Starting from seed is not only economical, it expands the diversity 
of cultivars available, and offers a deeper connection to the plants 
we grow.

While growing one's own seedlings may seem a little daunting at 
first, following a few simple guidelines can increase your chances 
of success. All you'll need to get started is: 

A great selection of seeds


A flat surface with plenty of light and a little warmth


Some containers


A potting mix


Organic fertilizer 

Starting with good seeds is key. Seeds of Change offers almost 600 
varieties of certified organic flower, vegetable and herb seeds, all 
of which have been developed and selected specifically for organic 
gardening.

Timing is Everything
Whether you're planting indoors or out, determining the "frost free" 
date for your area and studying the information on your seed packs 
is essential for establishing your planting sequence. If you don't 
know the average date of the last frost for your area: 

Ask other gardeners in your neighborhood


Contact your local extension service


Check out our GardenCycle Planner. 

Prepare the Potting Mix
Good potting blends should be available at your local garden center. 
If you're planting a lot of seedlings, you can make your own mix by 
combining equal parts sphagnum peat moss*, perlite and vermiculite. 
Our Research Farm makes a custom mix that consists of three parts 
peat, two parts vermiculite, one part each of sand and screened 
compost, and a small amount of kelp powder. Adding mature compost 
and kelp will reduce the need for additional fertilizing.

Some people believe that everything must be sterile; others like to 
add a little soil from the garden to lessen the shock of 
transplanting. "The Sustainable Vegetable Garden" suggests an 
economical and fully organic mix of equal parts garden soil and 
sifted compost. Whichever you choose, be sure to thoroughly moisten 
the mix before filling your containers.

*A note about peat moss: We are aware that peat is not a sustainably 
harvested material. After much research, we now offer GrowCoir, a 
renewable, coconut based growing medium as a ecological peat 
alternative.

Gather Containers
Our website and catalog offer a diverse selection of containers, 
like the Pot Maker, which recycles old newspapers into ideal starter 
pots, as well as Eco-flats, which are made from recycled cardboard. 
Economical alternatives include: 

Yogurt containers


The bottoms of milk jugs


Juice cartons 

Or you can make wooden flats 14"x 23"x 3" deep to hold the most 
seedlings without getting too heavy. Whatever containers you use, be 
sure they're clean and have holes in the bottom for drainage. 
Plastic trays or container lids are great for catching the excess 
water.

Sow Your Seeds 

Read your seed packs carefully to determine if any of your seeds 
have special needs.


Plant the seeds to the depth indicated on the pack.


Cover lightly with soil.


Gently compress the soil over the seeds. 
For best results, plant two seeds per container and thin to the 
strongest plant. Remember to mark the containers with the variety 
and date planted. Our Wooden Plant Markers serve as an attractive 
and biodegradable alternative to plastic.

Keep Them Moist and Warm
Once sown, keep your seeds evenly moist without drowning them. If 
you only have a few plants going, a spray-bottle will work. 
Eventually, however, you'll need a special watering can or Fog 
Nozzle to provide a fine spray.

For surface-sown seeds, you may want to cover your flats or 
containers with glass or clear plastic to retain moisture and allow 
light to penetrate. Be careful not to "bake" the seeds in direct 
sunlight. Once your seedlings emerge, allow the surface of the soil 
to dry out between waterings. Over-watering can lead to problems 
such as damping off.

Most seeds need a soil temperature of at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit 
(18 Celsius). Again, your packs will have specific information. If 
you find it difficult or impractical to keep the whole area warm, 
you may want to consider a Seedling Heat Mat. If the temperature in 
your propagation area varies too much, look into purchasing a 
Thermostat for your heat mat.

Plants Need Light
After your seedlings emerge, it's crucial that they get enough 
light. In most cases, a sunny window will do, but you'll need to 
rotate your flats every day, as your seedlings will continuously 
lean towards the sun. Generally, if your plants look like they are 
getting "leggy," or too tall for their size, this means they are not 
getting enough light. If you don't have enough sunny window space 
you may need to add supplemental lighting. Inexpensive four foot 
fluorescent "shoplights," are available at most hardware stores. It 
is best to retrofit them with full spectrum bulbs and to hang them 
around a foot from the tops of the plants.

Feed Your Seedlings
Your potting mix, along with the seeds themselves, will provide 
ample nutrition in the beginning. However, once the plants develop 
their second set of leaves, you may wish to give them a mild, weekly 
dose of a high potassium, organic liquid fertilizer. Our EarthJuice 
Grow is excellent for this purpose. Be sure not to over-fertilize!

Hardening Off
As your seedlings mature, you'll need to get them used to the idea 
of being outdoors and subject to the sun, wind, and cool nights. 
About two weeks before transplanting time, set them outside in a 
protected area for an hour or two at first, then gradually increase 
their exposure until transplanting day. Be careful not to overdo it 
and never leave them out when it frosts!

Using a Cold Frame or Cloche is a great solution as it can be opened 
and closed as the weather dictates. Our Deluxe Cold Frame even has 
an optional Automatic Vent Opener. In our greenhouses, before we set 
our plants outside, we occasionally run our hands over them or use a 
fan to jostle them in order to stimulate healthy stem development.

Follow these simple rules, and before you know it, you'll have more 
healthy seedlings than you'll know what to do with. For more 
information on seed starting see our article on Direct Seeding and 
Transplanting.

Good luck!

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tenzicut
