How to Start Seeds for Planting

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Start your own seeds to save money, grow different plant varieties, and extend your growing season.

To complete this How-To you will need:

Flowerpots or flats with holes for drainage
Seed starting soil
Seeds
Plastic sheets, wrap, or bags
A light source
A warm location
Bleach solution
Tray to hold pots or flats
Flowerpots or flats with holes for drainage
Seed starting soil
Seeds
Plastic sheets, wrap, or bags
A light source
A warm location
Bleach solution
Tray to hold pots or flats

Step 1: Prepare pots or flats

Wash the pots and flats in warm soapy water. Rinse them thoroughly and drain.

Tip: To kill fungi and bacteria in previously used pots, soak them for 30 minutes in a solution of 10 parts water to 1 part bleach, then rinse and drain.

Step 2: Prepare seed starting mix

Purchase seed starting soil from a local nursery, or mix your own. The ideal mix contains equal parts garden soil, vermiculite, which is a kind of sand, and peat or compost.

Step 3: Moisten seed starting mix

Add water to your soil mix, but only enough to lightly moisten it.

Tip: Do not overwater. Waterlogged soil can cause rot and prevent germination.

Step 4: Plant seeds

Plant your seeds according to the depth and spacing instructions on the seed packet, and then lightly cover them with soil. Gingerly press the soil onto the seeds and sparingly add water over them.

Step 5: Cover pots

Cover the pots with plastic sheets, wrap, or bags to create a greenhouse effect and keep moisture in the soil.

Step 6: Set in warm location

Set the pots in a warm location, such as a water heater top, refrigerator top, or sunny window. Check the soil moisture daily and water only when needed. Do not over water.

Step 7: Remove covers after germination

Remove the plastic covers once the seeds begin to sprout.

Tip: After germination, place the pots in a tray, and add water to the tray. Watering from the bottom prevents overwatering and helps thwart a kind of fungus that can kill seedlings.

Step 8: Provide light

Place the germinated seeds in or near a sunny window. To encourage straight growth and prevent a thin, weak stem, place the new sprouts directly under a light source, such as a fluorescent light.

Step 9: Harden-off plants

When your plants have several sets of leaves, and the weather is warm enough, set the plants outside for increasing lengths of time. Start with 2 hours, and gradually work up to leaving them out all day.

Step 10: Plant your garden!

You're ready to transfer those flowers and vegetables you worked so hard to cultivate to the garden. Enjoy the fruits of your labor!

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Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• HomeFamily
• planting
• seeds
• growing
• gardening
• garden
• house
• home
• yard
• lawn
• saving

[sacarara]

Now I can start my pot business

[sfnoodles]

Gotta <3 Howcast, its helping America from being the dumbest country in the whole universe!

[briangunn21]

@samgraves2 Yeah really, they are probably English which is even worse.

[briangunn21]

@sfnoodles That comment was the dumbest in the whole universe!

[humgum44]

i start talking to mine while they are still in a wet tissue papper.

[samgraves2]

Thumbs down these anti-American comments. There's no need for bigotry.

[kiettram4869]

@gtgale1 That's a very good idea, but the problem is... HOW ARE WE GUNNA GET THE WATER?!?!? People are staving to death, but they are being dehydrated to death....

[babar9721]

@gtgale1 Only problem is, (most) people are lazy and prefer counting on others for the hard work. Doesn't it feel easier to pick vegetables just in the supermarket?

[JOSEFAJIMENEZ]

UE PASO MAMA ?? THIS IS MEXLIFORNIA I,M FROM LOS ANGELES CLOSE TO SAN FERNARDINO LIKE 3 MILE FROM SAN GRABIEL HALOOOOOO WHERE ARE YOU FROM ??? LETME GESS ?? YOU ARE FROM SAN FERNANDO  STUPID

[JOSEFAJIMENEZ]

QUE PASO MAMA ?? THIS IS MEXLIFORNIA I,M FROM LOS ANGELES CLOSE TO SAN FERNARDINO LIKE 3 MILE FROM SAN GRABIEL HALOOOOOO WHERE ARE YOU FROM ??? LETME GESS ?? YOU ARE FROM SAN FERNANDO STUPID

[JOSEFAJIMENEZ]

QUE PASO MAMA ?? THIS IS MEXLIFORNIA I,M FROM LOS ANGELES CLOSE TO SAN FERNARDINO LIKE 3 MILE FROM SAN GRABIEL HALOOOOOO WHERE ARE YOU FROM ??? LETME GESS ?? YOU ARE FROM SAN FERNANDO STUPID