One of the best ways to enjoy gardening to the maximum is by starting your annuals, vegetables, or perennials by seed. It is also the best way to spend time with your kids and teach them about nature and how things grow. Another benefit of starting your own plants by seed is that it can save you $$$$. A package of seeds is much less expensive then buying an already grown flowering plant or vegetable and the amount of veggies one can grow in their garden is usually more then they will ever need or eat.  This can work to your advantage at the supermarket.

Sowing (planting) seeds is very easy to do. All plants are different in how they grow, how much light they will require, how much water they will need and what to expect at maturity of the plant.  Most of this information will be on the packet of seeds that you purchase. Look for the following information:

Vegetable Seeds:

    • The common name of the vegetable, and even though you don’t need it, the Latin name. Example: Beefsteak Tomato Lycopersicon lycopersicum ‘beefsteak’
    • The planting depth of the seeds when you sow
    • How far apart you should plant them
    • The amount of space you should leave between rows of seeds
    • The average days till germination
    • After the seeds germinate, the spacing you should give the seedlings in the garden (this is also called thinning)
    • Days to maturity for harvesting
    • The best growing location in the garden (sunny or shady area).
    • General care of the plant
    • The “sell by” date on the packet of seeds. Try to purchase seeds with a sell date of the current year we are in. This assures you of the freshest seeds possible.

Flower Seeds (Annuals Or Perennials)

    • Seed packet should state if the plant is an annual (must plant every year) or perennial (comes back every year)
    • The common and Latin name of the plant. Example: Purple Coneflower (common name) Echinacea purpurea (Latin name).
    • The depth and space between you should plant the seeds in the soil-Days till germination
    • The best location for the new seedlings in the garden. (Sunny or shady locations)
    • The mature size of the plant
    • The flowering time of the plants
    • General planting instructions

Benefits Of Starting Your Seeds Indoors
All seeds can be started outdoors but you gain many advantages by starting most indoors.

    • Get a huge head start
    • Control the environment such as heat, light, and watering
    • Much better germination rate
    • Protect the seeds from being eaten by animals and birds
    • Prevent runoff of the seed if it is a rainy spring
    • And the #1 reason to start them indoors. The fun for you and your family watching your new plants come to life before your eyes. It is a very rewarding experience.

Supplies Needed
Seeds. Pick the best varieties that will best suit what you are trying to accomplish. Example: vegetable garden, sunflower garden, shady garden, herb garden, perennial garden.

    1. Seed starting trays. These are the trays with the individual cell packs. They are usually made of plastic and many times come as a kit with a clear top to mimic a greenhouse. This allows light in and helps retain moisture.
    2. Peat pots or pellets. These are made of compressed peat moss and are a great way to start you seeds. When the plant becomes a mature seedling, you can plant the entire pot right in the soil.
    3. Seed Starting Soil. Just like a house needs a strong foundation, your seeds need strong healthy soil. A good seed starting mix is usually a soilless mix containing peat moss, vermiculite and perlite or a combination of the three. We recommend Espoma Seed Starting Soil.
    4. A Spray Mister Bottle and Watering Can. Use the mister bottle to gently mist your soil before and after germination especially while the seedlings are small. Use the water can after the seedlings are well established and can withstand a higher volume of water being poured on them.
    5. A Good Heat Source. Most seeds will not germinate until the soil temperature reaches anywhere from 55 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. You can accomplish this by keeping your seed trays near your radiators, on a sunny window sill, or by using electric soil heating cables.
    6. Labels. Use labels to help you remember what you have planted. Most plants have many varieties and all look the same until they mature and either start producing flowers or bearing fruit.
    7. A water proof marker of pencil to use on the labels.
    8. A potting bench or tray to keep your mess to a minimum.
    9. Hand Trowels and Gloves
    10. Fertilizer. Eventually your small seedlings will become mature productive plants. Help them along with a good liquid fertilizer such as Neptune Harvest Organic Fertilizer. This is made of fish emulsion or seaweed or a combo of both. (Think of the Native Americans when the planted). This is not only a great source of nutrients but it is also 100% organic and wont burn sensitive seedlings or their roots systems.
    11. A good light source. This can be easily accomplished by putting your seed trays or pots near a bright sunny window sill, or by using an artificial plant light.

Sowing Your Seeds
Now that you have all your supplies, you are ready to go to work.

    1. Set up your seed trays or peat pots and fill them to ¼ inch from the top. Gently pack the soil in.
    2. Set your seeds on top of the soil and cover lightly with a small covering of seed starting soil mix.
    3. Moisten the soil with your mister bottle and label all trays or pots. Cover the trays with the clear tray cover if you have them.
    4. Place your trays near your heat and light source for quick germination.
    5. After germination keep them near a bright window sill or under the artificial light.

Once your seeds germinate, there isn’t much to do but to keep them watered well and near a good light source. Eventually as they mature, you can transplant them to larger containers or move them right into your garden depending on the weather.  One way to quicken this process to planting outside is to do what is called ‘hardening off”. This just means getting them used to the outdoor cooler temperature slowly. Set them outside on your porch or in the yard during the day and bring them in when it is colder at night.  Most annuals, perennials, or vegetables are ready to put outside by mid May.

Now you are ready to impress your friends and neighbors and say “i grew them myself”.