Seed Starting

Made Simple!

There are SO MANY different ways to start seeds—probably the same amount as there are gardeners. This is the simplest way that I have found that not only works for me, but also repurposes plastic jugs that otherwise go straight into the recycling bin. (At my house, our mantra is reuse, reduce, and then recycle!)

I start with a one-gallon water or milk jug. I like a deep container, so i cut about the bottom three-four inches off for my pot.

The top of the jug doesn’t go to waste either. It can be used either as a cover for protection if you want to place your seeds outside OR it can be cut apart to make plastic plant tags.

Don’t skip this next step—cut drainage slits on all four sides. For winter sowing, I just make slits so some water can escape but yet the pot will not dry out too quickly in my warm house. If I’m sowing over the spring or summer, I want more drainage, so i will make a small hole, not just a slit.

After i have a pot for each type of seed i want to sow, it is time to prepare the soil. I always try to use a mix specified for seed starting because it is sterile and there are a lot fewer issues with damping off disease. However, the bottom inch or two in my pot is almost always just regular old potting mix. The top inch or so will be the seed starting mix.

I wet the mix BEFORE i scoop it into my containers because it is easier, faster, and less messy than mixing it in the container. Let it sit for a few minutes so that the mix has time to fully absorb the water.

After you put the mix into the container, it’s time to plant your seeds! Depending on the plant, I will place 6 to 9 seeds in each pot. If they get too close together, I use a small stick (a chopstick works perfectly!) to spread out the seed.

The stick can also be used to push the seed down to the appropriate planting depth—which varies by type of seed but should be on the seed packet.

Most seeds will come inside with me and go next to the heating vent until they germinate. However, some seeds need to be cold-stratified, so they will either stay inside the unheated greenhouse or go right onto an outside shelf where I will most likely forget about their existence until closer to my frost-free date!

Starting plants from seed is a small act of faith in the season ahead. Keep tending, keep dreaming, and before long, those tiny sprouts will be the first sign that your garden year is officially underway! With any luck in a week or two you will begin to see signs of life!