Acquire seeds
If you don’t have any seeds, there are several options. You can go to a nursery or seed store, buy seeds online, or ask a friend for some seeds. You can also collect seeds from your favorite fruits and vegetables (with permission), purchase them at hardware stores and farmer’s markets, or buy them at a grocery store. If you intend to plant in the ground rather than pots, make sure the package says whether these are best suited for that purpose.
Prepare a seed-starting planter
A seedling tray is a large flat plastic container that holds small single-seed pots or cell packs. These trays have drainage holes in the bottom and often come with a clear plastic dome that helps retain moisture and warmth.
Once you have your seeds, prepare your planter by filling it with potting soil up to about 2 inches from the rim. Gently press down on the soil to remove air pockets, and then water gently. If you are using peat pellets, soak them in warm water until they expand fully before planting your seed and covering it with 1?4 inch of soil or sand.
Plant at the proper time
A common mistake is to plant at the wrong time. It’s an easy error to make, since it seems like a good idea to get started as early as possible—but many plants won’t grow if their seeds are planted outside of the proper time frame. If you’re not sure when the best planting time for your seeds is, consult the seed packet or do some research online.
The growing season can be affected by a number of factors, including weather and soil temperatures. If you plant too early in the year, there’s a chance that your crop will be frozen out and die before it can produce food. On the other hand, planting too late in the season may not give your plants enough time to reach maturity before winter sets in again.
So how do you figure out when it’s okay to start sowing seed? One way is with a soil thermometer: they’re cheap (about $10) and will help you determine if your garden plot has reached its optimal temperature for germination (some seeds like warm soil; others need cool). You also need to understand what kind of conditions each type of plant requires during its life cycle—from germination through flowering and fruiting—and whether those conditions are likely given where you live.
Should seeds start indoors or outdoors?
The best place to start seeds depends on the plant and the climate where you live. It’s easiest to start plants indoors if you have a limited amount of space or your climate is too cold to grow them outside in the spring.
Plants that need a long warm season, like tomatoes and peppers, may not grow well outdoors in some areas until midsummer. Sow these ahead of time so they will be big enough for transplanting by then.
If you’re worried about seedlings getting leggy or getting eaten by birds and other animals, sow them outdoors instead.
Harden off your plants
Before putting your seedlings in the ground or in a pot, you need to harden them off. This is a process where the plants are moved outside for a few hours at a time and then brought back inside. The first day, move them out for an hour or so and let them sit in the shade. Each day, keep adding more hours outside until they’re spending most of the day out there. By letting them live outside during this period, they’ll become used to being exposed to sunlight and wind which helps prevent transplant shock when they get into the ground or pot.
Keep track of seedling growth
Keeping track of what you do and when you do it helps to monitor the progress of your seedlings. A calendar or notebook will help you remember the following things:
- date planted
- date transplanted
- date first sprouts appeared
- date moved outside
- date harvested
Growing plants from seeds
While not everyone has the budget to buy plants, everyone can afford seeds. And growing plants from seed is a great way to learn about plant care and development. With so many varieties of seeds available, you’re sure to find an enticing project for yourself or for your kids. So don’t let the cost of plants stop you from digging in and getting dirty!
Growing from seed is fun, inexpensive and rewarding. It’s also an excellent activity for introducing children to the excitement of planting things in your own backyard.