Congratulations! You're here, I'm so excited for you! That means you're ready to up your gardening game by starting your own seeds. It's easy, you've got this. I think. I don't really know you.
Here's how to do it.
Honestly? Starting your own seeds to grow into seedlings isn't very complicated. You stick a seed in dirt and wait.
Are there a few tricks? Sure. But for the most part you stick a seed in dirt.
It's actually the easiest part of gardening. Keeping the thing alive for the next 4-6 months is where the skill comes in.
Table of Contents
How to Plant Vegetable Seeds
(The Quick Version)
The super-fast rundown is this.
- Wet your soil first and fill seed starting trays or pots with it.
- Press a seed into the top of the soil.
- Cover the trays with something to keep the humidity in while the seed germinates.
- Once sprouted, remove the humidity dome and put the plant under grow lights.
- Water when necessary and raise grow light heights when necessary.
That's all there is to starting your own seeds at home. That and washing your hands a lot. Here's my DIY on how to make foaming hand soap because everything is more fun when it's FROTHY.
If you live in a colder climate like I do in Southern Ontario (Zone 6), where the growing season is a bit shorter than elsewhere, you have to get a head start on your plants.
The advantage to starting your own seedlings is you can grow varieties of vegetables you just can't get in a nursery.
Like red fife wheat!
Supply list
- Soilless mix
- Seed starting trays
- Humidity dome
- Seeds
SOILLESS MIX looks like potting soil, but it isn't.
Made up of coco coir or peat moss mixed with perlite or vermiculite. Used specifically for starting seeds.
SEED STARTING TRAYS are flats of multi holed trays. Each hole in a tray holds a small amount of soil for starting seeds.
A DRIP TRAY is set under the seed starting tray and catches water and dirt.
A HUMIDITY DOME is a clear cover that holds in much needed moisture for the germination phase of starting seeds. They are removed as soon as the seeds sprout.
SEEDS These just happen to be some of the brand new seeds I'm starting this year - If you're always looking for something fun and new to grow you should have a look.
The least expensive trays and domes I could find (at this moment in time where a head of lettuce is $9) are listed below.
SEED STARTING kit for beginners from AMAZON Canada
SEED STARTING kit for beginners on AMAZON US
Try your local hardware store FIRST. There's a very good chance they have seed starting trays and humidity domes there. If not, search for them on Amazon.
HEAT MATS aren't mandatory, but they're very helpful for germinating seeds & growing on other heat loving plants like luffa or tomatoes. If you're curious about growing loofah sponges this is how I do it.
GROW LIGHTS are the most confusing element of starting plants indoors. You only need them to grow on the seedlings - not to start them.
(There are a few exceptions with seeds that DO require light to germinate. So check your seed packet.)
If you don't want to spend the money on or can't find the seed tray and drip tray, all you need are a few plastic pots or even plastic cups with holes punched into the bottom and some plastic wrap to start seeds.
COMPLETE STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIAL
- Grab your supplies: soilless mix, seed starting trays, water and seed.
DIY SOILLESS MIX RECIPE 1 part peat moss to 1 part perlite
- Soak the soilless mix with water.
You've added the right amount of water when you squeeze your soil hard and a few drips of water come out of it.
If it streams out like above, your soil is too wet. If nothing comes out your soil is too dry.
- Fill your tray with the dampened seed starter mix.
- Press the soil down just slightly.
Plant roots like a slightly compact soil. It helps to give the plant stability. So, push the dirt into each divot with your finger so it isn't quite so "airy".
- Now it's time to plant your seeds!
I'm going with parsley here.
- Put two or three seeds in each cell.
This way you're guaranteed at least one plant will germinate. If they all grow, just weed out the runts by cutting the stem off at soil level. Don't pull it out, because this will disturb the soil of the other seedlings.
- Cover the seeds up with soil.
A good rule of thumb is to cover the seed with the same depth of soil as the seed. (A 1 mm seed will be covered with 1mm of dirt)
Some tiny seeds don't even need to be covered at all. Refer to the instructions on the seed packet.
Also, once you've covered them, press down on the soil with your finger to make sure the top soil is touching the seed. Seeds need to be in contact with all the soil around them to germinate well.
- Cover your seed tray with a plastic dome.
The dome helps create heat and the necessary humidity for the seeds to germinate. As soon as your seeds sprout, you can remove the lid.
If you don't have a dome or are planting into plastic cups or pots just cover the pot with plastic wrap and secure it with a rubber band.
*If you don't have grow lights put the plants in a south facing window*
- REMOVE THE HUMIDITY DOME
Once the seeds sprout and put them under grow lights or in a SUNNY windowsill.
(a sunny windowsill will create leggy, but still viable plants)
- WATER YOUR SEEDLINGS
ALWAYS WATER FROM BELOW. Pour water into the drip tray and allow the plants to soak up the water for 10 minutes. Any water left in the tray afterwards should be dumped out to prevent overwatering.
