Start veggies and flowers early so you can plant directly into your garden once the weather is warm enough. Seed starting is fun--and it's also the most cost effective way to grow your garden. Here is everything you need! Just click on the products to get growing!
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| How to plant seeds | | 1. Moisten germinating mix and scoop it into seed-starting flats or containers. | | 2. Determine the planting depth of the seed from the instructions on the seed-starting packet. | | 3. Insert large seeds into the soil with the finger-thumb method. Smaller seeds (such as petunias) are hard to sow in small numbers; mix the seeds with a little sand for bulk. Add a light layer of growing medium to cover the seeds. | | 4. Water the flats using a fine spray. Gushes of water may unearth the seeds. Always use lukewarm water. | | 5. Cover the flat with a clear plastic cover until the seeds germinate (this will help conserve moisture evaporation). It s vital that you keep the seeds moist or they will not germinate properly. | |
| Getting good germination
If your seeds don t germinate, it could be because the soil was too wet, too dry, or too cool. Use a heat mat to keep germinating seedlings warm. Keep the seeds slightly moist, but not wet at all times. Preventing leggy seedlings
Tall, floppy seedlings are an indication that your plants aren t getting enough light. Move them to a brighter location if they start to get leggy. If you are using grow lights, lower them so the bulbs are just a few inches above the tops of your plants.
Avoiding "damping off"
Young seedlings that rot at the base and die are the victim of a soil-borne virus. This is called damping off and it can be minimized by using a sterile germinating mix and keeping your plants from getting too wet. It also helps to water in the morning so your seedlings have time to dry off before nightfall.
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