When getting ready to start seeds under grow lights at home there are a few things that are needed before getting started. For me, these are on my late winter checklist every year as I start to get excited for another growing season of annuals, perennials, and vegetables. Here are the steps that I follow to get ready for an early start indoors each year.
Buy Seeds
For starters, I order seeds in late winter. One can certainly go to the local nursery or store but I love to order online and for one very good reason. The reason I like to order seeds online is because of the huge variety. I always include plenty of heirloom vegetables in my garden and, for these, an online seed distributor is hard to beat for a huge selection of good seeds. That's because I grow tomatoes and such in a small space and if I kept my seeds they would not be true to form. Sure, I might have the best new variety known to man from last years seeds but, then again, I might not. I have to have my Pineapple and Brandywine tomatoes every year just the way they were made. The other reason is that I can get my hands on a new variety of perennial by seed this way that no local store will have. I'll still buy the basic beans or peas at the store, since I tend to go with tried and true varieties of these.
Wash Seed Trays
Before even considering planting seeds indoors I wash my seed trays. This could easily be done in the fall but I'm lazy so it's a spring job. A 10 minute soak and wash in a 10% bleach solution (90% warm water) will leave my seed trays and capillary mats free of any disease that may have been around last year. A day of air drying and I'm ready to go. I use various methods, from the APS units from Gardener's Supply to simple 2.25 inch deep plastic pots for tomatoes that I save form year to year. In all, this is a lot of washing but it's worth it.
Get Soil
Of course, you would never really use soil to start seeds. Instead, I like to mix a 50/50 batch of peat and vermiculite, which I buy in rather huge bags. This mix is much better for seedlings and far less susceptible to disease, especially damping off. It holds water well yet is light and fluffy - perfect for little roots. Once I have the seeds, clean trays, and soil, I'm ready to plant.
Fire Up the Grow Lights
Just a quick test of the grow lights to make sure the bulbs work and setting my light timer and I'm ready. You do not need expensive grow lights marketed by seed catalogs. Trust me, a general purpose shop light from your home store will do just fine. Just get T8 bulbs and light timers and you are set. I hang my lights from chains on a 2x4 plant stand I built which allows me to adjust the lights as the plants grow. You can buy these systems made of metal at considerable expense, but $20 worth of wood will do the trick. You need the lights to be 1 inch above the plants at all times and to run the lights 14 hours or more per day for best results.
Plant Away
Now that your lights are good to go you are ready to start seeds under your grow lights and get a head start on the season. Keep the trays covered until germination and use a spray bottle mister to add moisture. Never water the soil with a watering can. Ever. Use of a heat mat for warm season crops like tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers will help greatly but you don't need it for many other things. Keep misting now and then until the plants are getting a set of true leaves. Then, let the soil dry out a bit between watering. When it is time for water soak the trays or containers from the bottom by placing them in a pool of water until they drink it up. Never water from the top. Let the soil dry out again quite a bit and repeat. Once there are 2-3 sets of real leave your plants will appreciate some fertilizer in the water. Repeat that every 2 weeks and you're set.
Follow these steps when getting ready to start seeds under grow lights indoors and getting them ready to plant:
- buy seeds
- buy or clean seed trays or containers
- buy soil mix
- set up lights on a timer
- plant seeds
- mist seeds until germination
- let soil dry on top after germination
- water from the bottom only when needed
- add fertilizer after 2 sets of leaves appear
One More Thing...
Before you plant outdoors, harden off your young plants. That is done by exposing them to the real elements gradually over at least a few days. I prefer a week. That means an hour in the shade the first day and increasing to most of the day at the end of the week. You will see your plants get stronger during this time, leaving no doubt that they are ready for the garden.
Good luck! You are ready to start your seeds indoors.
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