Starting Seeds
by
Angie Rose
1 Hour
Easy
As I write to you today sipping on my tea, the rain is coming down in buckets outside. It is cold with an unpleasant mix of mud and snow on the ground. Worst of all, the flowers have drooped and wilted from the past few days of freezing temperatures. It is definitely not the day to head outside and plant. That isn't going to stop me from gardening though!
Today I sat down and began planting some of my tomato and pepper seeds! I planted two different varieties of each. Bren was kind enough to share Orange Blaze pepper seeds and Chef's Choice tomato seeds that were part of a giveaway. I also planted California Wonder peppers and Better Bush tomatoes from my Botanical Interests deluxe garden gift box thanks to Handy Helen. Figured they all have to be lucky seeds right? I've configured a temporary seed starting set up until I purchase a shelving unit. Right now, they are on a wooden table. I'm using a heat mat for some of my seeds as well as a grow light for others to help with propagation.
Pepper seeds
The first things I purchased for seed starting were some Jiffy starter trays. I opted for the peat pot biodegradable version so I will disturb the plant as little as possible when transplanting them. I also find the bigger cells easier to plant in. It's just my personal preference, but since I am no expert, the easier the better. I filled each of my trays with Espoma organic seed starter potting mix. I've used this in the past and had some good success with it.
I wanted to experiment and give my seeds a little push with a heat mat as well as a grow light. I know that germination requires heat, especially with seeds like peppers. Here in zone 6a, our growing season is so short that it's best to give the plants a head start indoors first. I opted for a Hydrofarm Seedling Heat Mat that is 20" x 20". It is big enough to fit a tray comfortably with a little extra room. Most people recommend buying a thermometer for your heat mat, so I will definitely look into that for the future. Right now, I'm testing the waters and observing how it performs. After my peppers were all planted and resting cozy on the warm mat, I decided to do some research on starting tomatoes from seed. I've read how they enjoy an abundance of light, and providing them with a grow light can prevent them from becoming leggy. I went with the Hydrofarm Jump Start 2' T5 Grow Light Fixture. This includes the fixture, stand and tube. It looked easy to set up and perfect for a beginner like me. It was simple to set up, and I'm happy with it's performance so far.
Now my seeds are sitting all snug surrounded by warmth and light. Let the waiting begin! I'm curious to see how they do with my new upgraded seed starting setup.
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 18 comments
-
Ty Catherine I did not know that
-
Most of the tomatoes & peppers purchased in your grocery are from hybrid plants - cross-pollination of 2 different varieties. When their seeds are replanted they will revert back to one of their parents - not breeding true. The same problem frequently occurs with melon seeds. Only open-pollinated seeds will breed true to their parents.
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?