Answering 18 of Your Seed Starting Questions!
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Date: 2022-07-18
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Comments and reviews: 15
Melissa
. any advice on inexpensive, neglect-friendly seed starting. I do a lot of gardening for my mom, who lives in a different city than me. So, obvs, I'm not tending seedlings very much, I need to be able to set them up, then ignore them (other than a watering schedule identical to the adult plants) for up to a month at a time, sometimes more. And my budget for gardening tends to be in the $10/month range.
A couple of specifics that may be relevant:
1. We live in Arizona. So, high heat, low humidity most of the year.
2. Two main growing locations: the atrium (usually a bit warmer in the winter and a bit cooler in the summer than outside, much higher humidity, but basically no direct sunlight, though for an indoor location it's fairly bright, and watered I think once a week or so, or in pots outside (fairly large pots full of a mix of potting soil and compost, partial to full sun, watered every few days depending on the season. In both cases, she checks the soil with a (cheap) water meter, and doesn't water if it reads as wet, but does water otherwise. I also have some planting areas that are in the (fairly unimproved, ie hard, alkaline, and not very organic-rich) ground, that get automatically watered, but aren't checked very often.
When I have tried to start seeds in the past (mostly in pellets, in some kind of covered tray so they wouldn't just dry out, and in the atrium, they tended to, well, mold. My mom would be perfectly willing to, eg, fill a reservoir when she goes in to water, but not to do something like mist the plants every few days or whatever.
Any suggestions?
reply
. any advice on inexpensive, neglect-friendly seed starting. I do a lot of gardening for my mom, who lives in a different city than me. So, obvs, I'm not tending seedlings very much, I need to be able to set them up, then ignore them (other than a watering schedule identical to the adult plants) for up to a month at a time, sometimes more. And my budget for gardening tends to be in the $10/month range.
A couple of specifics that may be relevant:
1. We live in Arizona. So, high heat, low humidity most of the year.
2. Two main growing locations: the atrium (usually a bit warmer in the winter and a bit cooler in the summer than outside, much higher humidity, but basically no direct sunlight, though for an indoor location it's fairly bright, and watered I think once a week or so, or in pots outside (fairly large pots full of a mix of potting soil and compost, partial to full sun, watered every few days depending on the season. In both cases, she checks the soil with a (cheap) water meter, and doesn't water if it reads as wet, but does water otherwise. I also have some planting areas that are in the (fairly unimproved, ie hard, alkaline, and not very organic-rich) ground, that get automatically watered, but aren't checked very often.
When I have tried to start seeds in the past (mostly in pellets, in some kind of covered tray so they wouldn't just dry out, and in the atrium, they tended to, well, mold. My mom would be perfectly willing to, eg, fill a reservoir when she goes in to water, but not to do something like mist the plants every few days or whatever.
Any suggestions?
reply
Epic
Timestamps for Questions:
0: 21 - How to know when to start seeds?
1: 18 - How do you plan your seed starting?
1: 52 - What seed companies do you recommend?
2: 06 - What are good beginner seeds to grow?
2: 59 - Do you plant in trays or larger pots?
3: 55 - Do you start all seeds indoors?
4: 48 - How long do you keep your seeds indoors?
5: 28 - Do you need a seedling heat mat?
6: 13 - What are the best grow lights for seed starting?
8: 02 - Do you use timers?
8: 45 - What is your favorite seed starting system?
9: 57 - Do you use the same soil for starting all seeds?
10: 10 - What seed starting mix do you use?
10: 38 - Do you use peat pellets or soil blocks?
11: 45 - How many seeds do you plant per hole?
12: 15 - How to prevent leggy seedlings?
13: 03 - What causes stunted growth in seedlings?
13: 57 - What causes mold or fungus in soil when starting seeds?
reply
Timestamps for Questions:
0: 21 - How to know when to start seeds?
1: 18 - How do you plan your seed starting?
1: 52 - What seed companies do you recommend?
2: 06 - What are good beginner seeds to grow?