Above, I'm using capillary mats, a more advanced way of watering.
NOW ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS KEEP GROWING THEM!
- POT THEM UP
Once your seedlings have grown 2 sets of leaves they're ready to go into a bigger pot and start receiving nutrients!
Plants always grow a set of starter leaves called cotyledons first. The next set they grow are the plant's "true" leaves.
Gently transplant your baby plant into a slightly larger pot that has actual soil in it. Regular potting soil is fine, using potting soil with the fungi Mycorrhiza is even better.
You can also make your own potting mix like I do.
When you're ready and if you feel you need it, this post has all the information you need for potting up your seedlings.
Propogation mats aka Heat mats
**If you have a heated seed mat (propagation mat) then place your seedling tray on the mat. The bottom heat on the soil will improve and speed up germination and growth on seedlings immensely. I HIGHLY recommend getting a seed starting mat if you're starting heat loving plants like peppers and tomatoes.**
If you started your seeds at the recommended date and weather conditions are good, you will only need to "pot up" your seedlings once.
If you see the roots are beginning to wind around inside the pot, they're getting close to needing to be potted up again.
THAT'S IT!
You should now feel confident that you can absolutely start seeds on your own.
QUICK TIPS
- Most seeds don't need light to germinate. They need heat.
- Seeds need moisture to germinate.
- Water from underneath.
- Keep a fan going to prevent "damping off".
- Use a timer on your lights - seedlings need 15 hours of light unless they're onions.
- Run your hand across the top of your seedlings. It helps give them a sturdy stem.
Easy to Grow
Beets - these seeds are actually a cluster of seeds so for every seed you plant you could get 2-3 plants.
Peas - they can be planted directly outside in April because they like the cold but starting them inside helps improve germination and stops squirrels and mice from eating the seeds before they get a chance to start.
Squash - both winter and summer squash grow well from seed.
Tomatoes - the star of every garden, tomatoes are one of the easiest plants to start from seed.
Herbs - basil, parsley, dill, oregano, ... all are great seeds to start.
Kale - I actually only like one variety of kale, Black Kale, and I grow it successfully from seed every year.
REMEMBER: Even when it isn't gardening season outside, it's gardening season inside.
Now grab a seed, get some dirt and start growing your own flowers and vegetables.
I'll give $5 to the first person who can grow a carrot big enough to replace a leg on a harvest table.
Have a question? Ask away.
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Any comments made prior to February 9th 2023 are referencing an older, outdated version of this post.
I love all your posts! My seedlings are out... but they’re looking so leggy and anemic! Just tall skinny things.....Is there anything I can do? I’ve got them exposed to natural sunlight, no grow lights.
Hi Karen- I need help and don't know who else to ask! So, since you posted this, I felt I could ask you without coming at you from outta the blue. I planted lacinato kale seeds in small peat pots and they grew pretty well. They are so long and leggy, though. They still are only a couple of inches tall and they have no breadth to their stems, or whatever they're called. I don't have growing lights, but move them around all day to keep them getting some kind of light. Then, I think I made an almost deadly error by giving them water soluble fertilizer. They almost all died, but somehow made it through that. Is there anything I can do to help them grow better? Or should I give up and get plantings from the store. I live in the US in MD and it's been one cold spring. These seedlings I have are about 3-4 weeks old. Am I just wasting my time? Thanks for any help you can offer!
I retired my seed-starting hobby a few years ago when I had to offer temporary shelter to a family member and his "stuff". That meant my "stuff" had to find a new home which ended up being my seed-starting table in the basement...because the basement floor seeps water when it rains. Then I met the BF and gave him the shop light I was using for his shed. The family member has since moved out and my daughter took over that bedroom and turned it into a gym...so I still don't have room for all that "stuff" on my table. This post has me green with seed-starting envy and I'm dying to throw all that stuff in a dumpster since I haven't looked at it in three years, reclaim my light, and start some seeds!
And Karen, on a side note, I think we need to break up. You were in my dreams this morning...something about winning a stay with you for the weekend in a house that was under total rehabilitation...and thrifting...and artwork...I think your posts are all converging on my psyche and combining into utter chaos...I need to find a pink tool belt...
I've always been told that you should have the lights as close to the plant as possible, especially in the beginning. I'm using fluorescent. Thoughts?
That's true. Especially with the case of fluorescent which don't get hot enough to burn the plants and aren't as strong as the newer ones. But you also have to remember that the lower the lights are the less width span you get out of them which reduced light available to the plants on the edge. As long as your plants don't extend beyond the width of the fluorescent then you're good. :) ~ karen!
