Getting Your Garden Started With Seeds

There are two approaches among gardeners when it comes to starting a garden. Many gardeners, those who want to get their garden off to a quick start, prefer to buy young seedlings and transplant them into their garden. Other gardeners prefer to take the extra step which, in the long run, gives them more control and a higher sense of accomplishment, by planting flowers and

plants directly from seeds.

There are a number of reasons why you should consider planting from seeds. To begin with, it’s true that transplanting seedlings will give you a good head start, the down side is that it may also introduce problems, such as disease or insect infestation to an established garden plot.

When you plant from seed, there is a much higher chance you’ll avoid these problems. You know, it’s really not that difficult to plant from seed, however, it is critical that you read and follow the instructions on the seed packet in order to get the best results. Let’s face it, it’s always important to carefully follow the instructions no matter what you’re doing. By doing this you will be better able to protect the seeds and the delicate seedlings as they grow.

When planting your seeds, make sure you choose the right type of quality growing tray. Don’t be afraid to consult with your local nursery or garden center and get their recommendation on the best type of tray for your particular needs.

Once you have the tray and seeds on hand, the next step is to fill that growing tray with a good, high quality seed mixture. This product is also called a seed starting mix, which is similar in consistency to potting soil. An important advantage of this seed starting mix is that it’s totally sterile and completely free of diseases and garden pests.

After the growing tray has been prepared, the seeds should then be placed in the seed starting mix. The rule of thumb when planting seeds is to plant them at least twice their own depth. In some cases, such as with very small seeds, you may want to simply dust the seeds with a light coating of seed mix, since if they are buried too deep they may not be able to sprout.

After the seeds have been planted in the tray, you should label them. You can do this by using sticks printed with a waterproof marker or you can purchase labels at your local nursery. It’s advisable not to use the seed packets as labels because they will quickly crumble due to the moisture as the seeds are watered.

It’s best to use a misting sprayer when watering your newly planted seeds. Using a hose or watering can could cause you to inadvertently dislodge the seed medium or uncover the seeds.

At this point your growing tray should be covered in order to prevent the moisture from evaporating. A covered tray will also encourage the germination of the seeds which is, of course, the whole point in having a garden.

Keep in mind that another way you can speed up the germination of newly planted seeds is heat. Heat has been shown to speed up the germination of seeds, and this is a technique used by many successful gardeners.

Successful gardeners also favor the technique of using a bell jar to protect delicate seedlings from late frost. If you don’t have bell jars then you can use a regular water bottle with the bottom cut off as a good replacement.

Starting your garden with seeds rather than seedlings is a slower process and takes a little more work, however, the rewards and satisfaction are there once your beautiful garden grows to it’s fullest and you can truly enjoy its many benefits year after year.

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Glenn Cutforth is a writer, eBook publisher and graphic designer.

For comprehensive information on all aspects of lawn and garden care,

visit his website at Lawn and Garden Magic.com

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