Creating Your Space
Seed starting time has arrived! This is one of my favorite times of year. I find it fascinating and exciting to watch my seedlings emerge and develop into mature plants.
Our last frost date is around Mother’s Day, so I always aim to begin starting my seeds around the first week of March. This gives my seeds a good 8-10 weeks to develop into strong, viable plants. Your frost dates are the average date of the last light freeze in spring and the first light freeze in the fall. It is very important to know the frost dates for your region so you have an accurate idea of your specific growing season. You can find out your frost dates at this link from the Old Farmers Almanac: almanac.com/gardening/frostdates.
Seed starting can be challenging and pricey. You can invest in an elaborate set-up ($), but it is possible to create a nice functional growing area inexpensively. If possible, choose your sunniest available area – we really have only one window with good sun that we can use, so I make do. I purchased a set of plastic utility shelves that more-or-less snap together. I put together 2 of the shelves to sit on the table by the window and set up the remaining shelves for storage in my garage. My house plants have been moved to the top shelf for the time being.
Most plants do not germinate well in cool soil, so I highly recommend that you invest in a heat mat (or 2) to help with germination. Heat mats provide consistent warmth for your seeds (10-20 degrees above your room temperature). They make a huge difference – instead of waiting 1-2 weeks for seeds to germinate, your seeds can emerge in 4-7 days. I also use a small grow light occasionally after the seedlings are up. It’s not really necessary, but I like it.
Here’s the breakdown of what my growing station cost:
Shelves: $40-$50; Heat mat (10″x20″): $15; Heat mat (20″x20″): $25; Grow light: $25
That’s it! If you don’t have any available sunlight, you will probably have to create a more elaborate space. I purchased the heat mats and grow light from Amazon, and I got the shelves at bj’s warehouse. It’s easy to store when I’m all done, and it’s exactly what I wanted.
Starting Your Seeds
When it comes to actually planting seeds, there are so many choices. I’ve tried the Jiffy pellets, coir-based soil, peat pots – you name it. There is a lot of trial and error in all aspects of gardening, so don’t get discouraged. I purchased seed starting trays from Amazon that have 12 small, deep planting cells, bottom trays and greenhouse tops. They are reusable, easy to clean, and very easy to store.
My seed starting mix is a combination of organic potting soil (from Espoma or Miracle-gro) and vermiculite. I love vermiculite! It is a layered mineral – like mica – that expands, or pops, when heated. It helps to keep soils friable and hydrated. Potting soil has nutrients in it that soil-less mixtures don’t, and my seedlings have had better root development with the potting soil mix. Either is fine as you’ll be transplanting your seedlings anyway. I plant more than one seed in each growing cell. This insures that I have more than enough plants, and it guards against low germination rates. Be sure to label each different variety when you plant or you won’t be able to tell them apart until each variety starts to ripen.
After a few weeks, seedlings will develop their “true” leaves. These leaves look and act just like all the future leaves your plants will have. Plants should have at least 1 pair of true leaves before you transplant them into pots or larger plant cells. I use my same planting mix when I repot my seedlings. If you used a soil-less you will need to use a different, soil-based mix when you transplant your plants. They need water, light and heat as they continue to mature. Check for water at least once daily. If your plants start getting leggy, you can put your heat mat way.
I’ve planted 6 varieties of tomatoes, 4 varieties of peppers, 2 varieties of eggplant, some dill, parsley, basil, marigolds, and zinnias. Almost all of them have germinated! I am super excited as I look ahead to the new garden season, and I hope you are too.
