Boost your gardening game this year by getting your hands on some seeds and growing your own seedlings indoors before outdoor planting begins.
Growing your own seedlings allows you to:
Save money over the long run if you are growing lots of seedlings
Begin enjoying the gardening season a few months earlier by starting indoors
Grow more interesting varieties of plants not available for sale as seedlings
Grow plants from your own seed saved year to year
Work on setting up an indoor growing station where you can grow food year round
Cucamelon Seedlings
What You Need
There are five basic things that you need to grow your own seedlings and a variety of ways to get your hands on each:
Grow lights
Containers
Seed Starting Mix or Pellets
Heat Source (optional)
1. Grow Lights
Natural light available through your window won't really be bright enough to support the growth of strong seedlings. They will likely grow long and thin in search of light and won't thrive when you plant them out to the garden.
To give your seedlings the best head start, look for a basic grow light or all in one kit from your local hardware shop or nursery. I've also had luck finding lights for sale through Kijiji or for trade on BUNZ. If this is your first year growing seedlings one light may be enough to get started, but if you're like most gardeners I know, your set-up will grow out of control within the first few years!
Makeshift Seedling Set-up
If you're ready to level up and expand your set-up, try a local shop specializing in indoor growing where an expert can help you pick out the right size of lights, bulbs and cords to create a full indoor seed starrting station.
2. Containers
There are so many options when it comes to containers for seed starting. Feel free to make use of recycled materials from around the house. There are lots of tips and tricks online for repurposing toilet tissue rolls or making cups from scrap paper. There is even a handy tool available to help you make perfect seed starting pots quickly.
Another option is plastic nursery trays that make it easy to handle large quantities of seedlings. I tend to prefer those with the long narrow shape that encourage deep root growth.
“Peat or choir pellets are handy for reducing dust, and are easy to work with if you are growing with seniors or kids.”
3. Seed Starting Mix or Pellets
If you are starting seeds indoors I recommend picking up a new bag of seed starting mix that you know will be free of pests and has the right ingredients to help your seeds germinate. For herbs and veggies, organic is the way to go, with many varieties available at local garden centers.
Malabar Spinach Seedling in Pellet
An alternative to soil, is peat or choir pellets that do not require pots and can sit freely in a nursery tray. These are particularly handy if you are gardening with seniors or kids, or want to reduce dust from soil if workiong indoors in winter months.
Seed Starting for Community Garden
4. Heat Source
Most seeds benefit from heat to help them germinate. Read the back of your seed packet to get the specific suggestions for each type of seed you're planning to grow.
If possible, pick up a heat mat that will give your seedlings the right amount of heat to get started. Alternately, look for a warm place in your home to place the seed tray like the top of your fridge or near a heater. Avoid placing trays by a drafty window or on a cold floor.
5. Seeds
Several seeds can be sown directly into the ground in early spring and don't need to be started indoors. Others benefit from the indoor head-start.
Good seeds to start indoors:
Tomatos
Peppers
Onions
Eggplant
Cucumbers
Unique plants that will likely have to be started from seed:
Interesting Herbs (Shiso, Orangelo Thyme)
Edible Flowers (Gem Marigolds, Nasturtium)
Unique Vegetables (Cucamelon, Zavory Peppers)
Heirloom Varieties (Black Cherry Tomatoes, Purple Tomatillo)
For more detail about great places to buy seed in Canada check out my previous post.
Seed Starting in Small Spaces
If you want to keep things compact for apartment or condo dwelling, there are great options for seed starting that take up very little space and look good too! Sunblaster makes a compact unit that will carry you from seed to hardy seedlings by adjusting the light height as needed (see photo above).
Aerogarden Harvest Slim with Seed Starting Insert
If an all in one hydroponic system is more your style, Aerogarden has seed starting inserts available for most units allowing you to start several seedlings at once. You can order refill sponges in bulk so you can use them with your own seeds. My favourite model is the Aerogarden Harvest Slim with the seed starting insert as it fits along a windowsil or along the back of the kitchen counter without taking up much space.
If you're looking for compact seed starting trays to use with another light source there are several options like this self watering unit, or these beautiful handmade ceramic seed starters from Orta.
Seed Starter from Wild Ginger Arts
Whether you make your own paper pots and grow with a basic light or get set up with fancy containers and lighting systems, indoor seed starting will really increase the possiblities of what you can grow in your garden, and will bring another exciting element to your yearly gardening adventure.
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