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Although it is possible to buy your transplants from your local nurseries, it is more cost effective to start your own plants from seeds. It also opens up more options as varieties can be limited depending on availability or demand. To get started, here are a few techniques on how to start seedlings for your garden.
What about your space?
Decide if you want to grow indoors or outdoors. Either option is great but you do need to ensure that the temperatures and lighting outside are habitable for the germination process. Ideal temperatures are around 60-70 degrees for most seeds. When starting out as well, you do want to make sure your seedlings are not exposed to direct sun at first as this can kill the plant. If you prefer the outdoors but live in a colder climate, a greenhouse is a great option to provide a space to start your plants.
Find a good light source – When starting your seedlings, something to consider is to make sure that they have not only ample lighting to provide heat and ensure that they do not get leggy. You can simply put them on a window seal that get morning sun. If you have the space and budget, you can also purchase grow lights that can help create artificial growing conditions indoors. Either option can work. It really all depends on your budget.
Speed up the Germination!
If you’re looking for a way to speed up the (sometimes long) process of germination, there are ways to push it along. Soaking your seeds for 24 hours before planting can help the plant start the process sooner. When soaking, you can also soak them in a mix of apple cider vinegar/water that can help prepare the seed for its journey to planthood.
Growing container
There really is no right way to start your seedlings. Some opt for the starter trays, while others can use less traditional options. Below is a list of some ways you can start even if your budget does not allow for all the fancy gardening supplies.
- Starter trays
- Starter pots
- Recycle old items in the kitchen! Egg cartons, plastic fruit containers, milk jugs. Let your creativity fly!
- Re-use your old transplant pots
When to Transplant
After your seed finally germinates and starts poking it’s little cute stem out of the soil. Then you can start to watch as it develops to a mature plant. Things to watch out for are to ensure that the plant does not grow too long and thin. This is called becoming leggy and can create havoc for your plants survival once it’s in it’s final home. Ways to prevent this is to ensure it gets ample sun. Once your plant has 2-3 true leaves, you can then start to “harden off” your plant to get it accumulated to outdoor growing conditions. You can do this by exposing the seedlings to a few hours of morning sun a day for a few weeks until it can become more mature and stronger. This will help your plant transition outside and will make a great healthy plant!