It is my favorite time of year to start seeds. This allows me to begin gardening indoors many weeks before my garden beds awake for the year. It also holds the promise that there will be a growing season. This week, I will be sharing my seed starting secrets for germinating seeds successfully and caring for seedlings.
Cabin fever can be treated with seed starting. Although I know that some of you may experience cabin fever more than me, it is still a common problem for those who live further north than me. However, things are usually dormant in the outside world, so I crave something green.
As the seasons change, April and October are my favorite months. However, February is now my third favorite month since I started seed starting. Although I don’t like cold or snow, February here in Atlanta, Georgia is my favorite month to start edibles, ornamentals, and native perennials from seeds.
In January, I get started much earlier than usual each year. Peppers take longer to germinate so I start them in January. Already, I have 20 pepper seed flats growing.
You can enjoy indoor gardening for months before the natural growth outside. My indoor seed starting area is filled with seeds trays and greenery, from February to the time that my seedlings are ready for outdoor planting.
My seed starting area is a comfortable, warm place to relax. There is a lot of me there looking at tiny seedlings, trying to see if they are growing. Because they can change so quickly, I often check on them every 15 minutes.
It’s amazing to see the transformation of a small seed you put in the soil into a good-sized seedling that grows outside. This is a lot of growth, and it happens under your supervision. You are noticing subtle changes in the seedlings from day to day, week to week. This is your role. It will be obvious if the actions you take or do not take are causing seedlings to experience positive or negative changes.
A few years ago, I began a course in my Online Gardening Academy (tm), that covered starting seeds using various techniques. It also included lessons on how to maintain the proper moisture level and light science.
Now we are in the launch week of Master Seed Starting. Enrollment opened on January 25th, and will continue through January 30th at midnight. I am also offering a free webinar, Seed basics & beyond: 9 things to know before you start plants from seed. To register for one of the remaining webinars, you can do so on Thursday, January 26 at noon EST, Friday January 27, at noon ET, and Saturday January 28 at 10 a.m. EDT. Register now as space is limited.
You need to know a lot about seed starting before it becomes easy to understand and how to adapt to changes. This week, I will be focusing on seed starting and presenting the basics to help you feel confident about it. You can start right away with solid, sound information. Then you can move on at your own pace or budget.
Seed starting is fun and easy. Seeds will germinate if you give them the basics. It’s in their DNA.
Before I go any further, I’d like to remind you of a new book, The Vegetable Growing Book: Your Complete Guide to Growing an Ethical Organic Garden from Seed to Harvest. It is full of tips and information that will help to improve your gardening skills and overcome challenges.
Seed Starting Benefits
You have the chance to grow many varieties of seeds that aren’t available at local nurseries. You are not bound by what plants big-box stores and garden centers carry when you start your seeds.
Consider the difference in price between buying seeds or plants. Although both seedling and seedling prices have increased in recent years, seed packets still offer significant savings over seedlings. You can get your own plants from seeds for pennies per dollar. There are many options available. Saving an extra dollar is always a good thing.
As long as the variety you choose is suitable for your climate and growing conditions, you can start any kind of seed. You can order the seeds you need from any of the many trusted seed companies that specialize in your niche.
You can also control how your plants are grown by starting them from seeds. Organic gardeners like me can grow plants and be confident that organic practices have been followed from the beginning.
It’s easy to be concerned about the cost of buying seeds. Good news! You can start seeds using items you already own, with the exception maybe of a few things that aren’t too expensive.