I still have a seed pack from your post several years ago for 'gem 'corn. Found it last year when cleaning out a drawer and it's been next to the toaster since waiting for me to plant them. IF I can get these to sprout, I could anything to sprout. My biggest problem is having a place to grow them that the deer won't eat them. I will do it this week, I will do it this week, I will.
Karen has, of course, everything covered on growing from seeds, and also having children grow some things themselves. But some kids are just stubborn. I have a tip for anybody with kids who just can't seem to interest them in helping to grow things.
My daughter wanted nothing to do with gardening. She didn't like dirt, or sweating, or having to actually take care of something to keep it from dying -- none of it. She also had no interest in ever eating a vegetable. But two things got her interest and cooperation and made her actually want to eat things.
I would send her out to the garden while I was making dinner and ask her to find the reddest, roundest, most perfect tomato for me. It sometimes kept her busy for up to half an hour, searching every single plant to find the coveted PERFECT thing. Same for bell peppers and a few other things. And if she picked it, she'd eat it.
The other way to get her to try things she ordinarily thought were yucky: let her thread kabob skewers. We actually spent many pleasant hours each summer sitting together on the patio threading meat and veggies on long kabob skewers for the BBQ. She loved it when the "swords" were cooked and everyone got to slide the items off themselves.
She's in her late 40s now, and eats most veggies.
That's a great tip!
My kids help me in the garden, but they still don't want to eat anything. My favorite was my daughter who said something like, "Ew! I'm not going to eat those! They grew in dirt!!" I'm not sure where she thinks the veggies and fruits in the store grew... Hahaha.
My DAD says the same thing! Lol! Weirdos. Haha 🙃
"She’s in her late 40s now, and eats most veggies.", Hahahah! Well good job Grammy. ~ karen!
Might I add that if your house is below 50% humidity, then the plastic cover should be propped open to prevent fungal diseases but still retain some humidity. Up here in the great, white north (which is still white in some places), the heating is still on in the house and it is extremely dry.
A heat mat is excellent to aid germination for 'hot' weather crops like peppers or tomatoes. Sorry, your post...gardening is my *thing*. lol
Agreed. Here in semi-arid Denver, I have domes of various heights and use them until my seedlings are just too tall. Otherwise I would have to water twice a day and that's just not happening. I also found that propping up my seedling trays with PVC joints gives me a larger water reservoir in the tray, keeping up my humidity level higher and allowing me to water a smidge less often. I found this method on YouTube
Okay my first attempt at starting seeds was kind of a sh*t show. So I am going out and getting the trays because trying to mcguyver the stuff together, while more cost effective is just not working due to the fact that everything is in different containers and different sizes and they all just can't be together somewhere they're kind of all over the place. But I am wondering how do you label what you've planted when u use the tray and can I just keep the trays once filled on my porch or do they need to be indoors. Thanks!
Hi Sabrina. The trays and clear covers (to keep the humdity in while sprouting) really do help. Whether you can start them outside or leave them outside once started really depends on where you live and what it is you're starting. Some seedlings do fine with (and even prefer) cold weather, others will die immediately with it.
Example of cool weather crops are broccoli, kale, beets, lettuce, peas. Examples of warm weather crops that don't like cool temps are tomatoes, squash, zucchini, peppers. ~ karen!
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Here's a tip for planting seeds.......every time you crack an egg over the winter, crack the top off, wash and keep the rest of the shell (1/2 to 2/3 of the egg shell) In Spring, fill with planting soil and sow the seeds. You can keep them in a flat egg crate too....and just keep damp. After they have sprouted and are hardened off, just plant the whole thing....the egg shell will break down and provide much needed nutrients to the plant too.
Also..for those of you with small spaces....Google "companion planting" for veggies. ie: grow tomatos in a big pot & plant carrots with them - they do well together. Same with radishes and lettuce - one grows 'down' while the other grows 'up'.
We live in the Okanagan area of B.C., Canada - and we have a long HOT, DRY summer. Planting in pots allows me to move things into the shade when it gets too hot and dry.
Just to clarify, cover the tray with the lid and place the tray in a window. And you take the lid off to spritz with water every so often? Then when they sprout, the lid is always off. I'm a newbie here! Also, can I use miracle grow garden soil to start the seedlings (that's what I have at home right now)??
I live in WA state and am starting some cucumber, beans, peas, carrots, lettuce, chives, bell peppers, asparagus, strawberries.. i will be transferring them into a large elevated planter once ready.. some i will be putting into their own pot. how will I know when they're rdy to move? Time, size? A website would be helpful if you have one! It is mid august here, it'll be warm until late october. I'm assuming some of these will die, but I'm bored, need a hobby, and didn't want to wait until spring lol! Any advice you have would be wonderful, thanks!! Enjoy your blog!! :)
Yes, that's right Ashley. As soon as they sprout the lid comes off. You probably won't need to spritz if the soil you planted it was wet enough. Condensation builds up in the tray, then drips down. You can use the miracle grow soil if you like. I always recommend soilless mix because it's guaranteed not to have any contaminants, and it's nice and loose for new little roots to start in. But use what you have. If you live in WA state, this really will be just an experiment because none of your little plants will make it til spring. :( What zone are you? This calendar/calculator of mine might be helpful to you ... ~ karen!
