How to start seeds

Starting your seeds indoors will give you a jump start on the growing season. Here are our tips for successful sowing.

In the art of gardening, few moments hold as much promise and anticipation as the act of seed sowing. With each delicate seed nestled into the soil, we embark on a journey of growth, nurturing the potential for vibrant blooms and a bountiful harvest. Seed sowing is both a humble beginning and a powerful act of creation, where the simple act of planting seeds represents our connection to nature's cycle of renewal and abundance. Starting your garden from seed not only yields immense satisfaction but also offers cost-saving benefits and enriches your garden with a diverse array of plant varieties unavailable at big-box stores and nurseries.

What you'll need

• Containers

  • Seed starting flats and trays (also called cell plug flats), or even recycled containers like egg cartons can work wonders. Whichever you choose, make sure that the container has holes to allow drainage.

• Seed starting mix

  • We use a lightweight soil mix for starting our seeds. Heavier soils such as straight compost can compact in the smaller openings of seed starting flats and prevent drainage, which can lead to your seeds rotting before they sprout.

• Light source

  • Most seedlings require at least 12 hours of bright, indirect light. Consider grow lights if natural light is limited. Your seedlings will tell you if they are not getting enough light, as they will become leggy and weak, and may start to turn yellow.

• Heat mat

  • Helpful for seeds requiring warmer temperatures for germination such as peppers or tomatoes. Using a heat mat will also speed up germination in most cases.

• Seed sower/tweezers

  • These handy tools will help prevent wasting small seeds such as brassicas. Tweezers can be used to sow larger seeds such as peppers.

• Plant markers

  • We suggest including the type of seed, and the variety on your plant marker. These come in all shapes, sizes and materials, but we have found popsicle sticks to be an economical solution which will also naturally biodegrade if left in the garden.

• Liquid fertilizer

  • Use a liquid plant fertilizer such as seaweed or fish emulsion. Follow the directions on the package for the correct dosage.

• Seeds

  • The most important thing of all. Choose high-quality seeds from reputable sources. Store your seeds in a cool and dry place such as a basement or root cellar. We store ours in plastic containers in our cellar to ensure that they stay dry and out of reach from hungry mice. Most seed packets provide all the information you need to successfully grow them, such as sowing depth, temperature and days for germination, and water and light needs.

Seed packets have invaluable information for successfully sowing your seeds.

Filling your flats with soil

1. Fill each flat with potting soil until it reaches the top edge.

2. Place a second flat on top and press down firmly and evenly to compact the soil, eliminating air gaps.

3. Check the soil level; it should now be 1/4 to 1/2 inch (5-10mm) below the top of the flat. If needed, add more soil until it reaches the top.

4. Thoroughly water the soil using a watering can or hose with a rain nozzle. Hold the watering can or hose nozzle about three feet (1 meter) above the flat to prevent soil erosion and ensure even moisture distribution.

Sowing seeds

The size of the seed you're sowing determines the appropriate method. For very small seeds like brassicas, a seed sowing tool is ideal, preventing over-seeding and the need for thinning seedlings. Larger seeds such as peppers, lettuce, and tomatoes can be individually sown using tweezers. Here are some general tips for sowing.

• Place one to two seeds per cell in your flats to ensure ample space for seedling growth until transplanting.

• Seeds should be sown at a depth approximately twice their diameter. For instance, a pepper seed should be placed at a depth of 1/4 to 3/8 inch (5-7mm).

• While most seeds don't require light to germinate, some like nicotiana do. Always check the sowing instructions on your seed packet for successful germination.

• For surface-sown seeds such as arugula, a thin layer of fine gravel or vermiculite on the soil's surface helps maintain moisture until germination.

Caring for your seedlings

Maintaining the right moisture level for seedlings is crucial, yet it can be one of the trickiest aspects to control. Too little moisture and seedlings may dry out rapidly, too much and they risk drowning. In both cases, the delicate seedlings become stressed and may fail. Here are some tips to help you achieve the optimal moisture balance.

• Your seeds should not require watering until after they have germinated. You can maintain moisture on the soil surface with a mister until germination occurs.

• Avoid watering your seedlings from above, as this can saturate the soil and potentially harm the seedlings, as well as wash away the soil.

• Our preferred method for watering seedlings is to fill the tray of the seed starting flat with water. Place the flat inside and allow it to sit until the top of the soil is moistened, then remove the flat from the tray. Leaving the flat in the tray may lead to drowning, as the roots require oxygen.

• Once your seedlings have developed their first true set of leaves (the initial leaves that appear after germination are called cotyledons, while the true leaves develop afterward), it is time to start feeding them. We recommend using a liquid fertilizer added directly to the water, applied once every week to ten days.

Starting your seeds indoors not only gives your garden a head start, but also symbolizes the beginning of a new growing season filled with the potential of a bountiful harvest.