Starting Plants From Seeds

Starting plants from seeds can seem overwhelming but it is pretty easy.  The keys to successful germination is the right conditions.  You need the proper soil, light, water and temperature.

I always start seeds in seed starting mix because seed starting mix is sterile already. That’s largely the whole point, it’s a sterile growing medium which helps minimize the risk of fungal organisms. I typically use a brand called “Jiffy”.  It is a blend of sphagnum peat moss, vermiculite, and lime that creates an excellent growing medium for starting seeds indoors. You can use regular potting mix, but you are more likely to run into issues with drainage, moisture retention, pests, soil density, nutrient availability, and more. But when you use seed starting mix or pods, you drastically eliminate the chance of a variety of issues.  So paying a few extra bucks for some potting mix is definitely worth it.

 

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Supplies

• Seed starter biodegradable pots – 2 inch and 4 inch.  Also larger pots to hold the biodegradable pots for stability and transfer.

• Seed starter mix soil (like Jiffy)

• Non-GMO seeds

• Spray Bottle – a good quality 24 ounces
• Plant Labels
• Label Maker (optional) – I use my label maker so that the rain, watering, and sun do not fade my labels

 

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Directions For Starting Plants From Seeds

• The soil from the seed starting mix is very light, so water is not easily absorbed at first.  I use a spray bottle to moisten my soil and daily water my seeds and seedlings.  But here are a few other options:
  • You can slowly water from a watering can until the soil starts to absorb the water
  • You can pre-moisten the soil in a large bucket before filling the small pots
  • You can also water with a spray bottle a few times a day until moistened

• I use a double pot method for my seeds, I use a 2″ biodegradable starter pot inside of a 4″ pot.  That way I do not have to disrupt the roots of my seedlings as I transfer them to a larger pot or in the ground.  So the 4″ pots are reusable once I take the young seedlings out of the remaining soil in the pot.
• Fill the larger pot half way with potting mix, and then place the 2″ biodegradable starter pot with seed starter mix.  Then, surround the 2″ pot with additional potting mix.

• Next, spray the pots with water and wait until the water is absorbed and spray again.

• Once the soil is moistened, I add 4-5 seeds inside the 2″ biodegradable pot and cover with 1/4″ to 1/2″ of starting mix soil.
• Then, spray with water again.  Place in a covered place if going outside or under plant lights, if starting indoors.  The plants will start to sprout within the germination period stated on the seed package.  This is usually within 14 days for most plants.

• Once your seedlings have grown where the roots are crowding or the plant seems it is crowded in the pot, transfer to the ground with the proper soil or to a larger pot for the season.  So if you added more seeds on accident and they all germinated, you can separate them at this point into their own separate containers.
• Soon, you will have new plants to enjoy the whole growing season.

 

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