| With all this gardening advice, I may surprise you with | | | | If you notice they are becoming "leggy", that is thin |
| this confession: I very rarely start seeds indoors and | | | | or scraggly, they are not getting enough sunlight and |
| plant outside. | | | | you may need to implement the lamp method I |
| While seeds are certainly the cheaper than | | | | mentioned. Thin scraggly plants are not healthy and |
| transplants, I must admit that I have had very limited | | | | are susceptible to disease, and you don't want that |
| success with starting seeds indoors. Starting seeds | | | | after all this hard work! |
| indoors requires a little more than just sticking a seed | | | | Keeping Your Pots Safe |
| into the dirt and then waiting for it to grow! All too | | | | Before starting your seeds indoors, have you |
| often my seeds have not taken, or have molded or I | | | | considered a place to keep them safe? When I did |
| have simply forgotten to water them. Then I have | | | | have cats, and I was ambitious and started seeds |
| to start all over again after waiting 6 weeks and | | | | indoors, my cats were completely destructive with |
| having unsightly peat pots all over the place, just to | | | | my little trays. They drank the water, used it for a |
| end up at a nursery buying transplants anyway! | | | | litter box, and tried a little digging in it themselves. |
| I know that this confession will probably disqualify me | | | | One year, my little children decided to help me and |
| from "expert gardener status" but that's OK with me. | | | | moved around all my plant markers to make it "look |
| I can't help it, I just like buying those plants all started | | | | prettier". You will need to protect those little |
| for me. For one thing, I know they are right for my | | | | seedlings from children, pets and occasionally |
| area, and most often they come with a guarantee | | | | husbands! |
| from the nursery (mostly for shrubs, not vegetables | | | | Succession Planting |
| but some places do guarantee). They have been | | | | As I said before, when planning your garden, plant |
| cared for by someone who knows more and | | | | only what you plan to use. When starting seeds, |
| probably cares more, so I know they are strong and | | | | don't plant all those little seeds in the seed packet, or |
| healthy. I don't have to harden them off, and I really | | | | you will end up with more vegetables than you could |
| dislike thinning. It is right up there with weeding, and | | | | ever need or want! You can however plan to |
| since I can't avoid weeding, I have chosen to avoid | | | | succession plant. This is a method where you plant |
| thinning :) And I must confess, I like the instant | | | | seeds at different times throughout the growing |
| gratification of planting those big healthy plants! I | | | | season so that your plants do not ripen all at once. |
| guess I am a lazy perfectionist. | | | | You can do this with transplants also, though not |
| However, you may choose to try to start your | | | | quite as successfully, by purchasing your transplants |
| seeds indoors, and if you do there are some things | | | | at different times. Hit that nursery center when they |
| you will need to know to be successful. | | | | are running their clearance sales towards the end of |
| When To Start Your Seeds | | | | the and get some more plants! |
| You will need to start these little seedlings 4-6 weeks | | | | When you plant in this way, you can be sure to have |
| before your last frost for you area. To figure out | | | | a certain vegetable all season instead of just all at |
| what this would be for your area, you can go here | | | | once. This is a little more involved and you must have |
| to find your last frost date. Whatever your do , don't | | | | a plan and be diligent, but it worth the extra work. |
| get spring fever and plant your garden before your | | | | Simply start some seeds , say 6-10 of one |
| last frost or you will most likely lose your precious | | | | vegetable, one week, then do some more the |
| plants. If we have a season of very heavy rain, I | | | | following week. Make sure you date your plant |
| also wait it out a little longer so my tender plants do | | | | markers so you can keep track. Using this method, |
| not get waterlogged and damaged. You can also | | | | you will have a continual harvest of that particular |
| download this handy Seed Starting Chart (pdf file). | | | | vegetable. |
| This would be a handy thing to put in your gardening | | | | Hardening Off |