2: 59 - Do you plant in trays or larger pots?
3: 55 - Do you start all seeds indoors?
4: 48 - How long do you keep your seeds indoors?
5: 28 - Do you need a seedling heat mat?
6: 13 - What are the best grow lights for seed starting?
8: 02 - Do you use timers?
8: 45 - What is your favorite seed starting system?
9: 57 - Do you use the same soil for starting all seeds?
10: 10 - What seed starting mix do you use?
10: 38 - Do you use peat pellets or soil blocks?
11: 45 - How many seeds do you plant per hole?
12: 15 - How to prevent leggy seedlings?
13: 03 - What causes stunted growth in seedlings?
13: 57 - What causes mold or fungus in soil when starting seeds?
reply
Dineen
If you are in the desert U. S. southwest, especially the low desert(below 3500feet, please check out Native Seeds/SEARCH. These are native and heirloom varieties with a hundred or more years of providing food in that area. Hardiness 10a. October direct sew roots, bulbs, tubers and greens. Starting fruit bearing seeds indoors is rather futile, as there are minimal frost days in January. Direct seed in pots or the ground in late February to get fruit for May and June. You can also direct seed in the August monsoon for Three Sisters-corn, beans, squash.
reply
If you are in the desert U. S. southwest, especially the low desert(below 3500feet, please check out Native Seeds/SEARCH. These are native and heirloom varieties with a hundred or more years of providing food in that area. Hardiness 10a. October direct sew roots, bulbs, tubers and greens. Starting fruit bearing seeds indoors is rather futile, as there are minimal frost days in January. Direct seed in pots or the ground in late February to get fruit for May and June. You can also direct seed in the August monsoon for Three Sisters-corn, beans, squash.
reply
RFabs89
Hey Kevin.
Great videos, keep up the good work.
Question: What are your thoughts on full spectrum vs blue/red (only) spectrum lights? The obvious difference is that blue/red lights produce plants are shorter but denser with much bigger leaves, while the full spectrum will produce more nature looking slightly more leggy plants with smaller leaves. My point of reference is primarily chilli plants.
Thanks
Best regards,
Robin
reply
Hey Kevin.
Great videos, keep up the good work.
Question: What are your thoughts on full spectrum vs blue/red (only) spectrum lights? The obvious difference is that blue/red lights produce plants are shorter but denser with much bigger leaves, while the full spectrum will produce more nature looking slightly more leggy plants with smaller leaves. My point of reference is primarily chilli plants.
Thanks
Best regards,
Robin
reply
Rachel
Rewatching your seed series, and still love it! I do have a couple questions.
1- Did you ever publish your spreadsheet? If so, where can I find it?
2- You seem to be a fan of Baker Creek, and I've enjoyed what I've gotten from them in the past. However, I have heard that there may be some ethical issues with how they use their voice and who they support. Do you have any insight on that? Are they still a good choice?
reply
Rewatching your seed series, and still love it! I do have a couple questions.
1- Did you ever publish your spreadsheet? If so, where can I find it?
2- You seem to be a fan of Baker Creek, and I've enjoyed what I've gotten from them in the past. However, I have heard that there may be some ethical issues with how they use their voice and who they support. Do you have any insight on that? Are they still a good choice?
reply
Francisca
I know the young millens enjoy the live videos, but I am old school and love your videos. Will you be doing both a video and a live on the same topics? I am a new homesteader-gardner and want to be just like you! I purchased my little acre and finished my green house and I have been following you: ) Such a great motivation for me! thank you
reply
I know the young millens enjoy the live videos, but I am old school and love your videos. Will you be doing both a video and a live on the same topics? I am a new homesteader-gardner and want to be just like you! I purchased my little acre and finished my green house and I have been following you: ) Such a great motivation for me! thank you
reply
michael
For my lighting I have used blue led lights (cheap Xmas lights) and have got some really nice results. Really awesome to walk into my green house and see all the leaves and flowers turned toward the blue light. I also used a rain catch system with fish to water my plants. Great videos, and good knowledge on your part!
