The Best Way to Plant Seeds: A Guide for Successful Growing

#gardeningmadeeasy #startingseeds #growingthings #plantingseeds

Are you ready to kickstart your gardening journey by planting seeds? These essential steps can lead to the growth of beautiful plants, whether you are an experienced gardener or just starting out. Proper seed planting techniques are fundamental for successful germination and healthy plant development, and it's really simple. What do seeds need to germinate? Moisture and warmth. That's it! Afterwards, they need a few more things - a little food, soil, and light, and boom there you go. Easy Peasy.

Starting Seeds in a Wet Paper Towel (optional)

One interesting method to initiate the germination process is by starting seeds in a wet paper towel or soaking your seeds for 20 minutes before planting them in actual soil. By hydrating seeds before sowing them in the ground, you can soften tough seed coats, potentially speed up the germination process, and increase overall seedling success rates. The basic idea is to get a paper towel wet, then stick some seeds on it and put it in a mostly airtight container to prevent moisture loss. Here are the steps below if you are interested in trying it out:

• Prepare the Paper Towel: Moisten a paper towel thoroughly with water, ensuring it's damp but not dripping wet.

• Place the Seeds: Lay the seeds on one half of the damp paper towel, leaving space between each seed.

• Fold and Seal: Fold the other half of the paper towel over the seeds gently, enclosing them within. Place this paper towel with seeds into a plastic bag.

• Seal and Store: Seal the plastic bag/container almost completely, leaving a small opening for air circulation. Store the bag in a warm and dark place like on top of your fridge or in a cupboard.

• Monitor Germination: Check on your seeds every day to observe germination progress. Once they start sprouting roots or shoots, it's time to carefully transfer them into soil. This needs to be done asap; otherwise, the roots will get all tangled, making it more likely to kill the seed when transferring to soil.
  

Cell Tray and Cover Method

This is the standard way to start plants and my tried-and-true method. Let's delve into some details that will ensure success with every cell.

Materials Needed:

• Cell Tray with Individual Compartments: These hexigonal ones work really well for plants that tend to take longer to grow - typically flowers and herbs. That being said the standard 6-cell pack works perfectly and Red Solo cups are fantastic.**

• Transparent Plastic Cover/Dome/ or Plastic wrap

• Promix Mix or Seed starting mix

• Seeds of Your Choice

• Watering Can **Just be aware that your faster growing plants will not be in the hexigonal cell tray starters for long and you will need to watch them or it can slow down the growth of the plant. My general rule is that when I see the roots sticking out the bottom its time to pot things up.
  

Steps for Starting Seeds with Cell Tray and Cover:

1. Fill Cells: Fill each cell of the tray with soil, leaving some space at the top. Again, Promix is my go to and you dont have to fertilize period. (I do anyways- I usually start once my plants are 2 months old.)

2. Water Your Dirt: Water the dirt before planting seeds; failing to do so may result in washed-away seeds or mixed-up cells where you no longer know what is growing where.

3. Plant Seeds: It is recommended to follow instructions on your seed packets regarding planting depth and spacing per cell. I find that planting a little more shallow with trays is OK- you can always plant your plant a little deeper when you go to place it in your garden. This will give your roots some extra space to grow.

4. Cover with Plastic Dome: Place the transparent plastic cover or dome over the tray to create a mini greenhouse effect.
   

5. Provide Adequate Moisture: Water gently using a watering can or spray bottle to keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; check moisture levels regularly.

6. Place in Warm Location: Position the tray in a warm spot- no sunlight required.

7. Monitor Progress: Keep an eye on your seeds daily through transparent cover; once seedlings emerge, remove cover to prevent excessive humidity buildup and add sunlight light/grow light.

8. Transplant Seedlings: When seedlings have developed several sets of leaves, carefully transplant them into larger pots or directly into your garden if outdoor conditions permit.

9. Continue Care: Provide ongoing care by watering as needed while ensuring adequate light exposure & protecting young plants from pests.

10. Enjoy!!!

Happy planting!