Seed Starting And Growing Guide
Starting plants from seeds and growing them can be fairly easy if the necessary steps are taken to ensure your success!
Most plants are pretty durable and are fairly easy to grow. You can choose to start your seeds indoors or direct sow them right outside during the correct sowing times for your zone.
Most plants need at least 4-6 hours of sunlight a day, but most can still do well with only 4 hours. Some plants can even tolerate partial shade or 6-8 hours of full sun. Most plants prefer well-draining, rich, fertile, moist soil that is loose so that the roots can develop and take hold. The majority of plants need water when the soil feels dry to the touch. Even without ideal conditions plants are generally very tolerant and there are so many to choose from, you can almost always find one to work within your growing conditions.
Plants are either annuals, perennials, or biennials.
The difference between them is that annuals complete their life cycle in one season, and you’ll need to plant them every year. Annuals grow, bloom, set seeds and die all in the same year. If you allow them to go to seed and the seeds that the annuals dropped germinate, they will grow new plants in the spring for you.
Biennials have a life cycle that lasts two years and they’ll grow the first year and then bloom and die the next year. Biennials you’ll need to plant every other year.
Perennials will grow and return every year and live for many years. Depending on your climate, perennials may grow all year long or in cooler climates they’ll die back and then return in the spring from their roots that survived the winter.
There are so many different types and varieties of plants we can’t cover all the specifics in this guide for each one. We encourage you to google each variety before starting the seeds to get the specific needs (growing season, sowing dates, planting depth, spacing, light, soil, and water requirements) of each plant.
When and how to start seeds outdoors (direct sow):
When to direct sow the seeds will depend on your location and growing season, but a general rule of thumb is nothing should be direct sown outdoors until after your last frost date. The soil should be at least 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit before direct sowing the seeds outdoors.
After looking up the correct growing information for the seed variety, the next step is to prepare your soil for planting. You may need to add to or amend your soil depending on what type of soil you have (sandy, loamy, clay, etc.) if you’re unsure of your soil type you can mix in a well-balanced soil with a little perlite and fertilizer in it. You want your soil to be well draining and not compact or hard. Although, most plants aren’t very particular about the type of soil they’re grown in.
You can always improve your soil the following year once you see what type of results you have the first year. If you’re growing in containers, use a goodpotting mix.
You’ll want to prepare the site by removing any large rocks, raking, and breaking up any large clumps of dirt or soil. Once it’s smoothed out, add a little water, let it soak in and then rake it again to break it back up.
When you looked up the planting and growing information for each variety it should’ve given you a planting depth. This is how deep you plant the seeds in the soil. Some will need to be on the top of the soil and just lightly covered, some ½ inch deep and others may be a little deeper. Sow (plant) the seed according to this depth, then lightly water the seeds and then cover them with soil. So that the soil is making contact with the seed.
Usually, we plant our seeds six to eight inches apart and then later as they begin to grow, we separate them (thin them out) to the correct spacing requirements for each variety. You can follow this method or plant the seeds with the correct spacing requirements when you first plant them.
Continue to grow them according to their needs and trim or stake them if they get too bushy or so tall that they’re starting to fall over. Remove weeds as they appear. Water the plants when the soil feels dry and during the warmer months, they’ll require more water. If you notice any pests remove them by hand or purchase an insecticidal soap to use. Don’t use harsh chemicals or pesticides on your plants.
When and how to start seeds indoors:
Plants can be started indoors at any time of the year if they’ll remain indoors or for hydroponics. If you’re planning on planting them outdoors, you should start them 4-8 weeks prior to the last frost date for your area. If you can’t provide at least 4 hours of natural sunlight for them as they’re growing, you’ll need to provide them with grow lights.
It’s best to use a seed starting mix instead of potting soil or topsoil. Seed starting mix is lighter and fine and gives the tiny roots the ability to push through the seed and grow. If you’re in a hurry or want to speed up germination, you can soak the seeds for a few hours or overnight. This will soften up the shell and makes it easier and quicker for the seed to germinate.
You can use any type of container that you’d like to start your seeds in. It can be a takeout container, a newspaper pot, a seed germination tray or even a cup.
Dampen your seed starting mix with a little water. You want it damp but not soaked to where it’s mushy, clumping or water is running out of it when squeezed. Fill your container with the soil leaving about ¾ of an inch at the top. Tap the container gently to remove any air pockets that may have formed.
Place your seeds into the container at the correct planting depth for each variety. You’ll want to put at least 2-3 seeds in each one in case some of them don’t germinate. Cover lightly with soil and gently pat down the soil so that the soil is making contact with the seeds. For very tiny seeds you can mix them with a little sand to help distribute them more evenly.
Cover the container with plastic wrap or put the dome on if using a germination tray. This keeps the moisture in and makes a little mini greenhouse to keep the seeds from drying out. Place the container in a warm room out of direct sunlight. They’ll need temperatures around 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit to germinate or you’ll need to place a heat mat under the container. Leave the wrap or dome on until you’ve seen your first seed start to germinate and break through the soil. Then remove the wrap or dome to allow the seedling to get air flow.
Now you’ll want to place the container under a grow light. Place the light about 2-4 inches above the top of the plants and continue to raise the light up as the plants grow. If you have at least 6 hours of natural sunlight you can place the container in a sunny location instead of using a grow light. Just make sure it doesn’t get any cool drafts (will shock and kill them) or direct sun (will cause the soil to dry out).
Continue to grow them indoors until the plant has at least 2 sets of true leaves. True leaves are the larger set of leaves after the tiny baby leaves that the plant first produced. Watch to make sure the plants don’t become leggy and weak if they’re not getting enough light and that they aren’t overcrowded. Don’t overwater them as they can contact fungal diseases, and this will also attract pests and insects. You can place a fan in the area to provide good air circulation. If they’re getting overcrowded, you can thin them out (remove the weaker ones) or plant them into individual containers to give them more room.
If planting outdoors, now is the time to begin hardening them off (1-2 weeks) to prepare them for outside. Hardening off helps the young plants build up a resistance and get accustomed to the different and sometimes extreme conditions that take place outside. You will gradually increase the time they are outdoors and in different conditions. We recommend placing the young plants in a box or storage container with the top open or lid off. This makes carrying them in and out of the house much easier for you.
To begin hardening them off, place the box or container outside with the plants in a shaded area that is sheltered from the elements (such as wind, rain, direct sunlight, and temperature fluctuations). Leave them outside for a few hours and then bring them back in before evening. Continue to do this until they’re left outside all day. At that point you can then begin introducing them to a sunny area but not direct sun and repeat the same process. Once they’re outside all day and are accustomed to the sunlight you can leave them out all night. After a few nights they’ll be ready to plant outside in your flower bed, container, or garden.
We hope this guide helps you and your seedlings get off to a great start! If you need assistance or have any questions, feel free to reach out to us. We love to talk gardening and all things green!
Happy Planting!