Love, Love, Love your website! Hubby and I are starting a patio garden. We have tomato plants and herbs so far. He mentioned that he wanted us to try starting plantings from seeds. Your website gave me so much information, now I have to admit I am excited to give it a try. Thanking you from beautiful Naples, Florida. Have a bountiful day!
Thanks Karen. Starting seeds is a LOT of fun! Addictive even because you can try so many varieties of plants that just aren't available at nurseries or the garden centres where you normally buy seedlings. I don't think my day will be all that bountiful. There's still a foot of snow on the ground here, lol. (NOT normal for this time of year). ~ karen!
Bay Area, California - no problem with worms in the peppers here, but radishes get root maggots. So the only stuff my grandkids can grow when they visit in the summer is alfalfa sprouts and such.
THANK YOU, I have that exact same tray filled with seeds, and my Moskvich tomatoes sprouted, but the rest of my veggies haven't yet- and I couldn't find ANYthing telling me if I needed to cover them before, or after they sprouted. Heaven forgive my black thumb, lol- you would never know my dad was a honcho for the USDA, rest his soul, lol.
:) Glad to have helped. Remember cover the seeds ONLY until they've sprouted. Then off with the lid! ~ karen
I start my seeds indoors. I used to buy those recycled paper cup thingies, but I now actually save the empty toilet paper rolls. I cut them in half, leaving me with two short tubes. Snip the edges of one end of your short paper roll, then tuck them under, creating a cup. My 3 year old had a blast with me planting all our seeds. When the weather is right, just plant them, toilet paper roll and all, in your garden. That way, there's no disrupting the roots.
i would like to know how to fertilize young seedlings, just after they come up. and at what intervals. the plants i get from the nursery is so healthy looking...thanks..gb..
So, I planted all my seeds a few weeks ago and they look ready to transplant to the beds. But then, I'm not sure what exactly they should look like... is there a size they should grow to before being transplanted - a certain number of inches? I'm planting cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelon, peas, etc. Thanks!
Hi Eliesa - I'll need to know where you live (what Zone) in order to determine if you can plant out yet. Transplants can be planted out at any size, but they need to be hardened off. (become gradually accustomed to their new conditions) Email me at karen@theartofdoingstuff.com with your Zone and I'll guide you from there. ~ karen!
I did this! I went out just yesterday with my free afternoon and bought squash, zucchini, roma tomatoes, serrano peppers, green onions, and bell peppers. I bought the drip tray, and the seed tray, and the cover, and the soil and was SO excited once I planted all of the seeds...
and then I realized I have absolutely no place for these suckers to go once they get full blown. I have no garden space.
Hopefully my boyfriend will let me plant them in his backyard. Do you think that is a good idea?
Tiffany - Hah! I do that all the time. I get wayyy too much stuff for the space I have. Be forewarned ... the bell peppers have a tendency to get wormy caterpillar things. Every pepper I grew last year got them ONE day before it was time to pick them! So sad. :( ~ karen
Aaaand I suddenly want to throttle my husband. We tried starting seeds last year - we live in Cleveland so share your long winter and short growing season. Our seedlings grew, though not all of the seeds produced, but when I tried to transplant them it was a big effing fail. Most of them died. The plants didn't survive the transplant because the soil completely fell away from them and their tiny little stems broke in my hands. And I am realizing, after reading this post, that the problem with the MANY MANY MANY seedlings we grew was twofold. 1) My husband never put a plastic cover over the trays and 2) the lights are about 2 feet above the table. *facepalm* Maybe I'll give it a go again on my own, it's not too late after all. I just need to find some plastic covers for our trays....
Audrey - That's a sad story. :( Remember the plastic only has to be over the seedlings until the germinate. Once you see them pop up out of the soil, the plastic comes off. Also, when you transplant or handle the plant in any way, use a pencil or something to support the roots, and always grab the plant by it's "true" set of leaves. If it happens to break, the plant can always grow another set of leaves while it can't grow another stem. Does that make sense? Good luck! - Karen
Seedling trays: I would buy six pack sized instead of those huge ones. Different seeds germinate at different rates so if you start brocolli and sunflowers in that big tray, the sunflowers will be a foot tall by the time the brocolli germinates. You need to be able to take the first sprouters out of the drip tray and leave the later ones in. It's also easier to keep track of varieties (like three kinds of tomato plants) if you can sprout them in seperate seedling trays.
I am so getting that block maker. Goodbye to my shed full of assorted plastic pots.