Winter can be a tough time for gardeners. Unless you had the foresight last fall to chill some bulbs in your basement to force into bloom indoors in late winter, there is little new plant material to sink your hands into. Many serious gardeners enjoy this downtime, using it to look ahead to next summer’s garden, pore over plant catalogs, and study landscape design books. Others tune in to HGTV for endless viewing hours that inspire garden envy.
But for some, more instant gratification is desired. By March I’ve spent way too much money at the local flower shop trying to satiate my need for fresh flowers and plant life. And other than the occasional bloom of an orchid, my houseplants are looking pretty sad, especially the herbs I brought inside last fall to overwinter. So, even though plant space isn’t plentiful with so many pots already waiting to go back outside, I begin to plant seeds for the next growing season.
Growing plants from seed has fallen from popularity in recent years, partially due to increased garden plant availability in places ranging from your local market to Target. One-stop shopping at the big box stores is unfortunately all too common—unfortunate not because of the convenience (who can argue with that?) but because some of the smaller, specialty plant nurseries lose business. That’s the subject of another article, but one thing you can do to support some of those smaller businesses is inquire about their seed packet inventory and consider starting some yourself.
Starting your own plants from seed allows you to grow unique species that commercial growers have all but abandoned. Many of the plants our ancestors grew, especially heirloom vegetable varieties, are being lost due to lack of cultivation. There are many others that have persisted but that can be found only as seeds, not plants. By choosing to grow from seed, you are not only guaranteeing that you will have some of the more interesting plants in your neighborhood, you are helping to preserve the genetic diversity of our natural environment.
Planting seeds also offers the personal reward of seeing something grow out of practically nothing. Just as you nurture an infant through childhood to adulthood, providing a seed with soil and water allows it to become a healthy seedling and eventually an adult plant that thrives outside in your garden. Contributing to and observing this process reminds you of the wonders of nature, which alone is enough to brighten a dreary late winter day.
And let’s not forget the economic advantage of starting plants from seed—for a small fraction of what it costs to purchase established annuals and perennials for your garden, you can start a multitude of seed varieties at home. All you need is a sunny windowsill and a little patience.
Tips for starting seeds:
- Spend time reading the backs of seed packets to determine if a plant is right for you and make realistic choices: Don’t pick a plant that requires full sun if your garden receives only late afternoon sun.
- Pay attention to the time it will take for seeds to germinate and grow into sturdy plants before being ready to go outside. Some plants may require a month of lead time, others may require much more.
- Read carefully the directions on the seed packet so that you don’t cover the seeds with too much or too little soil. In general, smaller seeds such as herbs prefer to be closer to the surface, whereas larger seeds like sunflowers need about an inch of soil covering them.
- Choose plastic containers to start seeds in, as these retain moisture better than clay pots. Flats can be purchased from your local garden center and can be used year after year. Recycled yogurt tubs and the like are also useful, just be sure to poke holes in the bottoms.
- Sanitize your chosen containers by soaking them in a weak bleach solution for 15 minutes and letting them air dry before filling with a soilless seed starting mix.
- After planting, cover the pots with plastic to maintain a moist environment. The plastic can be removed and replaced for watering purposes, or you can place pots inside a larger container and add water to the bottom, allowing the seeds to absorb water from the bottom up. NOTE: Once seeds germinate and the first small leaves emerge, remove the plastic.
- Place pots in a sunny windowsill, preferably south-facing, and ensure both adequate warmth (65–75ºF) and constant moisture.
- Allow seedlings to acclimate to the sun’s strength and fluctuating temperatures before permanently planting them in the ground.
In the Garden – Seedlings for Spring – March / April 2008
But for some, more instant gratification is desired. By March I’ve spent way too much money at the local flower shop trying to satiate my need for fresh flowers and plant life. And other than the occasional bloom of an orchid, my houseplants are looking pretty sad, especially the herbs I brought inside last fall to overwinter. So, even though plant space isn’t plentiful with so many pots already waiting to go back outside, I begin to plant seeds for the next growing season.
Growing plants from seed has fallen from popularity in recent years, partially due to increased garden plant availability in places ranging from your local market to Target. One-stop shopping at the big box stores is unfortunately all too common—unfortunate not because of the convenience (who can argue with that?) but because some of the smaller, specialty plant nurseries lose business. That’s the subject of another article, but one thing you can do to support some of those smaller businesses is inquire about their seed packet inventory and consider starting some yourself.
Starting your own plants from seed allows you to grow unique species that commercial growers have all but abandoned. Many of the plants our ancestors grew, especially heirloom vegetable varieties, are being lost due to lack of cultivation. There are many others that have persisted but that can be found only as seeds, not plants. By choosing to grow from seed, you are not only guaranteeing that you will have some of the more interesting plants in your neighborhood, you are helping to preserve the genetic diversity of our natural environment.
Planting seeds also offers the personal reward of seeing something grow out of practically nothing. Just as you nurture an infant through childhood to adulthood, providing a seed with soil and water allows it to become a healthy seedling and eventually an adult plant that thrives outside in your garden. Contributing to and observing this process reminds you of the wonders of nature, which alone is enough to brighten a dreary late winter day.
And let’s not forget the economic advantage of starting plants from seed—for a small fraction of what it costs to purchase established annuals and perennials for your garden, you can start a multitude of seed varieties at home. All you need is a sunny windowsill and a little patience.
Tips for starting seeds:
- Spend time reading the backs of seed packets to determine if a plant is right for you and make realistic choices: Don’t pick a plant that requires full sun if your garden receives only late afternoon sun.
- Pay attention to the time it will take for seeds to germinate and grow into sturdy plants before being ready to go outside. Some plants may require a month of lead time, others may require much more.
- Read carefully the directions on the seed packet so that you don’t cover the seeds with too much or too little soil. In general, smaller seeds such as herbs prefer to be closer to the surface, whereas larger seeds like sunflowers need about an inch of soil covering them.
- Choose plastic containers to start seeds in, as these retain moisture better than clay pots. Flats can be purchased from your local garden center and can be used year after year. Recycled yogurt tubs and the like are also useful, just be sure to poke holes in the bottoms.
- Sanitize your chosen containers by soaking them in a weak bleach solution for 15 minutes and letting them air dry before filling with a soilless seed starting mix.
- After planting, cover the pots with plastic to maintain a moist environment. The plastic can be removed and replaced for watering purposes, or you can place pots inside a larger container and add water to the bottom, allowing the seeds to absorb water from the bottom up. NOTE: Once seeds germinate and the first small leaves emerge, remove the plastic.
- Place pots in a sunny windowsill, preferably south-facing, and ensure both adequate warmth (65–75ºF) and constant moisture.
- Allow seedlings to acclimate to the sun’s strength and fluctuating temperatures before permanently planting them in the ground.