Starting Your Plants From Seeds
by John Yazo
Starting your plants from seeds needs a little planning. The most common mistake made is starting planting seeds to early. You need to know the date of the last expected frost in your area to be able to determine when you should start planting seeds. Once you know when the last frost is expected check the directions on the back of the seed packet for how many days before the last frost you should start to plant your seeds.If you don't know when the last expected frost is for your area you can find this information on a hardness zone map.
Now that you have a start date to begin planting your seeds you will need to have the proper supplies on hand. You will need containers to plant your seeds in. They can be purchased at most local garden centers or you can use pots that you have saved from other plants that you have purchased in the past. If you use containers that you have saved you should clean and disinfect them with a mild solution of bleach and water to prevent any disease from other plants. Another simple basic household item that can be used to plant seeds in is egg cartoons.
The next thing you will need is some type of soil to fill your containers. Soilless potting mix is best over garden soil. Soilless potting mix is sterile, holds moisture well and is easy for seedlings to emerge through. Garden soil can be used but it can have it's downsides, like compacting after watering making it harder for seedlings to emerge, it can contain weed seeds, harbor unwanted insects and disease spores.
After you have your potting soil you will need to fill the containers. You will also need seeds that you want to plant, labels to mark the containers for what type of seed you planted, clear plastic bags or clear plastic that you can cover the containers with to help trap heat and humidity for the plants if you don't have a greenhouse, watering can and a light source.
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