How to Start your Garden from Seed?

It’s so rewarding to watch a baby seed sprout up being introduced to the world for the first time, to becoming a strong healthy adult plant that offers life to us humans, creatures, and even the earth itself! There's two methods to starting seeds and as you move forward in your gardening journey you’ll identify which method you prefer. The first is directly sowing your seeds into the ground or containers outdoors. The first benefit is being able to plant a variety of plants that wont do so well with transplanting such as root crops, beans, and corn. Many plants also love being planted into its original home (the earth) or raised beds because of the freedom to spread its roots, the nutrients, and consistent temperature the outdoors provide. Another option is growing your seeds indoors which would be in a container or seed tray.

Using egg cartons, toilet paper tubes, or fruit containers allows you to recycle and save money as well! The main benefits of indoor seed starting is having much control over the “weather” condition inside and getting a head start for the season. Each method requires love and patience, so if you are willing to give some of this you’ll become a better gardener and person overall!

1. Steps For Direct Sow

Step One: Decide What and When To Plant

First thing first, what crops do you want to plant and when can you plant them? I recommend choosing crops you enjoy eating and varieties that do well in your zone.

Here in Florida we are zones 8-11. Temperature plays a huge role in each season as it determines what you can grow. As an organic gardener I also pay attention to disease and pest resistant plants and varieties. Flowers and Herbs are a must in all home gardens! Spring is the most popular season for growing as the earth comes back to life offering an abundance of crops to choose from.

Step Two: Choose your site

SUNLIGHT! This is extremely important. All crops need some amount of sunlight to prosper whether in the shade or full sun. The site you chose should receive at least 6-8

hours of sunlight each day. Other factors to consider are soil quality, accessibility to water, and the amount of space you have.

Step Three: Prepare Site

Now here's the fun part… tilling and amending the soil. For small gardens a rake, hoe, or shovel will do the trick along with hard work. For larger sites a roto-tiller or tractor drawn plow will work (you can rent these if you don't have one). The goal is to control weeds, mix organic matter together, and loosen your soil for planting. Minor tilling is recommended (12 inches deep) so you don't interrupt soil structure as much. Adding organic matter such as food scraps, paper, grass, and leaves into the soil is great for nutrients. You’d want to break these items up into small pieces for decomposition to happen quicker. After, you can add animal manure, and compost on top thus mimicking nature. Feeding your plant is vital for its health, after all it is a living thing! Care for it, feed it, spend time with it and it will return the favor.

Step Four: Let’s PLANT!

For small gardens planting by hand will be just fine. Those who have a larger project would use a rotary seeder or a planter which is connected behind the tractor to sow the seeds in rows throughout the field. Flowers and wildflowers can be lightly pressed into the soil (no more than ½ a inch) due to the need of sunlight to germinate.

Burying is not required. Vegetable seeds however can be buried in containers, raised beds, rows, mounds, or inverted mounds.

Ofcourse, this varies on the seed you plant and the amount of space you have. Be sure to keep your seeds moist but not waterlogged. Be sure to check on your baby seedlings daily, this beginning stage is pivotal in your success of germination. Plants should not be neglected, make time for them. I assure you in a few weeks or months you'll be a proud plant parent!

1. Steps For Growing Indoors
   

Step One: Get All Materials

Materials you'll need are potting mix, plant labels, plastic wrap or bag, containers or seed trays, a heat mat, grow lights, a fan, and of course your seeds. Most warm crops germinate in soil between 70-95 Degrees F. While your cool crops will germinate in soil between 35-85 Degrees F. Anything out of this range can still be successful but the risk is extremely high and we want success not possibility. This is where your heat mat, plastic cover or bag, and grow lights come in hand. Personally, I haven't experienced much on starting vegetables indoors, only some such as tomatoes, lettuces, and herbs, so if you have suggestions on certain heat mats and grow lights please feel free to email me so we can help others as well! Consider having all these items before starting your seeds indoors.

Step Two: Label And Sow

Choosing a light yet sterile potting mix is important as your seeds need drainage and room for its roots to grow. You can easily find potting mix at your local garden center or nursery. I'm located in Central Florida and Lukas Nursery is my go to potting mix.

Another option to save money is simply using the soil from your garden. This is beneficial for those with established good quality soil. You can use a sifter to lighten up your soil of any unwanted objects and there you go..!! Once you fill up your cell trays

lightly moisten your soil with a mist spray bottle. Next, decide what and where you'll be sowing and label that area using tongue depressors or plant tags with a sharpie or permanent marker (one that’s water-resistant). Afterwards, use your fingertip or a pencil to create a small hole 3-4 times the seeds diameter (refer to the description box of the seed on www.floridalivingseeds.com for more accurate sow depth) and drop two seeds in each cell tray. Cover your seed with the soil and lightly spray your tray. Finally, cover your seed with your plastic wrap to obtain moisture for germination. (You can also

document all information in a notebook to help for the following season).

Step Three: Provide Light

Once your seeds have sprouted remove the plastic and provide at least 8 hours of light a day. You can move your plants near a sunny window or under your grow lights. Be sure to check the soil to be sure it's moist. You can spray your seedlings or place them on top of a tray that has water below it. Just be sure to remove the tray once the soil is moist.

Step Four: Remove Seedlings and Lightly Fertilize

I know how heartbreaking this can be but now after 3-4 weeks we have to remove unwanted or extra seedlings. Crops that are okay with transplanting (tomato, cabbage, lettuce, pepper etc,) can bypass this but ideally you want to give your plant space sooner rather than later. Simply cut the top of the least healthy seedling to not disturb the roots of the nearby one. You can eat it in a salad or compost it to feel less guilty.

Fertilize your plant with some banana water or any light organic fertilizer of your choice before taking it outdoors.

Step Five: Introduce Your Plant to the Outdoors

Now we can get our little plant outside! After about 6-8 weeks your plants should be ready to go. Simply put your plant outside in full sun for 2-3 hours. Then you can bring your plant back in and repeat this process for up to 2 weeks adding an hour each day. This process is called “hardening off”. Now you're ahead of the season by at least a month!