Seed Starting – The Time has Come!

Almost every year, come January, I find myself anxiously awaiting spring.  Although I have come to have a great appreciation for the break and rest that winter brings: no grass cutting, no weeding, and most importantly, no ticks:-), or at least very few.  With January, comes those long anticipated seed catalogs.  And with me, late winter comes starting my seeds!

I have always had the thought that if I can do something myself and save a lot of money, I will.  Seed starting is one of them.  We usually plant about 40 tomato plants and about 25 pepper plants, and if I bought these at a store or farmers market, it would cost quite a lot.  In addition to cost, the plants would not be what I really wanted.  I love variety and color too much!

I also really like to create the least amount of waste whenever possible.  I have discovered that the plastic 16oz. baby lettuce mix or spinach containers make great greenhouses and seedling trays.   I save containers throughout the year, and recycle what I do not want to save for the next year.  As a result, I have stopped buying those little greenhouse flats.

I usually plant my tomato and peppers in late February.(The photos you see on this post are from this year’s seed starting.)  I know this sounds way early, but it works for me.  We have amazing light that comes in our back bathroom window and with fluorescent lights hanging from the ceiling, our plants are tall and sturdy before planting the outside.  As a matter of fact, our bathroom becomes a little greenhouse from late February through May!

I will try to keep this relatively short, but it is a challenge because I could write a whole chapter on what has worked for me and what hasn’t.  Below are some helpful hints that I want to share with you.

1. I have attempted to make little pots out of newspaper to start my seeds.  The mold was terrible and I had to replant them into cups.  If you try this, use a very low flat to keep your pots in so that the paper dries out.  It may help with reducing the mold.  I use 8oz clear cups.  These are not expensive, and can be recycled.  I like watching the root growth, which is why I prefer clear.  Make sure you put a few drainage holes in the bottoms though, BEFORE you plant!  A Phillips screwdriver against a piece of soft wood like pine helps.
2. I do not use just straight seed starting mix.  The times I have done this, I have found that there is not quite enough to the growing medium to really nourish the plants.  I make a mix of seed starting mix and organic potting soil, about a 50/50 mix.   Often I bake the dirt, if there is any sign of gnat larva in the soil, to sterilize it to eliminate the gnats that always seem to grow in population right along with my plants.  (I do not bake the seed starting mix, just the potting soil.)
3. Peppers and tomatoes often need a little heat to germinate.  I have had MANY unsuccessful years with replanting pepper seeds again and again.  My eventual success with them is simple;  They germinate in snack bags in a wet paper towel on a plate on top of our refrigerator.  Once they start growing, I plant them in the cups.  Write yourself a note to check on them after a few days.  If the roots grow through the paper towel, you can plant a little paper towel with the root attached.
4. When I plant my infant tomato seedlings, I do so in only about an inch of soil.  It might not make sense until you try it.  As the plant reaches the top of the cup, I add more soil.  Once it grows larger, I add soil to fill the cup.  Once it is time to plant the tomatoes outside, the entire stem that had been covered with soil has grown amazing roots, so your plants have a great root system to take hold of your garden soil and get growing.  If you do this, you need to be vigilant in watering your seedlings.  When there is a small amount of soil in the cup, it dries out VERY fast, so check them daily and keep them watered!
5. I use a little Tomato Tone and often add powdered egg shells in the soil for both my tomatoes and peppers.
6. And, most importantly, do NOT set yourself up for failure.  Seedlings need a decent amount of light to do well.  If you don’t have A LOT of natural light, try florescent lights.  The difference in providing a good light source for your seedlings is significant, and you could pay for the fixture in a season instead of buying large plants.

Good luck in your seed starting!