Learning about starting seeds can feel incredibly intimidating when you first start out. There are so many opinions online, then when you finally start researching ~ it seems like it is going to cost a fortune to get started off. Shelving, lights containers, seed magazines, soil…. I get it, I get it…. it’s too much. I’m going to breakdown some of the basics here in a blog series and give you some of the best tips and tricks I wish I could have started out with ~ instead of learning things the hard way, like I have done most times. I catch myself often telling my homeschool kids:

“Just give it a try. If you fail you will learn faster.”

-Mom

Your Why

Learning to start seeds indoors yourself is a very important skill when it comes to being as self sufficient as possible. I think after Covid, many people realized just how delicate our supply chains are. Being able to rely on yourself to start seeds is a huge step in self sufficiency, especially if you learn to save your own seeds as well…but more on that later. My favorite fact about starting your own seeds, is the amount of money you can save! As with most things at the store, the cost of plant starts is just so high ~ and many things can actually be a complete rip off for what you are actually getting. If you have small kids, starting seeds is like this magical, aha!, moment for them. Growing a garden with them will inspire them to try all kinds of new healthy foods.

In this Seeds 101 Series I am going to focus on a few different things listed below. Check our social media accounts of message us here on the blog for the opportunity to share the questions you most want answered.

• Tools you need to get started.
• Finding proper seeds.
• Timing/ When to start your seeds.
• Pro’s and Con’s of starting your own seeds.
• Common Mistakes to avoid.
• Best seeds for starting early indoors.
• Seeds best to direct sow into the garden.
• A bonus post about different Gardening Styles.

The Learning Curve

Before we start diving into information I want to reassure you that, like with most things in life, there is a learning curve. As long as you commit to learning ~ seed starting WILL become an activity that brings you much joy and excitement. Especially during the cold months of winter when we are so desperate for some color and growth in our lives.

I want to be straight forward and show you a glimpse of my first attempt ever at starting seeds YEARS ago.. it wasn’t pretty. Leggy plants that were reaching for the non-existent light that I should have had on them…. located on the coldest front porch that had no heat, in the month of January…. long before I would be able to plant them in the garden properly. I killed many a seedling in that year, despite the lack of a green thumb at that time, I got a job at a local landscaping company taking care of their greenhouses and nursery plants, they taught me a lot of what I know today!

What Plants Need

This may seem elementary to start with explaining the basics of what plants need, but here we are. Plants need 6 basic things to live and thrive: Sunlight, Nutrients, Water, Space, Air and Time. Offering all of these things properly will make sure you get a bountiful harvest no matter what you are growing.

Sunlight

This isn’t surprising, we all can appreciate some sun shining through a window in February…. but here is the thing, sunlight is sparse in the winter months when we want to start seeds. Generally a south facing window will have the most available direct light ~ but it still isn’t usually enough for most plants to thrive. Most plants need somewhere between 12-16 hours of light of day to thrive. This is why we need an artificial light to trick plants into thinking they are basking in sunshine. There are many different styles and price ranges of grow lights available at stores and online, I will share some of the favorites in my next post about tools. Don’t let the lack of a light stop you though, I started many seeds in my big south facing livingroom window!

Nutrients

It’s no surprise that plants need nutrients, the main 3 that are in almost all fertilizers are nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. When starting your seeds indoors you need to be aware if you are starting them in Seed Starting Mix or Potting Mix. The seed starting mix is usual a medium that does not have nutrients – it is merely a spot to get the seeds to germinate. Then seedlings need to either be planted into a garden quickly if it is warm enough, or “potted up” into a container that has a medium like potting mix that includes compost for nutrients. Most people imagine that all plants need to be in soil in order to get these nutrients, but actually technology has made things change when you look into hydroponics and aeroponic systems roots are either suspended in water including nutrients or are being sprayed with a mist with nutrients.

Water

We all need some good clean water, plants are no exception. Water is incredibly important at the germination stage of seed starting. You need to keep the soil moist and the humidity contained, using some kind of dome or cover, in order for the seedlings to successfully emerge from the seeds. Once the seedlings do emerge however, water can quickly become the enemy. Too much water can cause dampening off which is where the stem tissues actually start to rot and beak down at, or below the soil line. Too much water, or inconsistent water can also cause plants to not take up nutrients properly causing different diseases and deficiencies. A good rule of for a green thumb is to make sure that the soil dries between waterings. If you have the tools, bottom watering can also help with some of those over watering issues.

Space

This one of those explanations, where I really should practice what I preach. I am notorious for cramming as many plants as possible into small spaces. It starts out fine, the dense planting can help keep weeds at bay…. but in the long run it really can harm plants. Seed packets will share the proper distance to place plants so that they have the proper space. The biggest issues with planting closer than recommended, is that plants too close together will restrict air flow which quickly turns into moisture problems. Plus, plants that are close together will be competing for nutrients in the soil. Certain plants like Sunflowers even release certain compounds from their roots that will slow the growth, or even kill, certain plants if planted too closely. So when you get to planting, and it looks a little sparse, try to picture how large each of those individual plants will be getting!

Air

Maybe after reading the last two sections, you are getting an ideas about air. Air flow is essential to keep away moisture problems and for growing strong seedlings. When starting seeds indoors, plants are not in the natural elements that we will later be planting them into. By simulating some wind in your seed starting area, plants will grow stronger stems. I have also found that if you are not using the ideal grow lights, a fan will also help so that plants do not get as leggy(fancy term for long, weak, thin stems). Knowing that air is a part of seed starting can seem so simple, but adding a fan really will up your seed starting game.

Time

If you look on seed packet, there should be a note that says “days to harvest” this is explaining how many days from germination it should take to grow a mature plant. It is your job to do a little math and make sure you can give plants enough time to grow to maturity. Learning when to expect your first fall frost will give you an idea of how long your season is and if you can sneak in certain long season crops, like peppers or if you need to start them early inside in order to get them to maturity before that frost.

This is just the beginning

This may seem like a lot of very basic information ~ I want to try and get people started off right with their seed starting journey and get people on the same page. Knowing the 6 basic things that plants need and how they affect plant growth will be incredibly helpful for spotting issues while seed starting. The money you save from starting seeds yourself and the excitement of having things growing at the beginning of the season will have you so excited year after year to get growing. Look out, though, you may just get hooked ~ especially if you learn to also save seeds yourself! Come back for the next blog in this series to learn about the tools needed for starting seeds indoors.