Starting plants from seed is not as hard as it sounds.
While it may seem intimidating at first, starting seeds from scratch can be a very rewarding experience. Once you know the basics, it really isn’t hard at all and you have a lot more choices about what to grow. Rare, unusual and heirloom plants are easily sown from seed! In this episode Joe will share some of the joys and specific how-tos of growing your own plants from seed.
Seed packets cost far less than purchasing individual plants. Extra seed can be saved from year to year. Even with the additional expense of lighting, growing containers, and heating, these are largely one-time expenses and may already be things you have around or can find inexpensively.
You have so many more plant choices when you grow from seed
Another benefit? You now have a huge selection of possibilities! From mail-order seed catalogs to seed swaps to trading with friends to looking through your stock of seed saved from years past, the varieties available to you are countless. When purchasing plants, you have the selection of what your favorite garden center or online vendors have already chosen to grow and offer for that season.
When you start from seed, you control the timing of your growing season. Start seeds indoors early and plant them out when you like. Stagger your sowing and planting times for a rolling harvest. Extend your growing season, even experiment with growing veggies in the winter in a greenhouse if you like. It’s up to you!
Need more reasons? It’s just fun! It’s highly rewarding to do, you can get the kids interested and involved, share seeds and seed starts with friends, and try all sorts of different varieties. Create truly unique bouquets you’d never find in a store, and then continue sharing the harvest and save seeds again for coming years!
For more information:
- Article: 10 Tips for Buying Seeds Online and in Catalogs by Joe Lamp’l
- Seed Starting Supplies – including trays and heat mats
- Resources for Soil Blocks – From Johnny’s Selected Seeds
- Chef Nathan’s recipe for Apple Cabbage Coleslaw
About GGWTV
Growing A Greener World is a national gardening series on Public Television that features organic gardening, green living and farm to table cooking. Each episode focuses on compelling and inspirational people making a difference through gardening. This gardening series covers everything from edible gardening and sustainable agriculture to seasonal cooking and preserving the harvest.
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Hi,
Really enjoy your show and watch it every Sunday. Trying to locate and print out seed starting article from the 605 show but message pops up saying page not found Please help, Thanks!
Hi Lettie. I checked that link and apparently the source provider has taken that article down. But I’ve updated it to include an article I wrote about the subject. Here’s the link directly to that: https://www.growingagreenerworld.com/starting-plants-from-seed-adds-to-the-pleasure-2/
Good luck.
I like your idea for starting early, my neighbors are envious of how quickly I get my garden growing before the last freeze’s.
I start indoors in a cloth like you showed for testing, then transplant to trays and harden in a window and under a lamp, (I admit I never thought of using a fan but I will give a try) then into the tilled garden in mid February,I leave them uncovered and watch the news to make certain I don’t miss out on a freeze warning, then when I’m warned about the overnight freeze if it’s hard I cover with a five gallon bucket filled with loose leafs from the compost heap, if it looks like a few mornings of frost I just cover with the buckets, and the buckets I use are from a candy factory nearby that uses corn syrup in the process, these buckets are clear and allow sunlight in with added bonus of catching evaporated moisture doing double duty, a mini green house and a frost protector
Good tips here Mike. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for this information, I started seeds for the first time this year and it has been so rewarding!! I do have an issue I’m unable to resolve and wonder if you have any insight… I’m using a heat mat, bottom watering, running a fan and I’m developing white and green fungus in surface of dirt??? What am I doing wrong… All my seeds have germinated and seedlings look healthy…. Just started a second round and don’t want to repeat the problem … Any insight? Thank you!!
I tried something new this year. I saved up the card board cores from my TP and paper towels, I found that I can cut and fold the tubes to give them a bottom… and they make great plug containers. The wet cardboard practically disintegrates when west so I should be able to just plant cardboard and all. Another thing I noticed is if the cardboard looks dry, it’s about time to water the seedlings.
This is a great tip Sylvia. We’ve done the same thing and it is a very resourceful and effective way to create a seed-starting environment for all the reasons you’ve mentioned and more. Thanks for contributing!
your show is no longer being carried in our area and I really miss it..you have been so much help in my garden..hope you will be back soon
Hi Joan. According the the station finder on our website, our show is airing in Richmond each week. Please check this link for yourself to make sure these are the stations you have been accessing. If not, please let me know if anything has changed. I do have the contacts for Richmond and will make a call if needed. Thanks for the heads up. Check this link to see and let me know: https://www.growingagreenerworld.com/tv-stations-and-schedule/
What did he use for soil when making soil blocks? I missed that bit. Thanks!
I used the soil that came from Johnny’s Select Seed Company. There’s a link in the show notes for this episode to them or you can google it. They make a bagged soil product that is perfect for this.