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Gardening is a profoundly personal activity. You can choose to grow food for yourself, your family, or your community. You might want to learn more about growing food from seed to appreciate the miracle of life as it happens in your backyard. Alternatively, maybe you like being outside and want fresh air while feeding your green thumb. No matter what kind of gardener you are, there is always something new to learn. In this blog, we will outline some tips for starting with seeds: what they need to sprout and grow into healthy plants, where they should be planted, how long it takes them to grow, what tools are best for starting them off right, and more!
1. Work with your local climate, preferences, and space.
The initial step is to figure out what you want to grow. If you live in a cold climate and want to grow tomatoes, chilli, cucumber, or other warm-weather plants that need lots of sunlight, you may wish to invest in a seedling heat mat or heated propagator to head start your seeds.
On the other hand, if you are in an area with warmer winters—like the tropics or subtropics of Australia —and want to grow vegetables that prefer temperate weather (like lettuce), start them indoors under lights on your kitchen table.
2. Find a light source for seedlings.
If you cannot find a sunny window, you may be able to use grow lights.
Grow lights are designed specifically for plant growth and can be purchased at your local hardware store. They come in various sizes, shapes, and colours but generally look like lamps with led inside them. You can also go online, and order grow lights from companies that sell them for hydroponic gardening purposes—this will help ensure that the light fits directly over your seedling tray or starter pot perfectly.
The advantage of growing seeds indoors is that they will not have the same exposure to pests as outdoor plants because they are protected by glass or plastic covers.
3. Start seeds and seedlings at the proper time of year.
Starting seeds and seedlings at the proper time of year is essential. If you live in a cold climate zone, it will be easier to start them indoors as soon as your seed packets arrive. In warm climate zones, you can plant directly into the garden when your seedlings are ready for transplanting.
4. Be smart about how much you plant.
The first rule of seed gardening is: do not plant too much. You may think that planting 40 rows of carrots will provide you with a bountiful harvest, but it will not. Instead, you are likely to end up with too many carrots that are not ready at the same time and are therefore wasted. It is better to plant in successive waves over a few weeks than to try and cram all your seeds into one go.
5. Do your research to understand what plants need.
- Do your research to understand what plants need.
- For example, the most common mistake we see new gardeners make is putting a tomato plant in full shade and expecting it to thrive. If you are growing tomatoes, you need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily—and more if possible! In addition, know that different varieties have different needs: some want lots of water while others prefer drier soil; some prefer cool temperatures while others grow best in warm weather conditions. Understanding these differences will help you choose the right plants for your area and adequately care for them once they have been planted
- Research your plants' needs before you start planting.
6. Create different environments for your plants to thrive in.
Using the right tools and plants, you can create different environments in your garden. You should get a good idea of what kind of environment you need for each plant by looking at its needs. Some plants will require more shade, while others will need more sun. Some may need more water, while others might not need as much. If you have room, it is great to have some variety so that all your plants are happy!
7. Use healthy soil or compost.
Soil is the foundation for everything you are going to do in your garden. Well-drained soil rich in nutrients, well aerated and pH balanced is what you want. You can make your own compost out of kitchen scraps and yard waste, improving the soil even further. It should be a mixture of brown and green (brown being shredded leaves or grass clippings, green being food scraps).
8. Understand what it means to "harden off" your plants.
The phrase "harden off" describes the process of slowly introducing plants to the elements. The idea is that by gradually exposing your seedlings to sunlight and wind over several days, you can prepare them for their eventual outdoor life.
- Please take a few hours out of each day to place your pots outside, in an area where they will get some sun but not too much (you do not want scorched leaves). You should also be sure that there is no chance of rain or other weather events during this period—the last thing you want is for your little seedlings' roots to be exposed when they're not ready!
- After a few days (or weeks), depending on how much heat or cold the seeds were exposed to while growing indoors, bring them all back inside and slowly increase their exposure time until they can stand up against any conditions nature throws at them.
9. Make sure you have the right tools.
One thing that come from experience is that you should always use the right tool for the job. This is especially true when planting seeds because using the wrong tools can be disastrous for your garden.
If you are new to gardening and not sure what kind of tools you need, here are some tips:
- Make sure your hand trowels are not too big or small. If they are too big, they will not fit into any soil spaces; if they are too small, you will have to dig up more soil before planting seeds (which will probably make them germinate poorly).
- Make sure your shovels are not too heavy or lightweight--or even worse--too dull or sharp! A dull shovel may not dig out enough soil; a sharp one might cut through roots instead of digging around them. Neither choice is optimal for healthy growth later on down the road!
10. Choose a container appropriately sized to the seedlings' needs.
Remember that seedlings can grow roots along the sides of their container, so choose one that's just large enough for them to grow in. You do not want them to outgrow your planter before they get established!
To help keep your plants joyous and healthy, look for a planter with drainage holes and sturdy construction. After all, if you choose a container that has poor drainage or breaks easily when you move it around (or even put it down too hard), what good are all those seeds going to do?
11. Consider using a greenhouse to protect your plants from predators and weather damage.
One of the most important aspects of growing your food is protecting it from predators and weather damage. A greenhouse or glasshouse is a great way to do that.
Greenhouses are especially beneficial for those who want to start a garden but do not have enough space outside or live in an area where the weather can be harsh during certain seasons. Greenhouses can also be used to extend the growing season by giving plants more time before they need to be brought inside.
You can use many different greenhouses—from simple plastic sheeting to complex custom-built structures—and they do not necessarily have to cost much money if you are willing to put in some elbow grease!
12. There are many different ways to be a gardener; find the best way for you and your backyard!
There are many different ways to be a gardener; find the best way for you and your backyard! You can learn from books, websites, other gardeners, and even trial and error. If all else fails, there's always the internet! The best way to learn is to start, but do not try too hard.
If you want advice on how to grow your first seedlings or what plants go well together in a garden bed (or even what kind of soil they like), check out some gardening websites online or ask around at local gardening clubs that may have more knowledge than anyone else about this kind of stuff. When it comes time to buy seeds, Happy Valley Seeds offers a vast range of seeds, over 1350 varieties. There is a lot to choose from our extensive collection of heirloom, open-pollinated & select hybrid seed varieties.
We hope these tips have helped you start your journey to becoming a better gardener. It can be intimidating initially, but there is no need to worry! With the right tools and knowledge, we promise that anyone can grow their plants from scratch. Furthermore, do not forget: all it takes is one step at a time!