What you will need:

• Seeds
• Seed Starting Tray, Preferably One With A Plastic Lid
• Good Quality Seed Starting Mix
• Cookie Sheet or Something For The Trays To Sit On When Watered
• Wood, Metal or Plastic Plant Labels. One For Each Tray.
• Small Pots For Transplanting Your Seedlings.
• Good Quality Potting Mix.

1. For best germination, seeds need a loose, disease-free starting mix, not rich, heavy garden soil. Use a special, soil-less mixture prepared for starting seeds. Most soil-less seed starting mixes are so light they tend to blow around in the slightest breeze; to prevent this, wet the mixture thoroughly before you begin. Place it in a bucket, add warm water, and mix with your hands or a long handled trowel until it is evenly moist but not dripping wet. (You should not be able to squeeze any water out of a handful of soil.)

2. Fill your clean container with the damp mix. Press the seed mix down as you fill the tray, then tamp it to level and firm the soil surface, using a piece of scrap wood (a paint stirrer works well also). Add more mix to fill the container to within a half-inch of the rim. Water again before sowing the seeds so they won’t be washed around by a stream of water applied after sowing. Any excess water will run out of the drainage holes.

3. Sprinkle the seeds into the flat. Cut open one end of the seed packet and sow the seeds thinly, either “broadcast” or in row. We recommend rows; there is much better germination and the plants are less likely to need thinning (an extra step). Sowing seeds too thickly is a common mistake; seeds should be at least an eighth-inch apart. Don’t cover the seeds too deeply. As a rule of thumb cover seeds to a depth three times their diameter, or roughly a quarter inch; large seeds like peas and beans need to be about an inch deep. Use your plant labels and write the name of the plant and the sowing date; stick it into or onto the container. Trust us...you can forget what is growing in your seed flats! And...it’s amazing how many seedlings actually look alike!

4. Seeds need warmth and constant, even moisture to germinate well. This is why we suggested you purchase a seed starting tray with a plastic lid. If you don’t have a plastic lid, use a sheet of glass, acrylic or plastic wrap to cover your tray. Don’t seal it so tightly you cut off all air circulation, or mold may develop on the surface of the soil. Good air circulation discourages damping-off and other fungal diseases. If the seeds need dark to germinate, cover the flat with a black plastic. If they need light set the flat in full light-not in direct sun-which would be too hot-until the seeds sprout. Keep the soil moist. If it becomes dry to the touch, mist it immediately or set the container in a pan of warm water. Keep the seed flat warm, but not hot. Room temperature is okay. You may also want to consider purchasing a seedling mat. These are like little heating pads that keep your seedlings at just the right temperatures. As soon as the seeds sprout remove the cover and set them on a windowsill or where they can get good light. At least 12 hours of light every day is recommended. A fluorescent light with an automatic timer is ideal.

5. Like all young sprouts, seedlings need tender care until they put down good roots and get settled. Coddle them with warmth, plenty of light and water, and good air circulation. When the seedlings have developed their first pair of true leaves (they’ll still be less than 2 inches high) transplant them to a roomier container. We prefer using small individual pots filled with a professional potting mix. Begin by lifting a bunch of seedlings out of the moist soil and separating them, gently, one by one. Hold them by the seed leaves, never by the stems. Their stems will be very soft and tender at this point. Using a pencil (yes, a pencil) make a hole (deep enough to hold the roots) in the soil and tuck the small seedling into it so that its leaves are slightly above the surface. Gently tamp into place. Water using mister with a fine spray.

 There are many other plants that are easily grown from seed...we just wanted to name a few.