I like to get a jump start on my seed starting but don’t always get that accomplished. Some things just take sooo long to sprout and grow in order to have a decent sized plant before planting time, that if I don’t start things in January, they just don’t have time to get as big as I would like before they go out in the yard. Living in a relatively short growing season area, the more growth I can get out of plant before it goes outside, the better.
This is what I have started so far and what they look like now.
On March 1 I started 8 varieties of tomatoes and 10 varieties of peppers on grow mats. This is the first year I have used grow mats. I think I like them. Although I grow my seeds in the greenhouse, it is still nice to have a little extra heat under the little seed pots to warm the soil. Although it is warmer in the greenhouse than outside, it was still pretty chilly the beginning of March around here and every bit of help with warmth helps with germination.
As far as soil goes, I usually make my own seed starting mix by adding some perlite and vermiculite to some composted manure and garden soil. However, my pile of manure was covered with snow so this year I opted to purchase some good seed starting mix instead.
I save all of the trays and pots from when I purchase plants and seedlings. I reuse those when I start my seeds. The experts say that you should thoroughly clean out any pots you plan to reuse with bleach to kill any potential existing bacteria so as to not infect the new soil and/or seeds. Although I do believe that is an excellent idea, I have never done that and have never had a problem.
I moisten the seed starting mix and fill the pots up. I try to put 2 or 3 seeds in every pot, however, sometimes more get in their especially if they are tiny seeds. They are hard to control when they are so small.
I cover the seeds with a bit more soil to a depth per the planting instructions, moisten it all with more water and then covered the top of the pots with plastic wrap to keep in the moisture and heat. I choose to use plastic wrap as I did not have any of the plastic seed starting covers. Either way works. I put the trays under grow lights (I actually use shop lights. They work perfectly and are cheaper.) Once the seeds have sprouted and are up a bit, I remove the plastic and keep them watered and watch them grow.
Here is what they tomatoes and peppers look like today. Not everything has sprouted so I may have to replant some of them but I think I have plenty either way.
For the starts that end up with multiple plants in a pot, I treat those in various ways. I really do not like to cut off my seedlings to thin them out. Sometimes I just leave them be and then separate them when I plant them out in the garden. I actually do that a lot with both tomatoes and peppers. Flowers sometimes I will actually separate them as tiny seedlings and plant them in individual pots to grow in.
Some other things that I started:
A bunch of petunias. Petunias are very slow sprouting and growing so are a bit behind the vegetables but are coming along.
I have since started some other things but they don’t have much to show yet. I do have quite a few more things to start from seed so hopefully the weather will warm up a bit and help them grow and I can show you all the new growth.
Do you start your garden from seed? What have you planted so far?