Starting your plants from seeds is significantly more cost effective than buying starts from the nursery year after year. Yes, there are initial set-up costs, which completely vary based on how elaborate a system you want to create to start seeds, but after that, it really is just the cost of a packet of seeds.
Moreover, most gardens don’t require using the entire packet of seeds each season, and with the proper storage, you can save seeds from year to year {or save your own} with even deeper savings.
Seeds
First, you need to acquire yourself some seeds. These days I use seeds from Botanical Interests, Baker Creek and Johnny’s simply because I have found they have a great selection, they produce really hardy plants, and the quality of their seeds are awesome.
Start by ordering seed catalogs {or browsing online catalogs}. Make a list of everything you want to grow and research the varieties. This is your chance to grow heirlooms that you would never find in your grocery store.
Pay special attention to their growing requirements, though, to make sure they will work well in your region. RESIST the temptation to go nuts ordering. 😉
Order what you need, make a note of what you’d like to try in the future. Sign up for their emails and special offers, because at some point during the season, most seed companies will offer free shipping. You can also buddy up with a friend to hit their standard free shipping minimums.
If you don’t have a convenient or good source of natural light streaming into your home, seriously, seriously consider grow lights if you plan on starting your plants from seeds.
You don’t have to get a fancy schmancy ones like I have, though they have more than paid for themselves. You can start with a small can light with a grow bulb that you can purchase at Home Depot {or the like} and see the difference for yourself.
I really believe that this is the reason a lot of plants fail when starting from seed–there just isn’t adequate light {in most cases} to start some plants on window sills. They end up all spindly, and never really produce as well.
Containers
You can save containers from nursery purchases from previous years and use those {just make sure to get them a diluted bleach/water rinse first}, use yogurt containers, egg cartons, purchases grow trays, grow bags, or make your own seedling pots. It really doesn’t matter, just so long as they have proper drainage.
If you start super early, you’ll want to transplant your seedlings indoors to bigger pots once before you transplant them outside {this is particularly true of slow growers like tomatoes and peppers}. Have the larger sized containers on hand and ready to go.
The seed packets will give you a “days to maturity” estimate. In my experience, you want to tack on a few extra days to that, because it always takes a little longer. Also, that days to maturity really should start about the time you transplant them outside.
The stress of transplanting usually sets them back a bit. If you directly sow, you can start your day count when you see green poke through the ground.
I typically follow those basic rules of thumb for my planning–sometimes, I get lucky and get a crop earlier than expected, but I do it mostly to avoid running out of the proper kind of weather for the plant to finish maturing.
Really nerd out during the seed starting process. You think you’ll remember which plants liked water, heat, or did better with this or that. You won’t. Take notes, so that next year, you don’t have to learn the lessons again.
Check your plants a couple of times a day
Some plants suck water, and some containers do not hold water. Checking your plants multiple times a day allows you to monitor their watering needs.
Of course, you don’t want to keep them drenched, but in general, if you push your finger into the dirt up to the nail bed and it is dry, it’s time for a drinky-drink {even if that does mean twice a day on occasion}.
There is no sense in babying your little seedlings all the way to the point of them being ready to plant only to kill them in the transplanting process. Seedlings started indoors are used to being pampered.
The spring breezes, fluctuations in temperature, and soil change will stress. them. out. It’s best to get them acclimated the best you can by hardening them off. It’s like toughening up your kids, only your plants won’t talk back. 😉
Those are all the basic tips I can think of for any of you toying with the idea of starting your garden from seed this year. Do any of YOU have any more quick tips?
Keep calm and garden on,
~Mavis
JB says
I highly recommend the use of heat mats for successful seed germination, especially for warm season types like tomatoes & peppers. Plant your trays or pots, then place on a heat mat. No light is needed during this time. When 50% of your seeds have sprouted, move your trays off the heat & introduce strong light. Check your containers for water even more frequently when using heat mats.
Mel says
I’ve found air temperature to be almost as important as light. I started off with my grow lights in the basement, but heat-loving plants were a little stressed down there. They did okay sprouting, but they showed signs of cold stress as they got bigger, so I’ve started them upstairs since (even though that takes tons of space). On the flip side though, our cold basement was an ideal place to start cool-weather vegetables in August to be planted out for Fall.
I’m skipping seed starting this year and have ordered plant starts. There’s not as much variety to choose from, but it is very convenient.
Kath says
As a small gardener trying to save money, I save some seeds and I order most of my seeds from Pinetree Garden Seeds (Superseeds.com). They are in Maine. They offer smaller seed packets at a smaller cost than the bigger seed companies. This allows me to try more varieties at a lesser cost than ordering from the bigger seed companies. (Note: I am not affiliated with them in any way, just have been ordering from them for many years, without any issues.)
Diane Dodge says
I love Pinetree Seeds–great company.
Dianna says
I just ordered from Pinetree for the first time this year. The prices can’t be beat, and many of the varieties were the same as I’d ordered from other companies. Really pleased with what I got from them!
HollyG says
My seeds on heat mats with grow light are off to a lovely start this year. I planted the kale and chard starts out into the garden this morning, the tomatoes have been moved into larger pots to get ready for the greenhouse and all of the others are hanging out under the grow lights until they get a little bigger. Artistic Gardens / Le Jardin du Gourmet is a fun place to shop for sample packs – they have fewer seeds (depending on the variety) and are only 40 cents. Great fun for winter squash and other things that I don’t need 10 or 15 of the same thing.
T says
I use heat mats, grow lights, and after things have started germinating, I use a fan on oscillate to simulate wind. This encourages seedlings to develop stronger stems which is important for their later lives.
LindaT says
I used to fail regularly in the seed starting area until I bought a grow light. It does make a tremendous difference in the sprout time and in the health of the plants.
Mavis, could you say a few things about how to harvest seeds for next year and the best way(s) to keep them until it is time to start them? I really enjoy your blog.
Cindy Miller says
Wow! Just read about your weekend. That sounds kind of scary. I hope all is better now.
You certainly have a lot of seedlings. I just planted my seeds two days ago in my little zip up greenhouse. We shall see. Their seeds right?
Pat says
Cindy, do you have your little zip up greenhouse outside or inside? Do you have lights in it?
Dee Patterson says
Here in Devon , England , the weather is definitely warming up more than it ever did , so things previously thought not possible to grow are now attempted.
Figs, sweet potatoes all seem more possible.
Then along comes a sharp frost in almost unknown months and it’s suddenly a lot harder to grow things than it ever was.
But we just try and try and generally something edible is grown .
It’s not easy but it is fun .