COMPLETE SEED STARTING GUIDE | SUPPLIES, TIPS, AND MORE!

[@LazyDogFarm]

What type of mix do you use for seed starting? Let us know! SHOP LAZY DOG FARM FIG TREES: lazydogfarm.com/collections/fig-trees 0:00 Intro 1:12 Why Is Seed Starting Such a Valuable Skill? 1:47 Why Shouldn't You Use Potting Soil? 5:55 The Best Trays & Containers for Starting Seeds 10:55 The Importance of Using Heat Mats 14:59 Do You Need a Humidity Dome? 16:46 Why Don't We Use Grow Lights? 17:59 Planting Pepper Seeds in the Greenhouse

[@donnabrooks1173]

I'm using coco coir and vermiculite for my seed starting mix.

[@bobbun9630]

As someone who has used both, I will say that LED lighting is way better than shop lights. For one thing, it's a lot harder to get fluorescent grow lights than it used to be. Good fluorescent grow lights are expensive wide-spectrum types anyway, so the cash savings isn't that great, especially since you should change them fairly often. Fluorescent tubes naturally dim over time. If you want more light for your fixture and electricity buck, consider getting some mylar "space blankets" to wrap your growing area in. If you're trying to grow strong, not leggy seedlings you shouldn't overlook the value of a small oscillating fan to keep some air flowing over the seedlings as well.

[@jeas4980]

🤣🤣🤣"Take the lid off!" is the BEST advice I ever got from an old timer... I killed every seedling I germinated for years.

[@TMesser74]

I started my peppers because Travis started his. ;) thanks for all your time. You're such a big help to me.

[@theIAMofME]

I start seeds indoors. My little cheapy setup is rockin it. LOL I got a five tier metal shelf. I ordered these cheap grow lights from Harbor Freight. They are like 19 watts each light. Two per shelf and they link. They come with hardware. But, I used reversed industrial zipties. The heavy duty ones can be flipped around and used over and over. I have several of the cheap two pack of heat mats off Amazon. I used Dollar Tree windshield shades to put all around the sides and top of the shelves. And a heavy duty power strip. I don't have a timer. I just use the alarm on my phone. It's what works on a budget. I started with two shelves. Now I'm working 4 of them. The top shelf I'm using for seed tray storage. It grows A LOT of seedlings!!

[@donnabrooks1173]

Great comment!!!!

[@GardenTois]

Adding that you are growing in Georgia is best info ever!

[@beckyharris6367]

Started all my early transplant yesterday. Hopefully this year will be better then last years extreme heat

[@russeellbowman9498]

I am doing household type volume gardening, about 120 plants per season, for a retired couple, also donating some things to help others. With a tight budget, we are making cold frames from left over windows after remodeling. Heat and ventilation are more critical with cold frames and it is difficult to keep things under control since the lack of volume brings quick changes. I will be looking for automatic controls to do it right. Total cost should still be a lot less than a green house. Your advice for seed starting mix is very useful since I tried starting with regular potting mix and had limited success. One item that is important to all seed starters is finding garden markers and little sticks to label things. I used Sharpee markers last year only to find out they faded in sunlight. I will use markers resistant to sunlight, called garden markers I found on Amazon. I will probably probably use popsicle sticks with fine marker tips since catalogs just charge too much for the ones I need. In my case, I have a lot of variety and low volume, so a lot of sticks are needed. I saved a lot of perennial flower seed pods from last year, about half a gallon of mixed seeds, that are being stratified under the deck. Plans are to mimic nature by planting them soon outside and let natural thing progress with the high volume of seeds I saved. Our stretch of rural highway has no one planting something special for folks to see on their travels. I will also be planting mint and other fragrant plants that spread and can overgrow weeds along the embankment and ditch on the side of the highway. We get a lot of bicyclists going by. It would be nice for them to pause and appreciate a moment on their journey. Just saying, letting you know what is going on at our place. Russ

[@michaelsmielecki6628]

I make my own seed starting mix using coir bricks, worm castings, and vermiculite. 1 brick, plus 4 cups each of worm castings and vermiculite works great for me. I have an indoor setup with a 4 foot wide 5 shelf rack, 4 foot long LED shoplights on 4 of the shelves, that are 4700 lumens and 5000 kelvin on chains to raise and lower them. I have 2 small tray size heat mats for starting warm weather seeds, all plugged into a power strip connected to a timer.

