Sowing Seeds

If current temperatures are consistently at 70 degrees or above where you plan to start your garden, click here to advance to information regarding potting soil. You are ready to directly sow seeds in your planters!

If you live in a climate where you have a limited growing season, you should consider first sowing seeds indoors (usually 6-8 weeks before last frost) and/or possibly purchasing seedlings to transplant. This way you get the most out of your harvests and season. Some crops take 2-3 months to reach maturity. If you live in an area with a temperate climate, your timeframe for growing and harvest may be about 4 months. Starting some seeds indoors or starting with seedlings can make all the difference. Most seed packets and online seed product listings have growing details including “days to maturity” to help you plan.

Sowing your own seeds is without a doubt, the most economically sound choice, but the reality is you must make the decision seeds vs. seedlings dependent upon time and effort you are comfortable with committing to the process. You can typically purchase a packet of tens to hundreds of seeds for $5-$8, comparable to the amount for a single seedling.

Seed-starting can be as simple as upcycling containers you may already have in your home. There are also a range of seed-starting materials from very inexpensive to moderately priced self-contained seed-starter kits. Below are some guidelines.

Indoor Seed-Starting

• 3-4 inch food safe*nursery pots or biodegradable seed starter pots (e.g. peat pots filled with seed starter potting soil mix)
  • Jiffy Pots: ~$5-$10/dozen

• Food safe reusable seed starter or mini nursery trays (use seed starter potting soil mix or peat pellets, as recommended); There are many options, but below are several that I have had success with in the past, planting 2-3 seeds per cell.
  • Burpee Self-Watering Seed Starter tray, 16 to 72 Cell trays
  • Jiffy Self Watering Professional Greenhouse Starter Kit: ~$30
  • MIXC 10 Set Seedling Trays Seed Starter Kit: ~$20-$25
  • Netted Coir Pellets – $12-$20 for multi-pack

• Food safe plastic containers (modified milk jugs, select plastic bottles, jars)
  • Cut top half or third off of qualifying milk or water jugs, bottles

*Select plastics indicated as food safe or upcycle plastic items that are labeled 1, 2, 4, 5. Avoid plastics labeled as 3, 6, 7 due to increased risk of leaching of toxins. You may also use small unglazed terra cotta pots. If repurposing terra cotta, it is best if pots were previously used for edible plants and food safe products.  Terra cotta is porous and may retain toxins if previously exposed.

Lighting

Ideally, you should place your seed startups before a South-facing window. But if you’re like me, and have no available windows facing south, choose a window where you get at least a consistent 6 hours of sunlight, or you may consider purchasing grow lights. While I have not had to resort to grow lights, everyone’s setting is different. Click the buttons below to explore some available products if you decide to do so. I always recommend reading the product details/description and customer reviews before purchase.

Temperature

Seeds require consistent warmth for germination, 70-85 degrees for most plants. Warmth is acquired during the day from the sunlight, especially if using a dome or clear greenhouse type cover for your seed tray. It is important to maintain warm enough temperatures during other parts of the day. This can be accomplished by household thermostat settings, use of a simple mini indoor/outdoor greenhouse such as a Gardman model, or use of seedling heating mats. Make sure that your seed trays are approved for use with heating mats if you choose this method. For a more expensive, but durable setup, you can invest in a system like Stack N Grow LED Stand w/ Lights.

Growing Media

The popular seed starter peat pellets are effective, but you will likely have to transplant seedlings to a larger container before being transplanted outdoors. You want to be sure that you select potting soil for your seed starter trays as recommended, and your container plantings, not garden or top soil. Most brands offer organic options, if you prefer. The potting soil that you select should be approved for outdoor containers, and if applicable, vegetables and herbs. I have used organic mixes offered by Fox Farm, Espoma, and recently Black Gold brands, with wonderful results.

When shopping for potting soil, don’t limit yourself to the big chain hardware stores. Sometimes the better deals or variety is at your local family-owned nurseries. Many locations currently offer curbside contact-free pickup with online purchase.

Watering

While waiting for your seeds to germinate and later when caring for seedlings, water to keep soil moist but do not oversaturate. Before transplanting or direct sowing into your outdoor containers, ensure that they have drainage holes to prevent root rot. If your container does not already have drainage, this can be accomplished by drilling holes on the bottom or use of a hammer and awl. Another option is to purchase plant saucers to catch runoff after watering or to directly pour water into, in order to slowly hydrate yours plant via wicking. Another option is to use terra cotta watering spikes/stakes in conjunction with large long-necked recycled glass bottles, which you fill every few days to slowly deliver water to your plant roots.

Sowing Frequency

If you wish to have multiple harvests over the course of the season, plant groups of seeds 1-2 weeks apart. This is called succession planting. For example, I may sow green bean seeds every two weeks, so that later I will not be forced to harvest, use, and/or store them all at once.

After reading this page and the “Customizing Your Container Garden” post, you have everything you need to start your garden adventure. I can’t wait to see and hear about your progress!