January seed start prep (5 things to get ready now)
I know its cold and seems like a summer garden is far away…but its actually time to start planning! Here are some things to get ready for starting plants from seed. We are not affiliated with any of the brands in this post, we use really like the products we use;)
Spend some time planning your garden to determine what you will be growing and how much you will be growing. We have developed our own spreadsheet but also use a site called Garden Planner.
Order seeds! We love Seed Saver’s Exchange and Baker Creek Heirloom. You can purchase your seeds in the store as well, but ordering seeds gives you more variety;)
3. Gather seed starting vessels. These can be seedling trays for inside or milk cartons for winter sowing (we’ll do a blog post about that soon). We always get the ones with the clear dome top that acts like a mini greenhouse and the bottom tray that holds water.
4. Purchase new seed starting mix. I like to use new mix each year to reduce the possibility of bacteria and disease. You can find lots of things online about people who make “soil blocks” which I have never tried. You can also use the little pellets, which are great too, but not as cost effective.
5. Scope out your house to decide where you want to start your seeds. Seedlings need warmth, light, and water. You’ll want a warm place or heat mats. We purchased heat mats last year, but some people use heating pads. You’ll also need lights. Fluorescent lights work, but you can also get relatively inexpensive full spectrum grow lights. We bought these 80W LED grow lights from Sunco last year. They put out a LOT of light. For your water, a spray bottle is perfect for giving the small amounts of water needed during the seed growing process. Some type of seedling markers. We have used popsicle sticks, official plant markers, and masking tape. You will WANT this…even though you will tell yourself “I’ll remember what’s in here.” Ask me how I know?
Stay tuned for upcoming blog post when it gets closer to actually starting;) We are starting a little later this year because of our crazy schedule, but we usually start way early….so I guess we’ll be on time!
