Seed Starting

Want to start your own vegetable and flower seeds indoors? Start Here!

What you will need.  

1. Quality Seeds

2. Propagation trays or pots

3. Growing medium or soil

4. Grow light

1.)     Quality Seeds.

   Germination rates will be higher when using quality seeds. Seeds lose viability when stored improperly. What’s proper seed storage?  Cool, dark, and dry (the opposite conditions for seed growth!) My personal seed storage includes seeds stored in zip lock bags or airtight mason jars and then placed into the refrigerator. If your seeds were not stored in proper conditions, I recommend starting with new seeds.

2.)     Propagation trays or pots. Its best to start with new or sanitized propagation trays. I like to use 128 or 50 cell trays depending on what I am seeding. Peet pots or sanitized recycled containers are also options.

3.)        Growing medium should be sterile and should not have any fertilizer in it.  Premixed blends with fertilizer are too “hot” (nitrogen hot) for seeds and will burn them. A blend intended for germination is also an option. I like to use Pro-Mix potting soil.

4.)    Lighting.      Seeds need proper light to avoid etiolation (elongated pale stems.) Etiolated plants are weaker and more susceptible to disease. A simple florescent shop light is sufficient to start seeds indoors if used properly. The light needs to be directly over the tray. As the seeds germinate and start to grow, you will need to adjust the light based on the height of the plant. You want the light as close to the plant as possible without touching it. I also like to use a light timer, so I do not have to remember to turn it on and off daily.  I use a T5 Fluorescent grow light.

Now you’re ready to seed!

1.)     Prepare the soil. Prepare the soil by pre-moistening it. I like to mix my soil in a storage bin. Most growing mediums are very dry (for ease of transport) so they will need a significant amount of water. You will mix the soil water mixture like cake batter. The ideal hydration level should be tested by squeezing a handful of soil in your hand. It should not be dripping. When you open your hand back up, the clump of soil should not fall apart but hold firm together like a patty.

2.)     Prepare your trays.  Pack the pre-moistened soil into the trays or pots of choice. Be sure to tamp the trays down for compaction and fill all four corners to the top. Once filled, brush off the excess soil on the walls between cells.

3.)    Label    I recommend labeling what you are seeding so it stays organized. Also, if you have a seed failure on one crop, you will know what needs re-seeded.

4.)     Let’s seed!     Let us seed!  For most crops, you will want to seed one seed per cell. I seed one seed per cell for all brassicas, lettuce heads, tomatoes, peppers, summer, zucchini, cucumber, celery, sage, and most flowers. If you seed more than one seed per cell they will compete with each other and etiolate. The only seeds I seed multiple seeds per cell include clumping herbs like lavender, rosemary, thyme, marjoram, and mint. Once seeds are in their cell, I press them firming into the soil with my fingers. You can sprinkle a fine sift of vermiculite over the seeds if you like but I usually just press them in firmly and leave as is. 

5.)     Watering.     Now the seeds are in moist soil trays, they need misted frequently. How frequently depends on your conditions. You want the soil medium to stay moist for proper germination. Sometimes its just once a day whereas in warmer conditions it might require several mists a day.  I would plan to check in on the seeds 3 times a day. Morning, mid-day, and at sunset.

6.)     Temperature. Most seeds germinate best between 68- and 86-degree F. If your home is not warm enough, a seeding dome is possible to use. The dome will assist with warmth and moisture. Be careful not to overwater if you are using a dome since it retains moisture as opposed to open air loss.

Timing. You want to seed at the appropriate time.

- Cool season crops (lettuce, spinach, brassicas, and chard) I seed at the beginning of March and plant out into the garden April 1st-15th.  

-Warm season crops (tomatoes, peppers, and basil) I seed in mid-April and plant out into the garden May 25th – June 1st.

-Cucurbits (winter squash, summer squash, zucchini, and melon) grow extremely fast, so I don’t seed them it until beginning to mid-May and plant them out into the garden May 25th – June 1st.

If this is your first time seeding, I recommend starting with beginner friendly crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, kale, lettuce, and basil.

If you live in Michigan, most of these items will be available at your local grow store. Other states may have to purchase these products online.