Seed starting is one of the best ways to multiply plants and to get those the big box stores never carry. I give you two big reasons to start your own plants from seed:
- It is far more economical to have large numbers of plants when grown this way.
- Varieties that are rare or nigh impossible to source, otherwise, are available.
- With a little know how most seedlings will sprout and grow successfully for even newbie gardeners (or maybe especially for them!). Here are 5 quick and dirty points to get started on growing gobs of your favorite plants (and word on those not worth the time and effort).
5 Important Tips for Seed Starting
1
Choose your soil with seedlings needs in mind. While you can concoct your own compost mixture, it is far easier and better for most of us to buy ready-made soil formulated especially for seed starting.
Why is this important?
Seeds can be subject to attack by micro-organisms and commercial soil for seed is usually sterilized and safe. Soggy soil is a contributor to failure and seed starting formulas are created for fast draining and keeping air for root health.
2
Moisture levels are key for that reason. From germination throughout the growth process, keep moisture in the soil with proper watering.
Secret Tips for Watering Well
- Start by thoroughly moistening the medium before you plant.
- Use a mister or fine spray from a nozzle for baby plants
- Enclose to conserve moisture and reduce watering.
- Never overwater
- Consider watering from below
- Use a bed of gravel to increase humidity and keep seedlings well drained.
- Try a seed growing system.
Be a Goldilocks
Remember the “just right” medium? Not too wet and not too dry is important for baby plants which haven’t the root structure for surviving over or insufficient moisture. Not too much, but most importantly not too little water, a moist soil is necessary for seed sprouts.
3
Give germination a boost with a heat mat. Prime candidates for early indoor growing are tomatoes and peppers, loving the warmth which mimics their native origins.
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sunflower seedlings soon to be planted
Temperature helps regulate when seeds germinate. Uniform warmth encourages early stage growth rate in the plant cycle.
Use a seedling mat, not heating pad.
4
Sturdy plants are the goal. Proper light gets them there.
You can rig up your own light setup, or buy one. Windowsills work if they have plenty of sunlight and reasonable warmth.
My setup has fluorescent fixtures on adjustable chains.
General Instructions for Lighting
Keep overhead light 4-6inches above the height of the plants. Lights have “color”-cool whites and warm whites.Too much red specturm results in spindly, weak seedlings; blue is good for foliage, but could stunt growth. Full-spectrum light tubes contribute best combination for good growth.
Insider Tips
5
Know your plants. Some must be started early, others do better planted directly in the garden, some like warmth to germinate well, others must have a cold period, these are only a few of the details to know.
Thankfully we don’t have to know about every plant in the world, just the ones we want to grow that season.
A resource book is a great boon for getting this necessary research done. The right book might save time over poring through internet sites. If you only need to know about a few plants, and you aren’t sure whether starting seeds is an activity you will do more than a few times- a trip to the library is the most economical use of your time and money. Sites that sell seeds sometimes have all the info you need, but not always.
If you want an excellent book for your library,The New Seed-Starter’s Handbook is the favorite on my own garden bookshelf. It is a no nonsense, useful paperback. Quite thick with loads of information, it is not one of the glossy, fancy photo-filled books that many gardeners are used to today. I prefer this kind of resource book for my money.
Seed starting basics
