Growing Confidence

Part 1:

A Beginner’s Guide to Starting Seeds

I don’t know about you but I’m ready for spring. It’s not that the winter weather here in Missouri is that bad. In fact, the past few years it has been fairly mild, but it’s often very gray and I am a woman who needs some sunshine! I’m ready for warmer weather, bright sun, birds singing, things sprouting, and time outside without needing to wear a coat. 

 We have a few weeks left of winter but one thing that I can do (and you can too) to give me hope and to see the light at the end of the dark, winter tunnel, is to start some plants from seed. It’s exciting to see green plants pushing up through the dirt, even though there may be a pile of snow outside the window. 

 When it’s time to start your garden, you’ll be glad you had the foresight to throw some seeds in the dirt to get plants started ahead of time. Even if you’ve never gardened before but want to give it a try, it’s something you can do right away.

 Why start plants from seed, instead of buying them from the store?

•  It’s cheaper to start from seed. Seed prices will vary depending on where you buy them and whether or not you buy organic seeds. A packet of seeds can start from $1.50 and you’ll be able to grow several plants from one pack of seeds.

• Plant more varieties Local stores don’t always have a wide selection of plants or they might be out of something you really want. Ordering from seed companies gives you the opportunity to plant a greater variety. 

• Keep seeds and seedlings safe Growing plants inside from seed keep them safe from harsh weather and wind until they are established enough to plant outside

• Jumpstart Planting seeds inside gives you a head start on your garden plans. 

• A learning experience for kids It’s an amazing experience to put a seed in dirt and watch it grow into a beautiful plant. Kids love to learn about soil and the sun and how plants develop.

Best plants to start from seed inside? 

• Tomatoes
• Onion
• Peppers
• Broccoli

Plants that are better not started from seed? 

• Carrots 
• peas 
• melons 

Reasons for not planting certain seeds inside, is that the plants are delicate and may not survive transplanting. One solution is to start seeds in compostable pots. Once the seedling is ready, it can be planted directly into the dirt and the pot will disintegrate into the soil without disturbing the root system of the seedling.

What supplies do I need to start my own seeds?

• Containers You can put soil in almost any container to grow seeds: plastic grocery bags, old dresser drawers, or containers from the recycling bin. Just make sure there are drainage holes in the bottom of the container.

A few compostable container options for starting seeds are

• toilet paper rolls
• empty eggshells
• pots made from old newspapers
• peat pots 

All of these containers can be planted directly into the ground and will eventually disintegrate without disturbing the roots of your seedling.

• Soil It’s best to use a mix specifically for starting seeds. Many mixes use other ingredients besides dirt to help the seed germinate. Peat moss, coconut coir, perlite, compost, etc. provide sterile “soil” that provides nutrients for your seeds to grow. Digging up dirt from your back yard may transfer fungi and diseases that could be harmful to the seeds as they start to grow. 

 Seed starter mixes can be found at hardware stores or ordered from Amazon. Be sure to look for the OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) label on any starter mix that is labeled “organic”. OMRI is an organization that makes sure products labeled ‘organic’ are following certified organic standards.

• Seeds  Seeds can be found in the same stores that sell growing mix. You can find seed packets in almost any store you shop, including grocery stores.
  
  There are some great seed places online too, that offer a multitude of vegetables, flowers, and herbs. Check these places out:

• Johnny’s seeds
• Highmowing seeds
• Baker creek
• Seeds of Change

Be aware that this year, many seed companies have been overwhelmed with orders and often run out early. Sow, (see what I did there?) get your seed orders in as soon as possible.

• Sun or grow lights South-facing windows are a great place to start your plants. You can set your containers next to the window to get beneficial warmth and light. Rotating the seed containers regularly can help keep the lighting more consistent. Sometimes plants started near windows can get “spindly”. They grow tall toward the sun and may not leaf out as much. 

Another option is to set up grow lights for your seed starts. Artificial lighting can help keep the heat and light more consistent which helps plants grow fuller. Fluorescent lights will work for starting seeds or you can purchase lights specifically made for growing plants.

• Labels The older I get, the more I know my brain cannot always be trusted to remember things. Even the things I think it should be able to remember, (sometimes even the dog’s name escapes me).  Labeling seed containers can free up brain space so you can remember other things. Label your plants so you will remember what has been planted and what variety. 

You don’t have to spend a lot of money on labels. I’ve used popsicle sticks and written the plant name with a permanent marker. You can also cut rectangles out of old, plastic sour cream or cottage cheese containers. The plastic in those containers is similar to the labels that come with plants from a nursery. 

• Garden journal Although this isn’t something you have to have to make your seeds grow, it’s nice to have a place to make notes about what you planted, when they sprouted, where you want to put them, etc. This helps keep track of plants throughout the current season and the information can be used for the following year.

A garden journal can also be a great tool for drawing garden plans, descriptions of plant varieties, notes on the amount of light exposure around your yard, seed dates, etc. 

Are you still feeling a little unsure about how green your thumbs are? Seed packets include instructions to help with the timing of planting your seeds, what type of light they need (full, partial, or shade) the size of the plants when fully grown and how far apart they need to be planted.

There are many websites and Youtube videos available with information on growing plants from seed and other gardening information.

Starting a garden doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. Besides the cost of seeds and some potting soil, you don’t have to spend much at all. If starting a garden is something you’ve always wanted to do, give it a try this year. You’ll be amazed at how rewarding it can be.

Happy growing!

Are you interested in observing bees, butterflies, moths, and other amazing critters? Why not try building a pollinator habitat? 

Bee Constructive: Build a Pollinator Habitat to Grow with Your Child is a course for children and adults, beginner to intermediate gardeners, and anyone who wants to build an environment to attract pollinators. It’s easy to understand and provides practical ideas for projects to add to your garden.