6 Seed Starter Kits That'll Take Your Plants From Zero To Hero (2024)

FAQs

Are seed starter kits worth it? ›

However, for seeds to flourish into vibrant plants, they require the nurturing care facilitated by the right tools and environment. This is where seed starting kits come into play, serving as indispensable companions for both novice and seasoned gardeners alike.

Combine compost, topsoil, a bit of coarse sand, and something like vermiculite, perlite, or coco coir until you have a mix with a consistency that holds together when wet. For seed starting, you'll avoid using as much sand as you would when making soil for your garden.

Typically, your seeds will stay in their seed tray for 4-6 weeks. After this period, you will either need to transplant the new seedlings into larger pots or transplant them outside.

Add one seed to each pot or cell. Use the crease of the seed packet or place seeds in a creased piece of paper to help direct the seeds where you want them to go. Sometimes not every seed will germinate. To increase your chances of success, add 2-3 seeds to each pot and thin out the extras once everything has sprouted.

Seedlings should be watered between twice a day to every two days depending on how fast the soil dries out and how much water the seedlings absorb. There is no hard-and-fast rule about watering frequency; instead, learn how to check when seedlings need watering.

Almost all seeds can be pre-soaked, but it is large seeds, seeds with thick coats and wrinkled seeds that will benefit most. Small seeds benefit less and are difficult to handle when wet. Examples of seeds that benefit from soaking include peas, beets, cucumber, corn, squash, pumpkin and beans.

Some seeds like Allium 'Purple Sensation' and Eryngium giganteum need a long period of cold-moist stratification with alternating temperatures. These are the most difficult seeds to germinate.

You can use just a regular potting mix, however, this makes it much easier and more likely to run into issues with drainage, moisture retention, pests, soil density, nutrient availability, and more. If you want a smooth and seamless experience starting seeds indoors, we highly recommend using a seed starting mix.

It's official: beans, peas, and pumpkins are among the top ten easiest plants to grow from seed, according to a list created by the Home Garden Seed Association. Also on the list: cucumbers, zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, lettuce, radishes, and squash.

Moisture Matters – After planting, water seeds with a gentle mist or shower. Avoid using a strong splash or spray, which can dislodge seeds. It is vital to keep soil consistently moist. In a sunny spot, this may mean watering twice a day.

Should I cover seeds with plastic? ›

Seeds are very sensitive to the extremes of overwatering and underwatering. In addition, heavy-handed watering can disturb newly germinated seedlings. Securing plastic wrap over the surface of a freshly sown seed pot can help to keep the moisture level constant.

The quickest way to germinate seeds in soil is to be sure they have good contact with the seed-starting mixture, sufficient humidity, and lots of warmth. Heat mats placed under the seed starting tray are an excellent way to give the seeds a quick start.

Crowded seedlings are a common problem that can prevent plants from reaching their full potential. If you don't plant your seeds far enough apart, they'll have to compete for the same sun, water, air and nutrients in the soil.

Seed-Starting Mistake #3: Planting Too Deep

The rule of thumb is to plant seeds at a depth equal to two or three times their width. It is better to plant seeds too shallow than too deep. Some seeds, such as certain Lettuces or Snapdragon, need light to germinate and should not be covered at all.

Place your seeds in the hole and bury them. Usually, you want to plant two or three seeds per hole because not every seed will germinate.

Starting a new garden from seed offers several advantages. The pros of planting seeds include: Variety – When you start plants from seed, you have more plant choices. Cost – Seeding is less expensive than buying seedlings from a local plant nursery.

Direct seeding is sowing seeds straight into your garden soil, while transplanting involves starting seeds ahead of time in a protected indoor growing area.

When working with vegetable seeds, when to plant is dependent on the time it takes each plant to reach maturity and the length of the growing season in your USDA Planting Zone. But as a general rule of thumb, you should start most seeds four to six weeks before your last frost date.