Starting plants from seed is an easy and cost-effective way to get the plants you want. Providing the right environment for your seeds to germinate and grow is the most important thing you can do to be successful.
Growing Media:
- Peat Moss – makes a great media for starting seeds. I usually use Scotts Seed Starting Potting Mix. It is easy to use and has everything your seedling need to grow. After a few weeks the seedlings can use up all the nutrients in the media. Start watering with half strength nutrient solution every time you water. Be sure to water it heavily so you rinse out the old nutrients and replace them with new.
- Rockwool – is usually used for hydroponics. Follow the manufactures recommendations for use. Usually, you need to rinse the rockwool in pH adjusted water before planting. Water your seedlings well with half strength solution. You can start using full strength solution when the plants first set of true leaves are well established. Remember, the first set of leaves that emerge from a seed are the seed leaves. The next set are the true leaves, and usually don’t look anything like the seed leaves. Feeding your plants with the full strength nutrient solution too early may cause the leaves to become misshapen and damage your young plants.
Germination Temperature: Be sure to look up the correct temperature that your seed needs to germinate. Too hot or too cold, and you may have reduced germination or no germination at all.
Light: give you young plants the correct amount of light to be healthy. Seedlings of full sun plants will usually require full sun. If your young plants don’t get enough light, they will start to stretch and reach out in search of more light. This can ruin a batch of seedlings as your plants might not be able to stand up straight.
Special Seed Treatments: Some seeds need special treatment before they can germinate.
- Statification – seeds are exposed to cold temperatures, usually in a refrigerator, for a particular amount of time. This simulates what would happen naturally during winter. Only after the cold treatment is finished can the seed germinate.
- Scarification – seeds with thick seed coats can take months or years to germinate. Damaging the seed coat, usually with a file, some sandpaper, or sometimes strong acid, helps water get into the seed and speeds up germination.
- Light – some seed, like lettuce seed, require light germinate. They are usually planted on top of the media rather than in it.