[@aileensmith3062]

So far we do not have the luxury of a greenhouse. A few years ago we went to grow lights and definitely the best move in getting the seeds germinated and going strong indoors. We have purchased our grow lights from Gardeners Supply Company. Growers Solutions is also another good source. Initially the grow lights may appear to be a bit pricey. We are now several years and with the exception of having to change a couple of bulbs (T5) no other out of pocket expense. Because we grow indoors we use the bottom watering system. Picked up on the possibility and vermiculite being a plus in bottom watering so we will try that when we start our peppers and tomatoes. As always another informative video and Thank You Travis for sharing!

[@82Julian]

Every videos one's lessons 💪👍as always thanks Travis!! Have a great weekend in family!

[@anjelica4728]

This is great, thank you! Seed starting has been the hardest for me to get the hang of. Honestly, your guys' videos through the years have helped me be more successful!

[@tater357]

I grow my seeds out in a tote in one of the unused bedrooms in our house. I always start with new seed starting mix, and I do use the trays, but I also use a 3/4" piece of plywood on top of the tote with a hole cut in the top and have one of those chrome/aluminum drop lights mounted in the plywood. As far as the light goes, I buy the LED lights that are equivalent to 100watts. The number you really need to pay close attention to is the Brightness of em which is the Lumens. I chose to get the Daylight bulbs that have 1680 Lumens and I constantly run two lights at a time, which puts me over the 2000 lumens minimum. I've used the shop lights before and they work ok and at the time, I was able to grow enough starts to actually give some away that I had left over that wasn't going to be placed in my personal garden. The one thing I miss about my shop lights, Is my shop light was 4 feet long, the tote I'm using is only 2 feet long so I had to switch my light source. BUT, I also included a christmas rope light inside the bottom of my tote and put my seed trays on top of it for a heat source until they got started. The rope light makes a huge difference in starting my pepper seeds now. I was able to have germination for hot peppers within a weeks time.

[@robertwalker7983]

Full spectrum LED grow lights for me. Great video. Thanks Travis!

[@karenguth8529]

Thanks for all the information, wonderful.

[@katrinagarland5219]

Another great instructional video from you... thanks so much. I always learn something new every time I watch.

[@gatorguy7711]

Excellent video! We live in Tallahassee and it is time to plant seeds. New SunPad heat mat should arrive today. I make my own seed starting mix on a 4/1/1 ratio (peat, perlite, vermiculite). This year I selected my tomatoes and peppers based on your recommendations. Keep up the good work.

[@simpleman4196]

I have been using cheap LED shop lights for a few years now and they work great for me just make sure to get some 5,000 to 6,000K lights 5-6000K mimics natural sunlight. You don't need to buy very expensive grow lights of any kind not for seed starting at least

[@FlomatonFamous]

Good solid info! Great job Travis

[@LazyDogFarm]

Appreciate it!

[@simpleman4196]

I really like using pro mix also I bought the 162 trays a few years ago and I really like them for cost-wise stepping my plants up I just use solo cups it's a lot cheaper to buy a big pack of solo cups

[@priayief]

Great information! Some advice for those new to germinating their own seeds: You can easily test which germination medium works best for you. Sow identical seeds in two different sets of germination containers and fill each container with your different germination mediums. Then, all you have to do is observe the results. You can also do a separate test to compare if vermiculite or perlite works best for you. Same procedure except use two separate containers using identical germination mediums and seeds. Then, cover the seeds on one container with perlite and the other with vermiculite. Observe the results.

[@rivercrockett343]

Lots of great information just in time for seed starting. I really appreciate the pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages of methods and equipment. Your videos just keep getting better and better over time. Thank you so much!

[@markoliver4194]

The Pepper Geek is a great channel too.

