Q: I am excited to try starting plants indoors this year, so I went to the local garden center to check out seed starting supplies. My head was spinning when I came out. Where do I start? —T.J. Easthampton
A: Great question, T.J. It is easy to get overwhelmed by the wide variety of seed starting supplies out there. The secret to success is remembering what the seed really needs. Seeds are designed to sprout anywhere conditions are right for them. Have you ever thrown out a melon seed in the compost pile only to see it happily sprout in the corner where you missed turning the pile? They simply want to grow, live, and make new plants.
To help you in your seed starting quest, here are the 6 essential items you need with some suggested options:
■Containers — These can be plastic seed starting kits, egg cartons, peat or coir pots, single-serve yogurt cups (great reuse!), Cool Whip or butter tubs — you get the picture. Cut drainage holes in the bottom of anything plastic. Food cartons should be washed clean before use.
■Labels — Plastic or wooden plant labels (not stickers) or cut up plastic lids. Use permanent markers or grease pencils to easily write on them.
■Soil-less/germination Mix — Pre-packaged soil-less seed-starting mix or mix your own fine sphagnum peat moss with vermiculite in a 1:4 ratio. No garden soil. Sterile mix protects seedlings from disease and pests.
■Light — South/south-east facing window, grow lights, or cool white fluorescent lights in fluorescent light fixture.
■Heat — Warm location, germination heat mat, or heating cables/coils in case your seeds need a warmer temperature than their location offers. Can track temperature with a soil thermometer.
■Water — Non-chlorinated water such as spring water, rainwater, or tap water without chlorine. Use a spray bottle to lightly mist the seeds.
Remember to read your seed packets for planting information specific to your seeds. They pack a lot of good, useful detail on that little packet.
Additionally, our local UMass Amherst’s Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment has terrific gardening guidelines right under our noses, including helpful tips for seed starting at https://ag.umass.edu/home-lawn-garden/fact-sheets/starting-seeds-indoors .
I am so excited for you, T.J., and wish you all the best on your seed-starting journey. Thanks for asking a (local) Master Gardener!
Have a gardening dilemma? Please send questions, along with your name/initials and community, to the Western Massachusetts Master Gardener Association at AskAMasterGardener@wmmga.org. One question will be selected and answered per week.
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