Tips to Getting Seeds Started

For many people, starting seeds from scratch for a planned gardening is the ultimate in gardening. The act of actually getting your little seedling started; however, can be much easier said than done. Read on for more tips to help you get started.

First, you will need to obtain a container in which to start your seedlings. Basically, anything will work as long as it will hold moisture for your plants and is fairly sturdy. You don’t necessarily need to go out and buy expensive potting containers unless you simply want to do so. You can easily recycle something from your kitchen, such as a used butter dish or even a milk carton. Just make sure that you wish it out thoroughly first. If you do use something like this, you will need to make sure that you install a hole in the container in order to drain excess water out or you will have a problem on your hands because your seedlings will become too wet and begin to rot.

Once this is done you’ll need to choose a potting mix. This is an important decision because it can tremendously affect how well your seedlings perform. For seedlings it’s usually best to choose a starter mix that is sterilized and actually soil free. This will help to prevent any diseases that might cause problems with your young seedlings.

Light is also important when starting your own seedlings, as with any plants. For young plants, you will typically need to provide artificial lights in order to provide the twelve to fourteen hours of direct light required by most young seedlings. You have a couple of choices in this matter. Most garden centers carry lights for this purpose; however, you can also use a simple combination of cool and warm fluorescent bulbs; which is actually much cheaper. Make sure the plants are close enough to the bulbs to receive enough warmth and light but at the same time make sure they don’t actually touch the bulbs.

Finally, last but not least, make sure that you start with good quality seeds for the best results. If you are reusing seeds from a prior season, always make sure that they have been stored securely and never use any seeds that show any signs of mold. Likewise, when ordering or purchasing seeds, make sure that you purchase only seeds that have been stored in an airtight container to avoid any potential problems with mold, which could affect the germination of the plants.

 
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