Seed Starting Guide

Storage:

If seeds are obtained well ahead of the actual planting date (or you have extra leftover seeds), store them in a cool, dry place. A good storage location would be an airtight jar in the refrigerator.

Growing plants from seeds:

Seeds can be started in a variety of containers. The most important things to have are good drainage (holes in the bottom to let extra water out) and a lightweight loose soil to start with. Look for a potting soil, seed starting soil, or a pre-packaged seed starting tray with included media to plant seeds in. Do not use garden soil from your landscape to start seedlings; it is too heavy and it does not drain well.

Some seeds can be started indoors in a bright window or under a grow light 4 to 12 weeks before the last spring frost. They can be transplanted to the garden once they have grown strong roots and leaves, and the risk of freezing weather is gone. (After March 29th for our local area)

Other kinds of seeds start best when planted directly into the garden where they will grow. (See our planting guide for more info.)

When sowing seeds in a container, fill your container to within 3⁄4-inch of the top with moistened soil. Place small seeds on top of the soil and then sprinkle a thin layer of additional soil over the top of them. Generally, larger seeds can be pressed into the soil twice as deep as the seed is long and covered over with soil to fill the hole where they are planted. If planting more than one seed in a container, be sure to allow space between the seeds for them to grow.

Make sure that the soil stays moist (not wet) while the seeds are sprouting. You can place the whole container into a clear plastic bag to maintain moisture, but be sure to remove the plastic bag when the first seedlings emerge.

After the seeds have germinated, move the containers to a bright location with plenty of light; ideally the temperature should be 65 to 70°F during the day and 55°F to 60°F at night. As spring approaches they can be set outside on sunny days and brought inside at night.

Keep in mind:

A common mistake is to sow seeds too early and then attempt to hold the seedlings under poor environmental conditions (not enough light, too small of a container, too dry or too wet soil). This usually results in tall, weak, spindly plants that do not perform well in the garden.