| notebook so you will have it for next year. | | | | Once your plants are established and growing well |
| Don't buy all kinds of expensive little containers and | | | | you will need to harden them off. You cannot take a |
| kits. You don't need them! The reason you are | | | | plant and transplant it directly to the garden. They |
| starting from seed is to save money, right!? There | | | | may go into shock and die. Hardening of is simply |
| are several money saving ways that you can start | | | | exposing your plants to the elements gradually. About |
| seeds indoors very inexpensively. You can start your | | | | two weeks before you want to plant, begin taking |
| seeds in toilet paper rolls (tutorial here) or even | | | | your pots outside in the warmth of the day, and |
| better in old newspaper (tutorial here and here). | | | | leaving them out for 1 hour, then increase to 2, then |
| Newspaper pots can be planted directly into your | | | | 3 until eventually they are outside most of the day. |
| garden, pot and all. I have used these before | | | | Eventually you will leave them out overnight, ideally |
| successfully. I have also used egg cartons. Cut the | | | | for a week before you plant. Watch for heavy rains, |
| egg carton apart from the top part, poke holes in | | | | very cold nights and frost warnings and be sure to |
| the bottom of the carton and plant. Line the top | | | | bring your plants in if any of these are expected. |
| portion with some plastic and some pebbles and use | | | | Also be sure again to keep animals and children away |
| that for your drainage tray. | | | | from your pots. Keep them in an area where they |
| How to Get Them Started | | | | cannot be flipped over, knocked down or dug up by |
| After you have your containers chosen, you will need | | | | pets. |
| a catch tray to place them in and to protect the | | | | All Those Extra Seeds |
| surface underneath. You can use clean, old yogurt | | | | Seed companies would love to tell you that your |
| cups or you can purchase a larger tray to place them | | | | seeds are only good for one growing season. That is |
| all in. If you purchase the larger tray, it will usually | | | | not true. You can store seeds for years and still plant |
| come with a plastic cover which is handy for keeping | | | | them. If you started some seeds, you will likely have |
| your seeds warm. I have also used cardboard flats, | | | | many left over. Simply close the packet tightly and |
| such as the ones that packs of soda or canned soup | | | | tape them into your garden journal. Baseball card |
| come in. You can go right to your grocer and ask for | | | | pockets usually work well for these. Keep them dry |
| a few. They will usually be more than happy to give | | | | and away from sunlight. Watch for clearance sales |
| them to you. I have saved my grocery and shopping | | | | towards the end of the season and stock up on |
| bags (the big ones are good) and put the box inside | | | | some seeds for the next year. |
| it. You can cut it to fit and tape it down to hold it. | | | | This Is Too Much Work, I Want Transplants! |
| You could also pick up some drain racks from the | | | | OK, so now that you know what is involved in |
| dollar store or even the tubs that you use to do | | | | starting seeds you have decided to go with |
| dishes and use those. Remember to always try do | | | | transplants. I can understand :) |
| this as inexpensive as possible. One of your garden | | | | You still need a plan. Never go to a nursery with out |
| goals should be to save money instead of spending it! | | | | one, or you will fall in love with all those beautiful |
| Next you will need some potting soil. You can get this | | | | promising little plants and overbuy. Make sure you |
| from your local nursery or garden center, and will | | | | have a list of what you want and how much you |
| probably find it cheaper at places like Wal-Mart or | | | | want, and shop wisely. |
| Kmart. Soil that has peat in it is good because it will | | | | Transplants are more expensive, but I feel worth it. |
| offer you the drainage you need. Make sure you get | | | | They don't have to break your budget though. You |
| potting soil. You can buy an inexpensive store brand | | | | can play smart and get them much, much cheaper. |
| as long as it is labeled potting soil or seed starter soil. | | | | First of all, find out if your local high school has a |
| Put some of your soil in up to about 1/4 inch to the | | | | vocational horticulture program. Many times they do, |