[@bradjohnston8687]

Quarter inch hardware cloth sifter can give you a proper seed starting homemade mix.

[@DV-ol7vt]

Good advice about washing your hands after touching pepper seeds. I will also suggest doing the same when ya eat crawfish.

[@ruthkeeling-holt2031]

Great information

[@PixieDust-eq6kc]

Thanks Trav. Y'all's videos have been so helpful. I wish I could've learned these skills when I was younger. It's so much harder when you're an old fogie like me. Keep up the great work and give those kiddos a great big hug for us all. You guys are awesome!

[@donnabrooks1173]

We're never too old to learn. We learn every day we breathe and stop when we don't. Please don't be so hard on yourself.

[@davidward1259]

I made a seed starting rack a few years back. I took a 30"x14"x60" tall wire rolling rack, and attached 3 of the 24" Barrina LED Full Spectrum "Sunlight" Gro-lights to the bottom of the top rack and the rack below that. I use a 10x20" heat mat and controller for some seeds to give them that early kick start. I put a cut piece of 1" rigid foam insulation under the heat mat to keep as much heat on the seedling tray as I can. I do start in Garland trays with either the 12, 24 or cut up Prop-Tek cell trays in the Garland Trays. I use a clear "dome" to keep the humidity high until the seeds start to pop. I also use the big 162 and 144 cell Prop-Tek trays in an XL Garland base tray, but mostly use the smaller trays. I took 2 of my 144 cell Pro-Tek 10x20 trays and cut smaller tray units out of them. I made some 6 cell mini-trays, 15 cell mini-trays, 30, and 60 cell mini-trays that all fit the Garland base trays. As to lights, I've had very good luck with those Barrina LED lights. They are not pure "shop light" white, but are a Daylight light with a little pink tint (but not that horrible "burple" some light give off). I have some house plants under 2 of those 24" lights year round and have never had an issue with the houseplants or the seed starting rack using those lights. I use extra pieces of the 1" insulation to raise my trays up to the lights instead of trying to lower the lights, it's just easier IMO. If I keep the plants close to the lights until up-potting, I end up with some nice sturdy stock plants. I up-pot tomatoes, peppers, and egg plant, but most everything else I start in a cell tray gets put out as a plug. I can talk for a long time, but I've said enough for today so I'll leave it at that. Here are the lights I use (and I've bought them 3 times so I clearly like them!!!). A set of 6 of the 24" lights (24 watts each) is $69 as of today. You can couple them to make 48" lights if you want and you can chain them to power up to 12 sets off a single timer/plug. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082ZL1Q63

[@ncanellos]

Yankees! You little Rebel! Still like your Chanel....... Pro mix ! For starts up here in Yankee County....

[@kell8334]

As always very informative and entertaining video. Personally, I use the LED shop lights from Walmart for my starts. They are the ones with 5000 and 5000L, them seem to work good enough for me. Hope to get started with my peppers and maters next week. Just waiting on my last order of seeds.

[@travisevans7502]

I also like top watering when starting seeds but I do bottom water when established sometimes but not always if the top drys out and becomes hydrophobic it works well so you don't wait for water to soak in

[@KrazyKajun602]

I use the spider-farm sf600 veg light. its a 74w, excellent light. does not produce any or very little heat which is important when you put your lights about 2-3 inches above the trays when seeds first come up and you can adjust upward as the plants grow taller. So true, invest in heavy duty seed trays and bottom trays. You will thank your self.

[@jerrygeorgopolis8015]

Travis, Thanks for the seed starting overview. I have been using a combination of grow lights with warm fluorescent bulbs. Using those 162 cell Proptek propagation trays, keeping the medium moist is a daily check. Using a clear plastic bag, cut to cover the trays, works as a moisture retention cover. All the best to you and your family.

[@juliemulie1805]

Bottom watering is essential with many flower seeds due to their extremely small size and need for light exposure to germinate. Our regional commercial flower greenhouse has integrated shallow concrete pools throughout their facility.

