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There are many successful ways to start a plant from a seed. Here is my best way and some amazing tips to get you on your way!
Why Start Seeds Indoors?
By starting your seeds indoors, you can get a jump on your perfect planting times. You can have your transplants ready to be planted once the temperature gets ready. Indoors you can start 4-6 weeks ahead of time. Critters and other seed-eating varmints cannot reach your precious seedlings and destroy your efforts.
Use a Seedling Cup
Plastic cups, small glass jars, egg cartons, tuna or other tin cans, even plastic bags with a damp cloth to keep the moisture going. You can also use peat pellets. Even pudding cups would do the trick. For this article, I have setup quite a few strawberry seeds in different fashions. I’m looking forward to seeing which method works the best. This could cause me to change my ways… nah!
Larger pots to start with will help you keep your seedlings where they are at for a little longer. Peat pellets work great, but need to be transplanted sooner as they get outgrown quickly.
Cups NOT to Use
Any cups that flare at the bottom are not so easy to work with. They will start your seedling just fine as would any other planter, but when you go to transplant them the flare will hold the dirt down, ripping the delicate roots apart. Look for something that has more of a ‘V-shape’ or simply use an old egg carton.
I have been experimenting with using plastic cups cut and doubled to see if I can get a better start. Find out my experiences that lead me to this point here.
If you use a plastic bag, I have found that by having something to keep the baggie off the seeds, when you open the bag the leaves are not yanked off by accident. A mango see is a perfect way to start with this method. The seedling is a lot more durable and will not be harmed as easily. If this is your first try, start with the mango seed first in the plastic baggie.
Getting Dirty with Soil
Use a light and fluffy soil. I have found that using your garden soil will not work as well. This soil is typically too heavy to obtain great results.
For any cups, fill them with enough soil to allow for drainage and room to grow slightly. This will not be their permanent home, but will be for the next month or so. Afterward they can be easily transplanted into larger more permanent pots or other. Use my soil mix that I have found to have the best outcome here. At this point the soil needs only to be barely damp. Add enough water to where the soil is not dry. We will be adding more water after the seeds have been planted, don’t worry.
Seeds, Seeds, and More Seeds
Time to harvest your seedlings. Be very delicate when transplanting from one container to another. When you are planting your seeds, they do not need to be buried too deeply. Planting seeds too deep is a common problem. By simply sticking your finger into the dirt about 1/2 an inch or so is all you need. If you have critters or bugs you are concerned about, a little deeper could keep them from being dug up. Place a few seeds in each hole and cover them gently. Once you are happy with your seed placement, very gently and slowly add more water. This will allow the soil to settle and push out some of the air pockets that might still be there.
For my strawberries, I have placed about 15 or so seeds in each small container hoping to get a nice growth going. I started placing them with tweezers, but did not have much luck. So by the end, I was simply brushing them off of the damp cloth, allowing them to land on the top soil, and added a second layer to the top.
Mark Your Territory
Which plants are in which pottery? Ensure you have marked which seed you placed into each pot. Doing so will help you place the correct plant in the correct garden once they are moved later on.
Just a Little Bit of Water Daily
Once your soil is damp for the first time, you should only need a drop or so of water each day. Careful not to overwater as this is a very delicate stage. The seeds should be reaching down for the water. By only watering at the base, you teach them the water is below them and to grow deep roots.
Recently, I thought I was under watering a plant that we had purchased, already grown. It did not survive so well to the point we thought it was completely gone. So it was left to be and forgotten about. After months of not tending to it, I came across the potted plant in the side yard. I was astounded to find that it was growing again! This time around we have been extremely careful not to over water. In fact, because of this, I have changed pots to a new self-watering wicking pot. It’s made a ton of a difference, see why this is my permanent go-to style from now on here.
Read More: Self Wicking Planters
Reap What You Sow
Depending on your seeds, you should start seeing some results after about a week or so. Some take longer and others will grow faster.
Bonus
Terrarium style. I have decided with this round, that I will see if a sealed glass jar will help with the process. The steps are the same, but instead of an open container, I will be sealing the moisture in and creating its own biosphere. Hopefully, the results are favorable. By closing and sealing the lit shut, this will allow its own rainforest effect and even keep the warmth inside as a greenhouse would.