Use plant tags so you won’t forget which seeds are which! Check the instructions on the seed packet, and cover seeds with seed starting mix to the appropriate depth or simply press the seeds into the top of the mix if they need light for germination.(Depending on the size of the container, you may add more seeds, but be careful not to overcrowd.) Place one or two seeds per cell/container. Using your index finger, firm the mix into the cell/container, leaving a shallow indentation.Start by filling your containers or seed trays with moistened Miracle-Gro® Seed Starting Potting Mix.Now that you’ve gathered your supplies, the real fun begins! Here’s what to do. Timer and extension cord, if using grow lights.Good light-this can be a sunny windowsill, a desk lamp with a full-spectrum bulb, or a grow light.Heat mat with thermostat (optional but nice for speeding germination in warm-season seeds).Miracle-Gro® Seed Starting Potting Mix, specially formulated for great root development to give your seeds a strong start.Seed-starting tray(s) with humidity dome(s) or recycled containers and clear gallon zipper bags (the domes/bags help retain moisture).Also, make sure containers provide good drainage-go ahead and poke some holes if you need to. But you can also save money and help the environment by using upcycled containers, like old nursery pots, yogurt cups, pots made from cardboard tubes or newspaper, coffee cups, berry containers from the grocery store…use your imagination! Just make sure to clean upcycled containers, soaking them in a solution of 10 percent bleach and 90 percent water, then rinse well. Some garden centers offer seed-starting kits with many of the supplies you need (cell propagation tray, leak-proof bottom tray, humidity dome) packaged together for convenience. You may also want to consider doing succession plantings with fast-growing seeds, which means planting a new batch every couple of weeks, so you’ll have a continuous supply of fresh veggies to enjoy. Radishes, for example, mature in about a month, so you can go ahead and sow those seeds right alongside your Bonnie Plants starter plants. No matter what kinds of seeds you’re planting, be sure to pick a spot in your home with good light (or access to electricity, if you plan to use grow lights), consistently warm temperatures, and good air circulation-all crucial for good growing.Īlso, know that while slower-growing seeds are best started indoors, some seeds are great for sowing directly in the garden. (All seedlings need light as soon as they germinate, though.) Again, check the seed packet! And some seeds, like borage, need to be kept in the dark until they sprout. Lettuce seeds need light to germinate, so sow them on top of the soil. Soaking certain seeds, like garden peas, overnight in water can speed sprouting. Tomatoes and peppers, for instance, need warm soil to germinate, so a heat mat under the seed-starting tray can help boost success. Some seeds need a little extra TLC to get started. They offer lots of useful information, like days to germination, ideal temperature, how deep to plant the seeds, days to maturity, plant spacing, sun needs, and more. From artichokes to zucchini (and everything in between), they’ll tell you when it’s time to start planting (both indoors and out) in your area.Īlso, be sure to read the seed packets when planting your veggies and herbs. You’ll find all the information you need in our When to Plant Guides. So, how do you know when it’s prime time for seed starting?ĭon’t worry: we’ve got you covered. Start seeds too late, though, and you’ll be drooling over your neighbor’s BLTs while forlornly willing your plants’ blooms to turn into fruit. Once you have those seed packets in hand, we know you’re going to want to get growing! But hold tight: Start seeds too early, and you might end up with leggy, overgrown plants that need babying until the frost disappears and the soil warms up. Another bonus: Plants grown from seed make an excellent complement to your ready-to-grow Bonnie Plants in the garden. Seed-starting is a great diversion and a fun challenge, too-imagine (or remember!) the immense pride you feel when you share your garden-to-table meals with family and friends, knowing that the delicious salad or scrumptious bruschetta began as a tiny seed grown by you. What is it about starting seeds that gives us such delight? It may have something to do with the joy that comes from encouraging new plant life indoors while it’s still chilly outside, or, later in the season, with the tactile pleasure of poking tiny seeds into sun-warmed garden soil, envisioning the green sprouts soon to come.
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