[@marysurbanchickengarden]

You knocked it out of the park again Travis. I started some tomatoes and peppers today to. I don't have the setup you have Travis, but I have a heat mat and a couple grow lights and it's worked pretty good for a couple years. I also planted some potatoes in one of my raised beds today, an experiment. I might be jumping the gun but I have potatoes growing I planted in December and went through the deep freeze. I covered them with soil and leaves and took it off when we thawed out. I need to pull some some dirt to them and hopefully I'll be able to do that tomorrow before the cold we're supposed to get over the weekend.

[@LazyDogFarm]

I was going to plant taters in my raised beds today, but it looks like we're going to get a ton of rain Friday and Saturday. So I'll probably wait til that passes.

[@marysurbanchickengarden]

@@LazyDogFarm according to our weather guy it's supposed to move out of here pretty fast and turn cold. Of course they are just guessing lol.

[@allantrafford6262]

I tried some solo cups last year. Never again. Bringing several hundred plants outside to harden off was a chore. Not to mention the wind would blow half of them over. I went with the 162 trays this year. What a great product.

[@sonnyamoran7383]

Just get a tray to tote more of them a a time.

[@allantrafford6262]

@@sonnyamoran7383 I had trays but 800 to 1200 plants still becomes a hassle. 5 of the 162 trays is 800ish plants.

[@sonnyamoran7383]

@@allantrafford6262 that will work. I was considering those

[@allantrafford6262]

@@sonnyamoran7383 I think you'll really like them. So organized and so well made. They will last for many years.

[@sonnyamoran7383]

@@allantrafford6262 are the holes in bottom large enough to get your finger in to push out the seedling?

[@joshuab738]

I used small styrofoam cups for about 3 years (yes, I cleaned and reused them for environmental reasons) when I first started seed starting. The first year I used a cheap plastic seed starting tray I got at a big box store but it just fell apart, so I went to the styrofoam. Last year I finally got a good proptek tray and it is really nice --- easier to store and clean, plus a smaller foot print. I still use styrofoam cups for things that need potting on.

[@Bandaid17]

I also like the styrofoam but bottom watering is squirrelly as they float sometimes.

[@tamararoberts9307]

Great job on this tutorial video Travis ♡

[@LazyDogFarm]

Thanks Tamara!

[@Rubenchambers]

Great video

[@LazyDogFarm]

Thanks!

[@tigerhead379]

Always enjoy your tips and videos. I start indoors so if anyone can advise please do. Do I turn my grow lights on before the seeds germinate? They are under a dome and it stays consistently 70 to 72 degrees.

[@LazyDogFarm]

You won't need the lights until the seeds germinate and seedlings emerge from the soil.

[@travisevans7502]

I use both shop lights with 5000 lumens and 5000 to 6500 Kelvin mine are 6400 also have shop lights with led conversion bulbs same lumens and Kelvin as florescent bulbs and led grow lights they all work equally well for starts but if continuing to grow inside I would recommend led grow lights but do your research for those a lot to digest when it comes to the best kind of light as far as what colors and spectrum

[@Bandaid17]

Yes. Great comment. There is a difference in bulbs for starting seeds and growing plants to maturity/fruiting. For the nerds among us “Gardening Under Lights” by Leslie Halleck if a great resource.

[@imafan2610]

I actually use 4 inch pots but I plant 8-10 seeds in a pot, because it takes up less space than a 72 cell tray and it does not dry out as fast. I have fewer empty cells. I don't need 72 of the same thing, so I can get more different plants using the 4 inch square pots. Square pots use space better than round pots. In the same space I have more varieties and more total plants are possible.

[@Daddyo_farms]

I just transplanted some lettuce. I wasn’t happy with the quality but hopefully they will do ok

[@TheMachiningman]

Put your 162 trays in a trash bag on a heat mat and cover with a blanket to help with germination

[@melissakingery4393]

Travis what do you think about germinating in baggies and a papertowel

[@ambreewilliams6585]

I'm trying this method for my tomatoes and peppers this year. I usually start my seeds in 3" pots and that's where they'll be until it's time to transplant--no time to keep up-potting in my world lol ☺️

[@LazyDogFarm]

I think it's a good method if you're just doing a few seeds or want to see if older seeds are still viable.

