Seed Starting Supplies
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Table of Contents
Introduction
There are a lot of benefits to starting your own seeds indoors before the gardening season gets underway. You will save money and have the opportunity to get your hands in the soil before winter has even released its grip on your garden. But the best part about starting seeds yourself is the enormous variety of plants you will have access to simply by buying seeds instead of nursery plants. Ready to dig in? Here are the basic seed starting supplies you need to grow your own seedlings and be the envy of your gardening neighbors.
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Toggle Containers for growing. status
Containers for growing.
Choose any of the following, or be creative and use what you have:
Toggle commercial seed-starting trays status
commercial seed-starting trays
Toggle egg cartons status
egg cartons
Toggle yogurt or other plastic food containers with holes punched in the bottom status
yogurt or other plastic food containers with holes punched in the bottom
Toggle tin soup cans with holes punched in the bottom status
tin soup cans with holes punched in the bottom
Toggle Soil for starting seeds. status
Soil for starting seeds.
This is the most important of your seed starting supplies. Your mix should drain well and be light and fluffy. Use a commercial seed-starting mix, or make your own using:
Toggle 4 parts compost, homemade or store bought status
4 parts compost, homemade or store bought
Toggle 1 part peat moss status
1 part peat moss
Toggle 1 part vermiculite status
1 part vermiculite
Toggle ½ part perlite status
½ part perlite
Toggle Seeds. status
Seeds.
Choosing seeds is a great winter activity. Scour seed catalogs for new and exciting varieties, trade seeds with your gardening friends, or attend a community seed swap.
Toggle Water. status
Water.
Once you have filled your containers with the seed-starting soil, water the containers thoroughly. After you have planted your seeds, you should mist everything gently with a sprayer full of water twice a day.
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Fertilizer.
Your little plants won’t need fertilizer for a few weeks. After they have grown several sets of leaves, use a diluted mix of organic, liquid fertilizer in a spray bottle. Give them a good spraying every 5 days. This is called foliar feeding.
Toggle Plastic wrap or commercial seed tray covers. status
Plastic wrap or commercial seed tray covers.
Cover your trays with clear plastic to keep the seeds warm and reduce moisture loss. The plastic covering can be removed once your plants sprout and start to grow.
Toggle Light. status
Light.
You can put your seedlings in a south-facing window that gets lots of sunshine, or you can supplement with a commercial grow light.
Toggle Warmth. status
Warmth.
Most plants will germinate and grow well when kept between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 24 degrees Celsius). If your room is much cooler than this, you will have to use an electric heating pad that can be positioned under your containers. Made especially for starting seeds, these heaters will warm your plants from the roots up for optimal growing conditions.
Toggle Patience. status
Patience.
Your seeds will take between 4 and 10 days to germinate, and another six to eight weeks to grow big enough to move outside. Give them plenty of water, warmth, and light, and you will soon have a thriving young garden ready for planting.
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Presented by:
Tara Schatz
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Details
Seed Starting Supplies Tips
- Start your seeds six to eight weeks before your last frost date, which is when they will be ready to go outside.
- If you don't have a sunny window, you can grow your plants entirely under artificial florescent lights. Make sure to position the lights a few inches from the plants for maximum growth potential.
- When the days warm up, you can move your plants outside for a few hours, but be sure to bring them in before the sun goes down.
Who it's for
This Seed Starting Supplies is for anyone who wants a simple, practical way to get things done without missing steps.
- Avoid forgetting - keep all your Seed Starting Supplies essentials in one place (external memory)
- Save time - start from a proven Seed Starting Supplies structure instead of a blank page
- Stay on track - track progress, come back later, and keep momentum
- Coordinate with others - share the list and divide responsibilities
- Learn the process - follow the steps in a sensible order, even if it's your first time
How to use it
How to use this Seed Starting Supplies
- Save Seed Starting Supplies to your free Checklist account so your progress is saved and synced across devices.
- Customize it in the app: remove anything that does not apply, then add your own details for Seed Starting Supplies (dates, sizes, addresses, notes).
- If others are involved, invite them to collaborate and divide responsibilities.
- Work through the list: check items off as you go, and set reminders for time-sensitive steps.
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