| top of your container and moisten it lightly with a | | | | and they will have a greenhouse. The students will do |
| spray bottle. Keep this spray bottle nearby because | | | | all the seedling stuff for you, and you can buy the |
| you will use it to mist your plants. Pouring water onto | | | | transplants. This is a very inexpensive way to get |
| them will damage the tender roots and often provide | | | | your transplants as they usually sell them for half the |
| too much water, causing your plants to mold or | | | | cost (or less) than a garden center. The variety may |
| drown. | | | | be smaller, but you can fill in the gaps at your local |
| Check your seed packet for specific instructions for | | | | nursery. |
| starting indoors. Some seeds need to be nicked or | | | | Another way is to buy only a few plants, and wait |
| soaked overnight in water to aid in germination. Put | | | | out the sales and get more. This is a great way to |
| 2-3 seeds in each pot, evenly spaced. Push the seeds | | | | succession plant and save money. Lowe's, Home |
| down in and cover with remaining soil. Mist again | | | | Depot, and Wal Mart all have decent garden centers |
| lightly. Make sure you label your seeds somehow, | | | | and will be cheaper than a nursery most of the time. |
| Popsicle sticks work well. Mark the date you planted | | | | Just like with groceries, know your prices to get the |
| on your stick so you can keep track of when they | | | | best deal. |
| should germinate. Use permanent marker so it will not | | | | You can also split packs with a friend. You may not |
| wash off when wet. Now you will need to keep | | | | want 6 tomato plants. If you split the pack with |
| these pots warm, in sunlight and away from drafts. | | | | someone you can get what you want and save |
| To keep them warm you can simply cover loosely | | | | money. |
| with plastic wrap or use the plastic tray cover if you | | | | You can become friends with your local nursery |
| have one. Make sure you leave some breathing | | | | center and barter with them also if you have the |
| space, as the seeds need oxygen to germinate. | | | | time. Maybe they need short term help and in |
| Remember to mist your plants frequently. You want | | | | exchange they will offer you a substantial discount. |
| the soil to stay evenly moist, but not wet. Watch | | | | You can also use free cycle. Freecycle.org is a forum |
| that your soil does not become too dry or too wet. | | | | where you can post and get stuff for free in your |
| If you don't have a bright sunny spot for you plants, | | | | local area. You can ask for what you need and may |
| you can use a fluorescent lamp over your plants to | | | | be surprised at what others will give you. Also check |
| mimic sunlight and warmth. You can usually scrounge | | | | craigslist.org for others who are gardening items |
| up a lamp that you can suspend over the plants, ask | | | | cheap, and even giving some people giving things |
| around, or you can get them cheap at Walmart. Use | | | | away. Don't forget EBay too. You can search up in |
| a 40 watt bulb, and make sure you can make the | | | | the local area and you can also order seeds from |
| light move higher as your plants grow. It should be | | | | many sellers there. |
| about 4" above your plants I have always had sunny | | | | Sources For Seeds |
| windows so I have never used this method, although | | | | I have always bought my seeds from places like Wal |
| we did hatch chickens before and needed a lamp, but | | | | mart or K Mart. They have a great selection and are |
| I am sure that is a different thing altogether! | | | | cheap. If you want heirloom plants or a particular |
| Once your seedlings emerge and get bigger (check | | | | plant, you can order from a catalog. If you Google |
| your seed packet for when this should happen and | | | | search what you are looking for, I am sure that you |
| compare it with your date on your label), you will | | | | will have many come up. I order bare root and shrubs |
| need to thin them out. You can do this usually when | | | | from Four Seasons Nursery and have been very |
| they have two or three leaves or when they will | | | | happy in the past. I have used them for several |
| become crowded in their little pots. You will need to | | | | years and they have a great guarantee on their |
| transplant each plant into its own pot. They will | | | | products as well as fast shipping and excellent |
| continue to grow bigger and bigger until one day you | | | | customer service. |
| can put them in your garden! | | | | |