[@robwells9601]

Try topping with rice hulls

[@andrewmckinley6571]

Do you have a video on how to keep your bells from crossing with your hot peppers

[@Justme-sb8mn]

Shop lights do work but you need to get 5000k for good starts. Make sure not to use anything less than 5000k , 3500 makes leggy plants. Led grow lights are better as they’re full spectrum. I’ve been growing vegetables inside for a few years and build my own led lights so I know just enough to be dangerous haha. Don’t fall for the high prices of “grow lights” for starting seeds. Now with led shop lights in the right color spectrum it’s less expensive and works just as well. Years back with fluorescent tubes you also didn’t need grow lights. Seedlings do great with 5000k, no less than 4000k. For a half tray a couple 100w equivalent cfl at 5000k also works great.

[@PixieDust-eq6kc]

Lol! Fire in your britches!😂😂😂 That's hilarious!

[@randybingham1342]

Always enjoy your seed starting tips Travis. I do a lot of watering by hand. Do you have a recommendation for a source to buy a can with a fine rose that would be gentle on seedlings?

[@sislertx]

OH..I FOUND A BLACK METAL.CAN AT WALMART TODAY WITH A FINE TIP. OUR STORE JUST PUT THEM ON THE SHELF..JUST 6 AND I.BOUGHT ONE AND TWO MORE LEFT THE SHELF .BEFORE I LEFT THE.DEPARTMENT!!! NICEST.CAN I'VE SEEN.IN.DECADES

[@markoliver4194]

I seen people use spray bottles or if you have a mist setting on your nozzle.

[@rickygee8412]

💪🏽

[@braunzie2]

How long do you keep your seedlings (tomatoes and peppers) on a heat mat?

[@LazyDogFarm]

Until they germinate or I need to use the mats to germinate something else.

[@braunzie2]

@@LazyDogFarm Thanks for the help. Do you wait until almost all seedlings have germinated or just a few like me right now.

[@tentuxboy]

Hey Travis, so which one of the Promix mixtures do you use for seed starting? From what I see on Amazon, there appears to be several different kinds of Promix. Could you give me the specific type? Thanks!

[@LazyDogFarm]

I use the ProMix BX with Mycorrhizae

[@tentuxboy]

@@LazyDogFarm thanks so much.

[@markoliver4194]

Am I making a mistake using 10-10-10 fert on my peppers or should I switch to 5-10-10?

[@LazyDogFarm]

I'd use 10-10-10 initially and then maybe switch to the 5-10-10 once they get established in the ground.

[@markoliver4194]

@@LazyDogFarm Thanks

[@angeladrury7060]

What kind of shade cloth do you use on your green house? Where did you get it?

[@LazyDogFarm]

It came with our greenhouse. Not sure the exact specifications of it.

[@joeldcoxks]

For those of us up in the north, how long can these newly started plants remain in something like the 162 cell tray before they need to be in the ground?

[@LazyDogFarm]

It depends. We can push them with fertilizer and make them grow out faster, or we can dial back the fertilizer for a slower growth if the outside temps aren't quite warm enough. There's some control you have over how fast they become ready. But most veggies take about 6 weeks to be ready in those trays.

[@busterray4277]

Which ProMix soil do you use for seed starting?

[@Saltwatercowboy79]

BX... he talks about it in the video.🤙🇺🇸🙏

[@anglinacres]

I may have missed it above and if so I apologize, what is the little song at the end of the video?

[@LazyDogFarm]

It's called "Beauty of Your Life" by Rodello's Machine.

[@Saltwatercowboy79]

TRAVIS I read through the comments and no one asked so I will lol... WHERE on God's Great 'MERICA are you buying BX for 35 buck? I did some searching last week and the absolute cheapest I found it was Ace Hardware they have to order it in but it's $54.99 there folks better than 90 buck online plus shipping... PLEASE HELP! Thanks again and many blessings this GIANT L.D.F. fam we love all ya'll!🤙🇺🇸🙏

[@LazyDogFarm]

There's a greenhouse supply store about 45 mins from us that charges that much for a bale. Cheapest I've found.

