Sprouting Plants From Seed

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Growing your own plants from organic seeds can be very rewarding. Organic and GMO free seeds are readily available nowadays. Check your catalogs, like Burpees, Seeds of Change, and The Cook’s Garden, as well as your local stores for availability.

Encouraging your seeds to germinate is not always as easy as you might assume. Here are our top tips for getting your plants going using seeds.

starting from seeds (1)Store Your Seeds Correctly

Many varieties of plant have delicate seeds, and the viability of these seeds will degrade over time if they are not properly stored. Seeds should be kept in fairly cool and dark conditions, where the humidity is low. If you are unsure if your seeds are usable, soak them in water for several hours. Seeds which are left floating should be discarded, but those which sink are still viable.

Use Wide Containers

One of the most common reasons why people encounter problems when starting plants from seeds is overcrowding. Seedlings will struggle to survive if there are too many plants competing for resources. Another consideration is that a wide and shallow container will help to ensure that the soil around the seedlings does not become too moist. This will help prevent rot from setting in around the roots.

Preventing Disease

In addition to ensuring that the container is sufficient in size, there are a number of other measures that can be implemented to prevent fungus and rot from taking hold due to excess moisture. One easy solution is to sprinkle the surface with a thin layer of chicken grit and milled sphagnum. This keeps the area around the emerging seedlings dry. Some people also choose to place a fan near the seedlings, to provide good air circulation.

Cover Trays With Plastic Wrap

Seeds are highly sensitive to changes in their surroundings, but securing plastic wrap over the top of the seed pot can help to provide a constant environment. This is a cheap and easy alternative to using a propagator. However, care must be taken to check for shoots on a daily basis. As soon as there are signs of germination, remove the plastic wrap or the seedlings will quickly die.

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Keep Seeds Warm

Germination can only take place at an ambient temperature of around 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the seeds by a south facing window or near a heater to help keep them warm, or use a specially purchased heating pad underneath the pot. If you are using the latter, check the moisture levels in the pot regularly as it may dry out more quickly.

Turn Seedlings Daily

After germination, seeds will start to grow towards the nearest source of sunlight. If the pot is left in one position, the seedlings will grow long, spindly and weak. For stronger and healthier stems, turn the pot each day so that the seedlings do not grow in only one direction.

Acclimatize Your Seedlings

When you are starting plants from seeds, it is essential that you acclimatize seedlings to both sunlight and fluctuations in temperatures before they are permanently moved outdoors. This should be done over a period of three to five days. Increase the amount of time the seedlings spend outdoors gradually, and always bring them in once the evening becomes cooler.

These simple tips will bring you greater success when growing plants from organic seeds. Make sure to store the seeds correctly, fertilize your plants, cover them in the right manner, turn them, and acclimatize the plants. If you do these things, you will hopefully find your garden flourishing.