth, once the leaves reach about 1.5 inch to 2 inches in height, it is a good sign to transplant them into your soil garden or hydroponic system. It is important not to transplant too late as the plants will become leggy and weak because their roots did not have the space to grow properly to generate a supportive structure.
Harvest
Once transplanted, the plants will require a few more weeks to be ready to be harvested! In lettuces and leafy greens, you will be able to see steady growth in your plant throughout its life cycle, and then harvest the whole veggies head. For herbs, like basil, you can either harvest the whole plant all at once, or clip leaves occasionally for continual use. For fruiting plants like cucumbers, tomatoes, or peppers, you will be able to see fruit begin to appear after a few weeks. With these rooting vegetables, it can be helpful to string up the plants on a vertical wire to help them grow straight and tall. You can harvest your fruit throughout the plants’ life cycle. Harvesting fruit throughout their growth is actually helpful to the plant as it can then begin to transfer nutrients to other fruits on the plant once you harvest the older ones.