starting seeds?

[Sarain]

I'm going to plant my first garden this year, but first I have to get the seeds going...How do I do it? I'm guessing I just buy some veggie seeds, some starting mix, and little pots? Do I soak the seeds first? What temperature do I keep the seedlings at while in the dirt? how often to water? Do I keep them in light or away from light? And how do I know when they are ready to be transplanted out side?

Thanks!

[Sarain]

What! 15 people have looked at this post, but no one can tell me how to start seeds? Ok, I'll just have to ask at the garden store.

[DebB]

I'm pretty new to this, but I'll give it a whirl! I'm no expert, but it was in our newspaper this weekend to start all seeds except vining plants 7 weeks before last frost date. Vining plants it said to start 6 weeks prior to last frost date.

So! I'm planting up everything tomorrow (well, except vining plants). I bought Jiffy Professional Greenhouse (http://www.amazon.com/Ferry-Morse-5272-Professional-Greenhouse/dp/B0015I3TGI)(s) at Walmart last year, so that's what I'll use. I've used them before with great success, and I've got a bunch of them so I'm set.

But - this is the first year that I'm going to try to start most of my plants from seed, so I don't know if I'll have to transplant them into something bigger before it's warm enough to plant in my beds? Last year I just started a few things from seed; basil, peppers, some squash and then as soon as it was a couple inches tall, I planted them outside - but it was already warm out when I started the seeds...

I don't wet my seeds first. I didn't know that was an option. Would that be sprouting them, I suppose?

I would give your garden center a call because they'll know what zone and all you're in and when to start what plants. Hey, I see you're just north of me here in WA! *Ü*

[Evie]

I heartily recommend the Jiffy Professional green houses. It takes a lot of the guess work out of starting seeds. The only seed I soaked was a pea. It was recommended on the package. The JPGH have allowed me to have greater success with starting my seeds and actually having more plants to transplant into my garden.:D

[levamssg]

I've used jiffy pots - they work well. the recommendation of the jiffy greenhouse is good - I used one last year and everything did well. It comes with great instructions, but basically you put some water in the bottom so the jiffypots soak up the water .. you stick a seed or two in each jiffy pot, put the clear lid on, and you are done. When they sprout, I gradually raised the lid (I used popsicle sticks for props) then finally took the lid off completely. Mine sat on a table in a sunny window, and did fine.

Basically you can use anything .. little containers with potting soil that you wet and plant the seed. Seeds like to be warm, have water, and when they sprout, they need sunlight. That's it.

If you start them far enough ahead of outside planting time, you will need to transplant them to bigger pots so they can develop a good root structure. When it gets close to the time you are going to be putting them into the garden, I set them outside a few hours a day starting in a shaded spot, and gradually giving them more sunshine so they get acclimated. Then I pop them into their garden space, and it seems to work well.

Happy gardening!

[DebB]

Did you get your seeds started Sarain?

I've been planting seeds all week in the little greenhouses. I watched a very informative video (http://www.youtube.com/user/growingyourgreens#p/u/3/3VfPBgYO2l4)yesterday from John Kohler (love that guy!) about sustainable harvesting.

You might like to take a look at his videos - I've learned a lot from them. *Ü*