It's Time to Start Growing Your Own Seedlings

Growing your own food is supposed to be a hedge against inflation, but rising prices are in evidence at the garden center too. The price of vegetable and flower starts is up almost 40% at many spots I’ve visited across the country this spring. When six packs started going for over $7, I knew it was time to bump up my grow operation at home.

Luckily, I’ve spent years fine tuning the seedling nursery in my home, and I’m happy to share that knowledge with you. Here is a cheap way to take advantage of my experience and grow your own tiny baby garden starts.

Names blurred because a gal’s gotta protect her nursery relationships!Photo: Amanda Blum

Choose your seeds (and don’t overthink it)

Your grocery store is probably a surprisingly good place to score cheaper seeds. These, from today, were BOGO, so 2 packs for $3. Photo: Amanda Blum

Your area might also have a seed library or a seed swap (local or national), or maybe you have a neighbor who is enthusiastic about helping new gardeners. Ask in your local Facebook garden group, which will also act as your support group throughout the journey. (Gardeners are surprisingly generous souls.)

There is a ton to be read about the kinds of tomatoes (slicers versus paste versus cherry) and their growing habits: (determinate versus indeterminate), but let’s assume you already know what you enjoy. Don’t overthink your choices, because the immense pride you’ll feel when they sprout will overshadow any indecision about what kind of ‘mater you chose. (The same for peppers and basil.)

Gather your equipment

You’re going to want a few leftover plastic strawberry containers, but really, any plastic container at least three inches in depth and with some drainage at the bottom will do. You can certainly buy some six packs or four-inch pots; you might even have some from last year laying around. Your local garden center may save them and be willing to give some to you, and your neighbors probably have some laying around, so take advantage of Buy Nothing and Nextdoor.

You’re going to need seed starting mix, which you’ll need to purchase. Seedlings require a special blend that has great drainage but no nutrients (weird, I know). Buy a small bag at a local nursery; you won’t need much, but it must be seed starting mix, not potting mix.

On the right is a 1020 tray, without holes. On the left is one of my older gross cookie sheets, covered in plastic wrap. Both are fine.Photo: Amanda Blum

You’re going to need a tray. Pictured is a 1020 tray, which you’ve seen at your nursery. It’s going to hold your seedlings and help you to bottom-water them. Ask at your grocery store garden center if you can have one of theirs, as they often give them away, and they can of course be purchased online, too. Since you’ll only need one, if you can’t find one, grab your rimmed cookie sheet or jelly roll pan. It’ll work just fine.

Lastly, you need sun. Seedlings need a lot of light, and the most common mistake people is not having enough light on their seeds. We’ll get to that.

How to get started

First, pack your containers with moist seedling mix. Throw some into a mixing bowl and get it just wet enough to clump when you squeeze it. Once it’s consistently moistened, pack it into the container, and tap it down a few times. You want it full, but don’t pack it in like it’s brown sugar and you’re making cookies.

Your old berry containers actually make really ideal seed starting containers. Photo: Amanda Blum

Now, you’re going to read the back of your seed packet, which almost always tells you how deep to plant your seeds. In the case of peppers, tomatoes and basil, the answer is 1/4 deep. I use a pencil, and poke it into the soil every 2 inches and drop in one seed. Plant twice as many seeds as you think you’ll need plants. Its good to have some extra in case things go awry, and if not, you’ll have some starts to give away.

Now we’re going to put the seedling containers into the tray. If you’re using a baking sheet, generously line it with plastic wrap so your containers are sitting on the plastic, rather than the bare metal. Loosely cover the container with plastic too. Finally, add a ½-cup of water to the tray, as opposed to pouring it into the soil. This is bottom watering.

There’s a legit amount of useful information on the back of your seed package, including how deep to plant the seeds, how long they’ll take to sprout (generally speaking) and when to plant outside. Keep in mind this changes year to year, check with your gardening group for advice on this year. Image: Amanda Blum

So nNow we need to talk about sun. Sun provides plants with two things: light and heat. Since we’re inside, we need to fake both. If you can keep your seedlings in a warm enough room (over 70 degrees) you don’t have to do more than that. If not, place a heating pad under your seedlings with a folded towel between the heating pad and the tray. You don’t want to bake your seedlings, just warm them up.

You can replace your regular bulbs with grow lights, just use a lamp that you can get really close to your seedlings. Photo: Amanda Blum

When you see condensation on the plastic wrap, that’s a great sign your mini-greenhouse is working away. Thanks to that condensation, you’ll only need to add water to your tray every other day, and only ½-inch or so at that. The holes in the bottom of the containers will allow the soil to soak up the water the plants actually use. Within two weeks, you’ll start to see your little babies pop up. Once 50% of the tray is germinated, take the plastic off and turn off the heating pad. Its okay if they don’t all germinate—that’s why we planted extra—and a few will continue to germinate even after the plastic comes off.

Turn on a fan in the room, or just run your clean hands over the seedlings once they’ve hit one inch in height, as this strengthens the stems. Once the plastic is off, water every morning, remembering to only add ⅓-inch of water or so. The soil should remain slightly moist, but not wet. Keep that light close to the seedlings, and let them grow.

My babies!!!!Photo: Amanda Blum

While you could add some fertilizer to the water at this point, you’d be okay without it. If you decide you need it, a small amount of fish fertilizer added to your watering can is all you need.

Your seedlings are ok in their container until it’s time to plant them outside, but if they get crowded, you can up-pot them into larger containers. Again, ask around online for four- or eight-inch pots, as gardeners often have them lying around. When you up-pot, do so into the same seed starting mix.

Your gardening friends on social media will be an immense help in your seedling adventure—this is a great time to get involved in your local online gardening community or join #gardentok. (What is the point of any of this if you’re not posting it to the ‘gram?)

And finally, most importantly of all, when you find yourself talking to your plants—because you will experience sheer glee each time you notice seedlings popping out of the soil—don’t question it. The world is a trash fire. Take the whimsy where you can find it.