SEED STARTING GUIDE FOR NEW GARDENERS
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Starting seeds can seem overwhelming in the beginning. Luckily, with a few tips and tricks, you will be well on your way to confidently starting your own seeds in no time!
What Do You Need To Start Seeds Indoors?
- Sterilized Potting soil
- Fertilizer
- Heating pad (optional)
- Grow lights (optional)
- Fresh seeds
- A spout for gentle watering
- Plant cells (or empty to-go coffee cups, styrofoam cups, etc.)
- Plant tray
Here are the top tips for starting seeds indoors:
Don’t Be Afraid
Don’t be afraid to start! Just dive in and get going!
Buy Fresh Seeds
Buy fresh new seed to start with. You’ll have the best chance then of the seeds growing. Germination rates can decrease with age.
RELATED: How To Start Basil From Seed
Water Carefully
New seeds and seedlings need water. But not too much and not too little.
Like Goldilocks, the water amount needs to be ‘just right’. How do you know what is the right amount?
For newly seeded items the soil surface needs to stay moist until the seeds germinate.
I will lightly water with this water bottle spout system pretty much every day until the plants start coming up. For little new seedlings, they need to have moisture at their root zone, closer to the bottom of the container.
It doesn’t matter if the soil surface gets dry, in fact that is better to prevent mold from growing.
I have the containers holdings the seedlings in plant trays so when the seeds germinate I start watering from the bottom, putting water into the plant tray.
Use A Heating Pad
If you are using a heating pad, take the new little seedlings off of heat pads after enough of them have germinated. A heating pad isn’t totally necessary but it will speed up your germination time. (Sometimes they come up in as little as 4-5 days!)
You can get them for under $15 from here.
They like the heat to get growing but once that starts then the roots do not like to get too hot.
Grow Lights Are Helpful (but not necessary)
If you don’t have grow lights or can’t afford them just yet, no need to worry!
Start your plants in the brightest window of your dwelling. South is the best if you have that.
If not, other windows will work too. The seedlings just might not grow as fast. I did that for many years before I could afford some grow lights.
If you do want to use grow lights, these ones clip onto a table and have high ratings on Amazon!
These grow lights are a bit more expensive but they’re adjustable and have a switch for Veg and Bloom settings.
Check Daily!
Check your seeded pots daily. It’s exciting to see the plants emerging! And of course you maintain their water needs properly on a daily basis as well.
RELATED: 8 Tips For Brand New Gardeners
Use FertilizerAt The Right Time
When you start to see the first true leaves emerging (not the first 2 big ones that often look like just blobs, but the ones that will look like the actual leaf of the plant) then start fertilizing.
For myself, I actually mix a very small amount of Miracle Grow 20-20-20 into my regular water can.
I do 1/2 of a teaspoon into a gallon of water. And I use that to do my regular watering. Many sources say to fertilize once a week (a bit weak for the first 2 weeks but then full strength).
For myself I found that I was forgetting when I did that. So I came up with this way instead.
Giving my plants/seedlings a constant low dose of fertilizer. It works really well for me.
You will know if you do too much (leaves start to get brown) or too little (plant starts to look weak).
Use A Fan To Strengthen The Stems
When the plants are up and growing, put a fan on light speed a foot or two away and let it run across the plants.
For perhaps an hour a day. It simulates the wind they will experience once you have them planted in your garden and strengthens their stems.
Keep Records
Keep records for yourself.
Record what type of seed you used, date when you planted, the date it actually emerged and note any problems/issues/successes with each one.
This gives you a base record for subsequent years. You can look back on this and use it as a reminder of when to plant, what seed was good and what seed you should just discard.
If you go further and keep some even minimal records over the growing season, you will know what worked out in your garden and then what to change for future years.
For example, I keep some general records of yields for vegetables and herbs.
This way I know how much to plant in the coming year.
Don’t Be Discouraged
Don’t be discouraged if something you seed doesn’t grow. Just try to learn from the experience.
For example, I’ve had the surface of snapdragons dry out and the seeds did not germinate (they require light to germinate and they were not covered with soil).
So I just replanted them in the same containers and tried again. And it worked!
When Should You Start Seeds?
Most seeds should be started 6-8 weeks before the last frost.
To determine when the last frost in your zone is, please click here for the US hardiness zones and here for Canada.
More Gardening Articles:
- Start Basil From Seed (step by step instructions)
- Gardening For Absolute Beginners (tips from a master gardener!)
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or emotions, but I can provide you with information on the concepts mentioned in the article "Seed Starting Guide for New Gardeners." Let's dive into the details!
Starting Seeds Indoors
Starting seeds indoors is a great way to get a head start on your garden. Here are the key concepts mentioned in the article:
- Sterilized Potting Soil: Using sterilized potting soil helps prevent the growth of harmful pathogens and provides a clean environment for seed germination.
- Fertilizer: Fertilizer provides essential nutrients for seedlings' growth. The article suggests using a small amount of Miracle Grow 20-20-20 mixed into regular watering.
- Heating Pad (optional): A heating pad can help speed up germination time by providing warmth to the seeds. However, it is not necessary for seed starting.
- Grow Lights (optional): Grow lights are beneficial for providing adequate light to seedlings, especially if you don't have access to a sunny window. However, starting seeds in a bright window can also work.
- Fresh Seeds: Using fresh seeds increases the chances of successful germination. Germination rates can decrease with the age of the seeds.
- Watering: It's important to water newly seeded items carefully. The soil surface should stay moist until the seeds germinate. After germination, watering from the bottom using a plant tray is recommended.
- Using a Fan: Once the plants are growing, using a fan on light speed for about an hour a day can help strengthen their stems by simulating wind exposure.
- Keeping Records: Keeping records of the type of seeds used, planting dates, emergence dates, and any problems or successes can be helpful for future reference and planning.
When to Start Seeds
The article mentions that most seeds should be started 6-8 weeks before the last frost. To determine the last frost date in your specific zone, you can refer to the US hardiness zones or the Canadian frost date resources.
Remember, these concepts are based on the information provided in the article. If you have any specific questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask!
