Starting Seeds

Seasoned Gardener : Episode SGN-410 -- More Projects »

Starting seeds is a fantastic winter project for kids and enthusiastic gardeners.

Get a jump-start on spring by starting seeds indoors. The ideal time to start is six to ten weeks before the last frost date in your area, but you can start a little later, depending on what you're planting and how long it will take the plants to reach maturity. (You can go online or call your local garden center to check the dates for your zone.) Be sure not to get overzealous and start seeds too soon, or they will outgrow their pots or get leggy before it's time to plant outdoors.

Before putting your seeds in the potting mixture, keep in mind that different seeds have different needs. Check your seed labels for any specifications. Be sure to use a lightweight potting mix and read the label for safe handling instructions. Master gardener Chris Dawson uses a potting mixture that is three parts peat moss, one part perlite and one part vermiculite.

Dawson demonstrates some common things to do to help seeds sprout.

If using peat pots, soak them in water before adding soil. Otherwise, the first time you water the soil, the peat pots will absorb all the moisture, and your seeds will remain dry.

Sweet pea seeds

Snapdragon seeds

Seeds with especially hard outer shells, such as sweet pea and morning glory, have a better chance of germination if you nick or rough up a section of the shell. Rub an emery board against the shell to weaken an area for the germination shoot to come through. Be careful not to rub too deep and damage the inner layers of the seed.

Some seeds such as snapdragon are so small that they merely need to be pressed into the potting mixture. Just collect them on your fingertip and deposit them in the mix. Do not cover with more mixture.

Thoroughly mist seeds to be sure they have good contact with the potting mix. When watering the seed trays before sprouts emerge, do not water from the top, which can displace the seeds. Instead, add water to the drip tray below to be absorbed by the bottom of the seed packs.

The most reliable way to provide extra heat to seeds is to place seed trays on top of a heat mat, which is available at most garden supply centers.

Be sure that the potting mix stays evenly moist without being soggy. Never let the potting medium dry out. A humidity cover that comes with the seed pack kit keeps the moisture level even.

Seeds often require a soil temperature that is warmer than room temperature. Place the seed trays on a heat mat or the top of a refrigerator.

Place seed trays 3 inches below a light fixture outfitted with full-spectrum fluorescent bulbs.

Once the seedlings sprout, they no longer need the extra warmth. They actually like a cooler growing environment. At this point they need light. Most seedlings need 12 to 14 hours of light to make enough food to grow healthy stems and leaves.

In a couple of weeks, the seedlings will be grown enough to separate and repot. The root systems are very delicate, so be gentle when handling them. Just place each seedling in its own 4-inch pot and cover the roots with the growing medium.

At this point, the seedlings will benefit from being fed with a mild fertilizer solution. Dawson uses fish emulsion that is organic and very mild so it won't burn the tender roots. Check the label to see how often an application is recommended and feed accordingly until the seedlings are ready to be transplanted into the garden.

Set the seedlings outside for a couple of hours each day about a week or two before putting them in the ground. This "hardening off" acclimates the seedlings to outdoor conditions. Gradually increase the amount of time they spend outside until they're fully adapted.

Also in this Episode

Seasoned Gardener : Episode SGN-410
•	Seed-Starting Materials
•	Starting Seeds
•	Propagating Plants
•	Propagating Bulbs

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