The Bloomin' Idiot's

SEED-STARTING TIPS

Starting Seeds

Soak hard-coated seeds 48 hours before planting for quicker sprouting.  Put the seeds in a thermos (wide-mouth is best) with warm (not hot!) water.  The thermos will keep the water warm and the seeds' coat will be softened before you put them in the ground.  This is great for peas, beans, etc.

Steep hard-coated seeds!  Soak them overnight in a strong tea ... the tannic acid in the tea softens the hard outer covering.

Roll beet seeds with a rolling pin to get seeds to germinate better.  This crushes the outside husks and they sprout faster.

Make your own soilless seed-starting mix by mixing together one part vermiculite, one part perlite and one part peat moss.  As this has no nutrients to it, transplant seedlings when leaves appear.

Watering Seeds

Always water seedlings with room-temperature water!  The cold from the tap shocks the seedlings and significantly slows growth.  (I usually keep milk jugs full of water around ... by the time I get to watering with them, the chlorine has dissapated and the water is room temperature. Refill after each watering and they'll be ready the next time you want to water!)

Seed-Starting Containers

After you've eaten or juiced half an orange or grapefruit, use the skin as a "pot."  Scoop out the remaining pulp and half-fill with soil and plant your seeds.  When ready to transplant, plant the citrus half and all - a great way to start those seeds inside early, that DON'T like to be transplanted.

Lighting

It is NOT necessary to start seeds with grow lights ... they do just fine under fluorescent light.  Use one "cool" light and one "warm" light and you'll have the full color spectrum needed for good growth.

Sprout beans in a jar placed beside a 75-watt light bulb.  This keeps the beans warm enough (above 68 degrees).  Wrap the jar in a dish towel and leave one end open for air circulation.