Seed Starting. Many like the idea of starting plants from seed, but most of them are intimidated by it. I was one of those people for a long time! If you’re also one of those people, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some essential tools to get you (and your seeds) ready for a good growing season!
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Seed Starting Trays and Covers
You can find seed starting trays in a variety of sizes and materials, including recycled produce containers like clamshells and coconut coir netted pellets which combine the soil medium as well as the container. Regardless of what you choose, make sure your tray has drainage holes so excess water doesn’t sit in the bottom of your container and cause root rot to occur.
The cover is another important component to consider when selecting a seed starter tray or container because it helps keep your seedlings warm. Domes are only used until the seeds germinate. Some seeds may only be a few days. Once your plants have popped up, remove the dome as they need lots of air and light.
I repurpose the plastic strawberry containers from the grocery store. They come with holes for drainage and have a cover to use as the dome. Just make sure to set these in a tray to catch water like these trays.
Seed Starting Mix
So what exactly is seed starting mix? Seed starting mix should be sterile, light, fluffy, and well-drained. It should also be moistened before adding seeds. Once you’ve added your seeds to the soil it should be kept moist until they sprout. There are a few different options to use for your seed starting mix.
One of my favorites is Back to the Roots 3-in-1 Seed Starting Mix which is a peat-free mix. A few other options I’ve had success with are Burpee Organic Seed Starting Mix and Coast of Maine Organic Seed Starter Soil. All of these options also work wonderfully for plant cuttings when you are propagating plants and herbs!
Coconut coir is a great alternative to peat moss because it retains moisture better than peat moss does. That means that you won’t have to water as often! Pellets are an excellent option – I have used the coconut noir netted pellets from Burpee because they are easy to use and contain no added chemicals (which can harm young plants).
Grow Lights
Grow lights can be used to provide additional light for seedlings that need more than what natural sunlight provides. If you’re growing plants indoors and want them to reach their full potential, it’s important to provide them with enough light. Light intensity is measured in lumens per square foot. If your grow lights aren’t bright enough, the plants may stretch out in an attempt to reach more of it (and they’ll get leggy).
Here is a link for the grow lights I currently use. I have two set up in a closet set on a timer for 16 hours on / 8 hours off.
Seedling Heat Mat
A heat mat is one of the most important seed-starting tools to have. A heat mat is used to germinate seeds and keep them warm in their early stages of growth. Heat mats are not necessary for successful seedlings. However, they can help your plants grow faster when used with proper care. They are more expensive than other seed-starting tools but may be worth it if you plan on growing lots of plants indoors at once or want an easier way to get started growing from home without having access to a greenhouse or indoor garden space.
Heat mats come in different sizes and shapes depending on how many containers or pots you plan on using them with at once. They’re usually sold individually. I use these seedling heat mats from Amazon and have the seedling heat mats set on a timer to automatically turn on and off daily.
Timer
If you’re going to be growing your seedlings indoors, one of the best tools you can have is a timer. A timer allows you to control the amount of time that your lights are on each day consistently. This gives you more control over their growth than if they were left on all day long.
Young plants need enough light during their initial stages so they can develop strong root systems and healthy leaves. To ensure this happens, leave the grow lights on for 14-16 hours per day while they’re still small (if possible). This gives them plenty of time to absorb energy from the sun–or grow lights–and produce healthy stems and leaves without burning them up too quickly with too much heat from direct exposure to bright light sources like halogen bulbs used in many indoor setups today!
I love my timer – there are 8 outlets (4 outlets have a timer and 4 have constant power) with a surge protector!
Fan
A fan is a nice addition to your seed-starting tools. However, this was one of the last items I added to my seed-starting tools. Moving air around with a fan helps prevent damping off disease and provides other benefits, such as acclimating new plants to wind before you move them outdoors into the breeze. I recently purchased this fan for my seed starting setup.
Need some inspiration about plants to start for your garden? Check out From Your Garden to the Table: 7 Edible Flowers to Plant and 8 Herbs That Will Spruce Up Your Cocktail Garden.
I hope you found this helpful and informative. If you have any questions about starting seeds indoors or incorporate other tools in your seed starting practice, feel free to leave a comment below!