reply
For my lighting I have used blue led lights (cheap Xmas lights) and have got some really nice results. Really awesome to walk into my green house and see all the leaves and flowers turned toward the blue light. I also used a rain catch system with fish to water my plants. Great videos, and good knowledge on your part!
reply
Jesse
I've grown some coriander seedlings and they're very leggy to the point there they won't stand up because the main stem is so thin and the leaves are growing form quite far up the stem. Is this because of a watering or light problem and is there any way for me to correct this or should I just tie the plants to stakes?
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I've grown some coriander seedlings and they're very leggy to the point there they won't stand up because the main stem is so thin and the leaves are growing form quite far up the stem. Is this because of a watering or light problem and is there any way for me to correct this or should I just tie the plants to stakes?
reply
Tammy
My question is, how do garden centers have seedlings that are massive. and when I seed myself they are minuscule and seem to take 10x as long to grow. I use compost, potting mix and peat moss along with a fertilizer. They get enough water and sunlight. am I missing something? Is there a secret ingredient?
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My question is, how do garden centers have seedlings that are massive. and when I seed myself they are minuscule and seem to take 10x as long to grow. I use compost, potting mix and peat moss along with a fertilizer. They get enough water and sunlight. am I missing something? Is there a secret ingredient?
reply
Dolly
I know this is an old video but i hope i can get some advice! Im starting a balcony garden but theres not alot of light that reaches the balcony so i was thinking i could start my seedlings on the balony with a grow light and zipolock bags for condenstation. Is that ok? will that work?
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I know this is an old video but i hope i can get some advice! Im starting a balcony garden but theres not alot of light that reaches the balcony so i was thinking i could start my seedlings on the balony with a grow light and zipolock bags for condenstation. Is that ok? will that work?
reply
That
Ive really been enjoying your videos. Ive got zero gardening experience, but with all of your content here Im confident that Ill be able to create something nice for this coming season. What are your thoughts on a greenhouse vs raised beds in the open? Im on a half acre in Ohio.
reply
Ive really been enjoying your videos. Ive got zero gardening experience, but with all of your content here Im confident that Ill be able to create something nice for this coming season. What are your thoughts on a greenhouse vs raised beds in the open? Im on a half acre in Ohio.
reply
handmade
Kevin, I had thougt seeds not sown need to be started in smallish containers. root development predicates the need to 'pot up' one of more times. you had a 6. 5' inch pot in hand for germinating. is there a vid avail to detail that work around. thanks
reply
Kevin, I had thougt seeds not sown need to be started in smallish containers. root development predicates the need to 'pot up' one of more times. you had a 6. 5' inch pot in hand for germinating. is there a vid avail to detail that work around. thanks
reply
Alejandro
I recently received the Rebel Garden 8-pack of hot peppers. I would like to know how long the seeds can be kept in their packages while I decide in which month of the year I am going to sow them? greetings and thanks. From Venezuela.
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I recently received the Rebel Garden 8-pack of hot peppers. I would like to know how long the seeds can be kept in their packages while I decide in which month of the year I am going to sow them? greetings and thanks. From Venezuela.
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Crystal
What do you recommend for the GSE to water ratio to spray on the mold/fungus growing on seedlings? I messed up with over watering and now it's running rampant. Probably will have to restart but if I can save any I'd like to.
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What do you recommend for the GSE to water ratio to spray on the mold/fungus growing on seedlings? I messed up with over watering and now it's running rampant. Probably will have to restart but if I can save any I'd like to.
reply
Amr
I started many flower seeds, they germinate fast in about 5 days but when they grow, only two leaves appear but they never grow beyond that, no more leaves appear and most of the seedlings die thereafter. Any help? :(
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I started many flower seeds, they germinate fast in about 5 days but when they grow, only two leaves appear but they never grow beyond that, no more leaves appear and most of the seedlings die thereafter. Any help? :(
reply
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