Seed Starting 101

Happy Tuesday, friends! Afer popular request, I am finally sharing how I start my seeds. Now I am NOT an expert on seed starting but I have successfully done this for a few years now. I am sure there are so many other ways of doing this so make sure you do plenty of research and do the method that works best for you. I personally prefer to direct sow but some seeds require a little extra growing time in cooler temps. But before we get into those details, there are a THREE essential steps to lay the groundwork for success. Let’s dive right in!

Prepping: Three Essential Steps

• Check Frost Dates: This just simply means checking what your growing zone’s potential last frost date is in order to keep your seedlings safe. I like to use The Old Farmer’s Almanac to calculate mine. 
• Test for Freshness: If you have leftover seeds from previous years or are unsure of their origin, it’s important to test their viability before planting. The simplest way to do this is with the classic wet paper towel method. Take 10 seeds and place them on a damp paper towel, then seal them inside a plastic ziplock bag. Position the bag near a sunny window and monitor for sprouting. If only five seeds germinate, you have a 50% germination rate and should sow extra seeds to compensate.
• Start Small: I have mentioned this before with dahlias, but it’s worth repeating—don’t get ahead of yourself and overdo it! I say this from personal experience. If you’re a beginner, resist the temptation to buy and plant too many seeds. This will help you avoid burnout and prevent wasted time, effort, and money on seeds that never make it into the ground.

Starting Seeds 

When it comes to starting seeds we have TWO options: Indirect Sowing (indoors) or Direct Sowing (outdoors). I do not have too much experience with indirect sowing but I have done it a few times. Enough to give you very basic information. But keep in mind that if I can do YOU can do it too! 

Indirect Sowing 

The biggest benefit of starting seeds indoors is it gives you a head start on planting and can protect tiny seedlings from the weather and pests. Also, some flowers like Sweet Peas do better being started earlier so they have time to grow big and strong before the Georgia heat arrives.

Here is what you are going to do:

1. Sow: Fill trays or pots with a quality seed starting soil and make sure it’s nice and moist. Last year I used a mixture of peat moss and vermiculite but this year I used a bag of seed starting mixture. Place one or two seeds per cell at depths recommended on the packet, then cover with your mixture. IMPORTANT: Don’t forget to label what you are planting! 
2. Light: Seeds can germinate on a windowsill BUT for the strongest, best results, use a grow light. Many seeds do not need light to germinate, but once their first leaves break the surface, 12-14 hours of strong light per day will prevent weak, leggy seedlings. 
3. Water: This is definitely where I struggle the most because it’s pretty tedious. It’s very important to keep seedlings evenly moist but not wet to where they can rot. I like to use a spray bottle to keep them “moist”. This year I am using these seedling starter bundles with lids and they have been amazing! You add water to the tops and they essentially become tiny greenhouses. 
4. Harden Off and Transplanting: Once seedlings have developed four to five sets of true leaves, they’re ready to be moved to a garden bed or a larger pot outdoors. But here’s the catch—you can’t just pop them outside and hope for the best. Before settling them into their forever home, they need a period of “acclimatization” to adjust to outdoor temperatures. This is where knowing the last frost date becomes crucial. Planting them out too soon could expose them to an unexpected freeze, risking all your hard work.To harden them off, place the seedlings in a sheltered spot with some morning sun, then bring them back indoors before nightfall. After about a week of this routine, the will be strong enough to thrive in their new outdoor environment.

Direct Sowing 

As mentioned before, direct sowing is my personal favorite because I am a lazy gardener. Just kidding but not really. I have just found that if your seeds sprout in your garden they will be stronger because they start life thriving in their environment. You do have things to worry about: spontaneous bad weather, pests and soil inconsistencies. Nevertheless, I still believe it’s superior to indirect sowing. Here is what you need to know:

1. Prepare Beds: Once again, check that last frost date and make sure seeds are planted at the right time. I like to wait 2-3 weeks AFTER the tentative last frost date just to play it safe. Before it’s time to plant, I highly recommend getting a soil test done if you are reusing old beds. That way you know exactly what you need to provide your soil with. If you are starting fresh, plan on buying a few bags of compost and garden soil. I typically do 1-2 bags of compost and then top with garden soil. I then mix well. 
2. Sow: Following the instructions on the seed packets on spacing and depth, plant your seeds in your garden beds/boxes. Make sure to remember to label what you planted! 
3. Water: Keep beds well-watered, especially in the hot summer days. What helps me is setting up a schedule if it hasn’t rained all week. I try to do a deep watering every 2-3 days. 
4. Thin: Most seed packets instruct you to sow thickly in order to get the best results. This can sometimes lead to overcrowding so make sure you thin seedlings after germination. 
5. Feed: Set your flowers and vegetables up on a feeding (fertilizer) schedule. For my more heavy feeders like dahlias, I feed them every other Sunday. I do this until their flowers bloom and then I cut back to once per month. 
6. Cut Away: For flowers and most veggies, make sure you are constantly cutting. This will encourage the plant to produce more blooms AND you get to enjoy them in your home. Or gift them to a friend! 

I hope you find this post helpful. Remember you can SHOP all my essentials by clicking here. If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment or send me an email. 

Happy planting!