Seed Starting 101
By: Lindsey Poe on January 9, 2025 As we begin a new year, I can't help but look forward to the warm spring days ahead. I feel a renewed excitement for the farm and a strong desire to dig my hands into the rich, earthy soil once again. Although most of the demanding farm tasks won’t start for a few more weeks, there are several other chores that need to be completed to prepare for the upcoming season. From organizing tools and checking inventory to designing garden layouts, my list is quite a long one. Fortunately, it’s a list I enjoy. One of the first winter chores I must tackle is seed starting, the most crucial step in beginning this year's garden. Of all the gardening tasks I do on the farm, seed starting is absolutely one of my favorites. I never get tired of feeling (and smelling!) fresh soil in my hands, prepping hundreds of trays to be planted, and then popping thousands of tiny seeds into their new temporary home. There is just something so rewarding and so therapeutic about it all. Save Money Not only is seed starting a great way to get a jump on your garden, it also is a wonderful way to save money on plants. Most annual cut flower seeds are fairly inexpensive, especially compared to what you would pay for a full grown plant. I start almost all of my seedlings on the farm directly from seed. While you could opt to buy seedlings or transplants from a box store or wholesaler, I have found that the plants that I start are typically healthier and already well adapted to my farm's growing conditions than those I could have purchased elsewhere. Plus, it's a really great feeling to walk through your garden when everything is full and blooming and to remind yourself that you started each plant from a tiny seed. Find Your Spot As a commercial flower grower, I start most of my seeds in a temperature controlled building under grow lights. If you don't have this setup, don't worry! You do not need a separate building to grow a few trays of flowers. Just find a spot in your home or garage that you can dedicate as your growing space, a spot that won't be in the way of your daily activities. Supplies Needed To get started, the first thing you need is a good, quality seed starting mix. If you have questions about what you are buying, be sure to consult with your local garden center. They should be able to help you find what you need. You will also need something to start your seedlings in. Here on the farm, we use plug trays and flats like the ones pictured below. This is not necessary for the backyard grower or folks who are only growing a few plants. You can use individual plant pots, washed out yogurt containers with holes in the bottom, egg cartons, etc. Use whatever you have on hand that can hold the soil, the plant and that allows water to drip through the bottom. You will also need plant tags, dome lids, heat mats and grow lights. Start Your Seeds Once you have your seeds, soil and trays, it's time to start planting! Start by moistening your potting soil. You want to water it thoroughly, but not over soak it. Just a good, even watering will do. Next, fill the seed trays or pot to the top with your wet potting soil. You will want to tap the trays on the table once filled, to make sure that the soil settles. Once your tray is filled, take your finger (or an old pencil), and poke a shallow hole in each cell. The hole should be twice as deep as the seed's length. After your holes are completed and ready, open your seed packs and drop 1-2 seeds in each hole. At this point, you will either lightly cover your seeds with soil or you will not cover them at all. This entirely depends on what you are planting. Some seeds require light to sprout and some require total darkness. This information can be found on the back of your seed packet. If the seeds that I am planting require light, then I barely press them into the soil. If they require total darkness, I cover them with a fine layer of soil. You can cover the seeds with a light dusting of vermiculite instead of the potting soil, if you choose. Some growers prefer vermiculite over a layer of soil because they feel that it is easier for the sprouts to grow through. Be sure to label each try with the name of the seed that you planted. You can buy blank garden labels from any garden center. Just be sure to use a permanent marker, so your writing does not wash off or fade. Dome Lids, Heat Mats & Lights For seeds to sprout, they need a certain amount of moisture. Plastic dome lids can help to create a humid, greenhouse-like, environment that helps maintain moisture levels around the seeds. Having the right moisture levels help to speed up germination rates and prevents the soil from drying out too fast. It is possible to grow seeds without domes, but your success rate will not be as high or as quick. For that reason, I highly recommend using them. Most seeds also need heat to germinate. Heat mats provide a consistent, warm temperature for the seeds that help them to germinate faster and turn into healthier, stronger plants. Leave your seed starting trays on the heat mat only until they germinate. Once they have sprouted, you can move them off the mat. After your seeds have sprouted, they need light. If you are growing them anywhere besides outside or in a greenhouse, then you will need to provide them with the right amount of light. Just sitting the newly sprouted plants by a window is not good enough. In fact, that is the quickest way for your plants to grow too fast and become "leggy". You need a light system that you can position directly overhead of them and that you can raise as the plant grows. Ultimately, you want your light source to be about 3 inches over your seedlings. If you hang your lights on chains, you can easily raise them as needed. Be sure to give the plants around 15 hours of light a day. Be sure to check your seedlings daily and water them when the soil appears dry. Growing On Congratulations! You have successfully started a plant from seed and it has now grown into a healthy seedling. Now, it's time for your seedlings to head outside to prepare from their new home in your garden. But, before your tiny babies can spend all of their time outdoors, they need to be "hardened off". The process of "hardening off" is just a way to allow your plants time to gradually adjust to their new environment. To do this, start by placing your plants outside in a protected area for a couple of hours each day. Be careful not to place them anywhere to hot or too windy. After a few days, you will increase the amount of time that they are outside, then move them back in. you will continue to do this until the plants can spend a full day outside. At this point, they are now ready to be planted! I hope that is seed starting post has helped you to feel encouraged and ready to start your garden! What growing tips and tricks do you have to share? I'd love to hear them in the comments below! Happy Planting! XOXO
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AuthorHi! I'm Lindsey. I love all things gardening and nature. My days are spent enjoying my family, my pets (dogs, cats, chickens, goats, and ducks!), good books, homemade kombucha & sourdough everything! -XOXO Archives
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