[@Saltwatercowboy79]

@Lazy Dog Farm 10 4 thank you for the info! We're gonna order a few though out local Ace to support them and convince the owner to stock it. 🤙🇺🇸🙏

[@sonnyamoran7383]

Hey there. Do your trays have a big enough hole at bottom to get your finger in? Those cheap ones are horrible.

[@LazyDogFarm]

They don't, but I don't need to poke from the bottom. My rule is that if the transplants won't pull from the cells by gently tugging on the stem, they're not ready.

[@sislertx]

Im always trying to find out what the names of his seeds are. He picks ones that work well in the south and heat Still havent found the corn so i just basically.threw a.dart

[@LazyDogFarm]

The corn varieties we're growing this year are Eden (sweet corn) and McCormack's Blue Giant (field corn). We got the Eden seeds from Johnny's and the McCormack seeds from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.

[@sonnyamoran7383]

What type of perlite do you use?

[@LazyDogFarm]

I just got a big bag off amazon. I'm not sure of the specific type.

[@sonnyamoran7383]

@@LazyDogFarm I asked because the one I got needed to soak. And was different sizes. 😊

[@jsamford6547]

What is the song you always play at the end?

[@JustMe-xw7yt]

Overwhelmed by the beauty of your life

[@LazyDogFarm]

Here you go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIjYppmCm7Gsl9k

[@jsamford6547]

Thanks Travis!

[@carldearman1836]

Best water system for my graden .do u sell

[@markoliver4194]

1

[@lsuman38]

2

[@nonyadamnbusiness9887]

What you use to start plants should, in part, be determined by how you transplant. I thought I'd love starting flats, but I don't. Having to punch starts out of something that large out in the garden is annoying at best. Most of the year I'm turning over beds or rows in between other beds and rows. There's not much room to work. I'd rather use six packs or individual 2-1/2" pots.

[@carldearman1836]

Do u sell seed for graden

[@LazyDogFarm]

We have a few varieties on our website -- stuff that our viewers have sent us: lazydogfarm.com/collections/seeds

[@joycebovee5818]

Do you use a heater in your greenhouse?

[@LazyDogFarm]

Yes I have an electric heater that I'll use if it gets below 40 at night.

[@brianramsey3824]

Does promix have fert in it? U use it as a seed starting mix huh. Not to put words in your mouth but I agree I personally think mixing your own soil benefits is over stated

[@LazyDogFarm]

It does not have fertilizer in it. It's a sterile seed starting mix, so you have to fertilize the transplants once they get going. That's the only downside to it.

[@brianramsey3824]

@@LazyDogFarm but it's a plus too u get to put in what u want

[@WILLITGROW]

this video was full of great information travis.but what i dont get is where did you get the nerve to call out yankees on the way they talk! atleast us yankees dont HILL our potatoes!

[@theIAMofME]

LOL This SOUTHERNER doesn't either!! 😅🤣😁

[@jsamford6547]

Well maybe you should!

[@sonnyamoran7383]

Goodness gracious 😳. We all have ways of saving things. When I lived in Idaho even they "hilled" their taters. If you don't, good for you. I do. But I use hay instead of soil. I use "no-till". I'm not back home in Florida where all y'all yanks talk funny. And being a true Floridian I can say that. I'm sure yall think we talk funny.

[@WILLITGROW]

@@sonnyamoran7383 well sonny you florida rednecks are easy to understand but georga rednecks man its hard.lol

[@sonnyamoran7383]

@@WILLITGROW my husband was from Philadelphia. I always made fun of his "churries" instead of cherries.

[@williefreeman6892]

Why is that red watermelon seeds germinate faster than yellow watermelon seeds

[@shaneott7660]

Stop do not do as he did, that was not the right Dog bucket, it will never work 😟

[@genevabrown450]

Like you said Indeterminants have gotta be potted up to get those stem roots... 🛶