When figuring out how to select good seeds for planting, there are a few variables to consider, like where the seeds came from and how old they are. There are some guidelines for identifying the good seeds and steering clear of the bad ones. One example: grocery store produce—their seeds are often sterile. If you find a beautiful heirloom tomato at the farmer’s market on the other hand – those seeds are likely more viable.
But there’s also a lot to learn about growing seedlings. It’s not always just a simple process of planting a seed in some dirt and watching it grow – in fact, it rarely ever is. Most gardeners who grow from seed use heating mats and grow lights, and germinate seeds indoors in early spring. But some plants, like strawberries, for example, are a pain to grow from seed and take so long to produce that most go right for the pre-grown plants at their local gardening store. Knowing that before you try to grow from seed could save you a lot of time and stress.
And sure, some gardeners start seeds outdoors, but there are only specific vegetables that will tolerate it, and you need to know which ones those are or, again, you’ll be sitting in a garden filled with empty rows of dirt instead of a bountiful food garden.
In the articles below, we dive into everything you need to know about growing seeds and planting seedlings. And you can learn even more in our How to Grow a Vegetable Garden: 10 Things Every Gardener Needs to Know Before Starting a Food Garden freebie. Enjoy!
You’ve probably seen those Little Free Library stands around where you can borrow or leave a book. One near me has some fantastic books; the entire Harry Potter series was in there not too long ago. As much as I love books, though, the idea of starting a seed library is far more appealing.
Hi! I’m Amanda, and I’d like to talk about the different types of vegetable seeds. Why? Well, why not? Seeds are tiny miracles. It’s amazing to me that something the size of a tomato seed will, in the right conditions, grow into 10-foot tall, bushy vines that produce pounds and pounds of one of the […]
I know. Epigeal and hypogeal germination probably won’t be the most riveting topic at your next backyard cocktail party. Hear me out, though, because plant science is pretty dang cool. Mind you, the differences between epigeal and hypogeal germination probably won’t matter very much in what you choose to plant in your vegetable garden. So […]
Egg cartons, like popsicle sticks and pipe cleaners, are one of the quintessential craft items for school projects. You can turn an egg carton into a bird feeding tray or a spaceship. It’s perfect for holding odds and ends in your cupboard. And it’s perfect for gardening.
Sometimes I think that if I spend time daydreaming about my spring garden, it will somehow conjure warmer weather and send the snowy New England chill packing! Before sketching out the placement for all my herbs, veggies, and fruits, I like to figure out how they will get into the ground in the first place. Deciding whether to plant from seed, seedling, or plant cutting dictates your planting timeline.
If you think about it, the idea of surface sowing seeds isn’t that radical. I can guarantee there aren’t many gardeners carefully measuring out the perfect depth to plant dandelion seeds, and yet, they are everywhere. Blown randomly about by the wind, the seeds land in your yard, along well-trodden paths, and thrive in that […]
I see it from the corner of my eye, the telltale green sliver poking up from the potting mix. Victory, thy name is Vegetable Sprout! My pride is brimming as I examine the pot from every angle, admiring my little germinated miracle. All melodrama aside, growing vegetables from seeds is one of the most rewarding gardening experiences because you get to be a part of every step of the growing process. One step that many folks get hung up on is trying to figure out how often to water vegetable seeds.
If we can clone sheep, we can learn how to clone vegetables. At least, that’s my unofficial stance on the matter, since I have no idea how to clone a sheep. Besides, I have no great desire to clone a sheep. No matter. I do know how to clone vegetables, and it’s actually pretty easy. […]
The other day, a friend of mine was working on a science project with her elementary schooler. It was the classic, but still really cool, experiment where you learn how to germinate seeds and watch them grow into little seedlings. They had a little problem, though. The seeds that they were originally trying to use would not germinate. At all.
Seeds are a marvelous thing. Call me easily amused, but it’s just astounding to me that a handful of seeds can give us an entire garden full of squash, peas, tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, broccoli, and so much more. And all of that – everything that ends up on your plate – starts with those tiny little seeds. Personally, I find a seed germination temperature chart to be helpful in making this all happen.
