Giving Seeds a Great Start

by | Apr 1, 2020 | Seed Starting, Spring | 0 comments

Thinking about growing some seeds this spring? Good for you. Seeds are a cheap and easy way to grow edibles such as basil, tomatoes, chives, green beans and much more. Here are four tips to help you succeed – even if you’ve never touched a seed before.

Start With Good Seeds

The seeds you sow must be able to come to life (a.k.a. germination). Use seeds packed for 2020. Most seed packets have their packing date printed on the back of the packet near the bottom. You can use seeds from a previous year but just know they are older and might not germinate as well.

Every Seed Needs a Container

Begin your seed starting with clean pots or seedling trays. There are several types of seed starting systems on the market. The best ones are seed starting trays with a water reservoir and capillary mats underneath that draw water into the soil to keep it moist. But these special setups are not the only way to start seeds. You can just as easily use a pot – any pot – with a good soil medium to start seeds.

Check the pots you have left over from previous years. They can easily be recycled by sowing seeds in them. Just make sure they have a drainage hole. and are at least 6 inches deep (for root growth).

Plant in Good Soil

Speaking of soil medium, I recommend using potting soil. Nearly any of the soil mixes sold by garden supply companies (Gardener’s Supply, Scott’s, Burpee, etc.) will work just fine. Cheap soil medium you might find in dollar stores will not work as well because they are not mixed with elements that prevent the soil from becoming dense and soggy.

Always make sure your potting soil is moist but NOT soggy. Soggy soil is likely to damage and destroy young roots emerging from the seeds.

Whatever you use, check that your soil medium is completely wetted before you begin sowing. If you’re using soil is left over from last year it may have dried out completely. Be sure to water, mix, and then water again to make sure it is wet all the way through.

Open the Seed Packet and Sow

Read the seed package directions before sowing. They will tell you how far apart to sow them (if you’re sowing in the ground), whether they need to be sown deep or just on the surface, and how many days until you should see green buds emerging from the soil. Some packets will also tell you that their seeds need extra care such as pre-soaking in water before sowing. Don’t be impatient and skip these steps. If you do, your seeds might not come up.

When sowing in a seed tray, drop no more than one or two seeds in each square. Sowing too many seeds is a waste of resources. Seeds sown too close together will crowd each other out, making the mature plant stunted.

After the seeds are sown, put a label in or on the pot to help you remember what you sowed. Some seedlings (cilantro and parsley, for example) look very much alike when they are young. A label will help you remember what you sowed so you can eventually put the right herb or veggie in the right place.

Now Comes the Miracle

Now that the seeds are in the soil, check your trays daily to ensure they remain moist.  Once they are triggered into growth, seeds need regular moisture to get through the first few weeks. First to appear above the soil will be a pair of pseudo-leaves closely followed by the first true leaves. Once that happens, give yourself a pat on the back. You’re on your way to a healthy, bountiful garden.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

[wd_hustle id="5" type="embedded"/]

Top 10 Posts

Get Your Garden Tools Ready for Spring

Get Your Garden Tools Ready for Spring

Many of us are still dealing with frigid weather. Spring can seem a long way off but a month from now things will be different. But before the weather warms you can get ahead of the game and get your garden tools ready for the season.

Rotisserie Chicken Soup

Rotisserie Chicken Soup

The majority of my at-home dinners are from scratch – or nearly so. But we all have those days when ToDo list overwhelms the time available and you have to punt. That’s when a rotisserie chicken can save the day.

Is It Spring Yet?

Is It Spring Yet?

As I write this post, my Fort Worth home has an inch of snow on the ground from a storm that passed through two days ago. Texans are feeling downright edgy being cooped up from all that white stuff that has no business this far south.  But slowly the days will warm and  we will be on our way to the first signs of spring. Get ready with these gardening tips.

New Ideas For Your 2022 Garden

New Ideas For Your 2022 Garden

Happy New Year! Wherever you are, whatever your circumstances, may the coming year bring you many joyful moments. Of course I hope some of those happy times take place in and around gardens. To help you make this come true I’ve collected a few ideas to get you out of your comfort zone and into something new.

Caring For a Rosemary Holiday Bush

Caring For a Rosemary Holiday Bush

Beautiful though they are, most rosemary holiday bushes often don’t last beyond the holiday season. Rosemary is an outdoor shrub, not an indoor tropical houseplant. The techniques homeowners use to successfully grow philodendrons and ferns indoors will kill rosemary. Here’s what to do.

Bogus Gardening Advice, Part II

Bogus Gardening Advice, Part II

Here, ladies and gentlemen, is my second helping of bogus garden hacks from an article I found online. The offending article was on one of those sites that claim to give the reader the “real facts” hitherto hidden from the average reader.

Bogus Gardening Advice, Part I

Bogus Gardening Advice, Part I

My beloved husband is always on the lookout for garden articles on the Internet that I might find interesting. Most of his discoveries are worthwhile. Recently however he forwarded a link to a page that had my blood boiling within minutes.

Making a Rosemary Garland

Making a Rosemary Garland

With the cooling fall weather, herb gardeners are busy harvesting and prepping the garden for winter. This includes some trimming of the shrubs that may have exceeded their allotted space.

Cinnamon Pecan Scones

Cinnamon Pecan Scones

Here in Texas the pecan tree is a native so nearly everyone has a source nearby for pecans. I the spirit of the Lone Star State here are some classic scones with cinnamon and pecan to add a flavor kick.

Adding Herbs to Tea

Adding Herbs to Tea

There’s nothing quite as annoying to a confirmed tea lover as living in a Coffee Nation. Coffee is the default drink everywhere you go. This is never more obvious than when attending a banquet.

About Ann McCormick

I Believe

Books I Like