Starting Plants from Seeds

Many gardeners like to start plants from seed in late winter or very early spring. There are numerous advantages to growing seeds from scratch, an important one being the savings. Think for a moment about the number of seeds per packet, versus the amount you will pay for a small Styrofoam flat of annuals later in the season—the savings are considerable. In addition, growing plants from seeds means that you have control over what you will be planting, so that very specific planning can take place much earlier in the season. You will not be dependent upon what the local nursery will keep in stock; you will be able to order from catalogues and procure rare or less popular varieties if you would like.

Lately, we have been stretched for time, with a full household to run, and many competing work-related obligations, sports activities, and hobbies taking up our time. We have been buying our annuals and a good proportion of our vegetables from the nursery, and have been willing to accept the extra expense. When I was young, however, my father always had flats sitting about near the back door and just below a large window that faced the garden. Starting seeds indoors as he had done ensured that we would get our first vegetables ready to harvest well before we might have if we had gone with store-bought plants. Earlier blooms and an earlier round of harvesting can be well worth the effort—and, indeed, the effort itself is not taxing—it just takes a few extra steps to get things set up, and then the discipline or habit of watering regularly.

Make sure that you select suitable containers, and wash reusable containers well with soap and water before planting. Add drainage holes and a plastic tray underneath the flat or set of containers if you are making your own. In our household, large flats made of peat moss were an absolute favourite. Young roots are fragile and do not take well to being disturbed, so the beauty of peat moss containers is that you can tear the flat up and then plant each little pot directly in the earth. Use a store-bought sowing medium, since earth from the garden may compact too easily, and may introduce diseases or unwanted seeds or insects. Check the make-up of the sowing medium—many gardeners swear by mixtures heavy on peat moss, although it is a natural resource and some people worry about the impact of such large-scale use of the product. A mixture of peat moss and vermiculite, however, ensures aeration and drainage, which are crucial to the seeds as they put out roots and begin to sprout and develop into young, healthy plants.