It's sowing time! If you're growing a crop that insists you "start indoors {insert amount of weeks} before the last anticipated frost date", this post was made just for you.
In this post, you'll learn how to start, or germinate, your seeds indoors without breaking the bank on fancy seed starting materials. Prefer a visual? Click here to watch a video tutorial.
What is germination?
If you're a beginner gardener, you might be wondering: What does it mean to germinate a seed? Germination is simply when a seed begins to sprout. When you start your seeds and provide the correct environment for germination, you'll see the seed put out its first "shoots" which essentially look like tiny plant stems. From this point is where the sprouts will begin to grow taller and develop their first set of leaves.
What do seeds need to germinate?
In order to germinate, seeds need a warm, dark, and humid environment. At this point in the plant's journey, all the nutrients it needs are already contained in the seed: it doesn't need any fertilizer, compost, or anything extra. It simply needs to be buried, watered, and kept in a humid environment for the sprouting to begin. Nothing grows without first being planted in darkness.
This is the part where most gardening blogs will tell you to go invest in some super expensive grow lights or humidity chambers to start your seeds. But the focus here is accessibility. So what can you use to germinate your seeds without breaking the bank?
Seed starting materials
To start your seeds at home, you'll need the following materials:
- Seed starting tray - can be found at your local home improvement store. Keep in mind the cardboard-like, tan looking seed trays are biodegradable, meaning the seedling won't need to be removed from the tray -- you can just break off each cell of the tray (square) and put the entire thing in the official container your crop will be in for the season because the cell will break down and decompose on its own. Black or harder material seed starting trays require the soil block containing the seedling to be removed from the tray altogether before repotting it.
- Seed starting mix - as mentioned in our Garden Soil Blog Post, seed starting mix tends to be lighter and fluffier than potting mix to allow the plants' roots to break through the soil and establish themselves easier. Be sure to purchase a SEED starting mix at this stage in your journey (NOT potting mix!), or make your own by simply following the recipe listed in the linked blog post. I personally use the Jiffy seed starting mix that comes in a yellow bag and haven't had any problems with it so far.
- Foil pan with lid OR transparent storage container - the foil pan with a clear plastic lid or a transparent storage container are going to be what create that humid greenhouse effect the seeds need to germinate without having to buy super fancy equipment. Last year, I started my chickpea plants using the foil pan method and started my watermelon seeds using the storage bin method. Both crops germinated well. Considering that these seeds are being started indoors to be transplanted outside later on, I would recommend you go the storage bin method, as that bin will be extremely useful later on in the seedlings' journey, ESPECIALLY if you don't have a south facing window. It doesn't have to be a huge container, just ensure it's tall enough to support your actively growing crops.
How do you germinate seeds?
The first thing to do is fill your seed starting trays with your seed starting mix. Be sure not to pack the soil so tight that you can't put your finger through it without being forceful, while also not packing it so loosely that your finger falls into it with no resistance whatsoever.
Once your trays have been packed, stick your finger in each cell (square) up until your first knuckle. These indentations will be where the seeds are placed.
Place a seed in each indentation you made in each of your cell blocks. Add a layer of seed starting mix atop the seeds you just planted to ensure they are fully covered.
Next we add water. Water each cell in your seed starting tray thoroughly, to the point where the soil has become darker in color than it was when it was dry.
Place the entire seed starting tray in your foil pan and attach the lid, or in your storage bin and attach the lid if going that route. At this point in the plants' journey, it doesn't need light so a window is not yet a necessity, but it is important to keep your seed starting tray in a warm environment. Don't put it in an unheated basement or garage: we need humidity for germination, and although the seeds are in an enclosed area at this point, the outside temperature can still affect the overall temperature of your mini DIY greenhouse. Your bedroom, living room, or kitchen would be perfect places, as they are temperature controlled and don't contain as much humidity as a bathroom would.
Monitor your seed tray daily for sprouts. Once every cell has sprouted, remove the lid from your container (which ever one you're using). I made the mistake of leaving the lid on my chickpea plants too long after they germinated and they began to slightly rot due to the humidity and lack of airflow. Keep in mind the amount of time it takes for your seeds to germinate so you know what to expect, as every seed may not sprout. Your seed packet contains this information, although most plants germinate within 7-14 days. Once each sprout has broken the surface, again, remove the lid, and introduce your seedlings to light. Keep them in a sunny window and check on them daily for any signs of stress or the need for more water.
The next blog post will cover how to care for your seedlings, including the best ways to water them, how to identify true leaves, moving them outside for ample sunlight, and more. A seed starting tutorial is posted on my YouTube Channel if you need a visual to go along with this blog post! Be sure to subscribe if you haven't already!!