Seed Starting 101 Tips | Mistakes To Avoid || Budget Gardening

[@valeriezendiver263]

While you were pricking out I was reviewing my own seed stash, planning my next round of winter sowing (like you, I prefer to do it in small batches at a time), and mentally taking stock of my seed starting supplies. I quite enjoy these "fireside chat" videos, thank you!

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Hi Valerie! You must feel so good after reviewing your seeds and figuring out what you're going to plant next. I really need to finish winter sowing my perennial seeds, especially if they need a longer period of cold stratification. Last year I winter sowed perennials in two batches. This year it's taking longer because I'm filming each one. But my hope is that come spring, I can then show what comes next with each variety of plant that I've winter sown. I also hope to do more of the "fireside chat" videos. I really enjoy those as well. Thank you for your support, friend! 😊🪻

[@missmrice91]

“Then I got into collecting my own seeds I’m too cheap” 😆 ❤️ it

[@budgetgardeningvita]

🤣❤️

[@juneramirez8580]

I hear when you collect your own seeds those seeds turn out better because they became acclimated to your region. So you really AREN'T BEING CHEAP, just smart!!!! Happy gardening!

[@judim964]

As always, great information at a relaxing pace. Thank you!

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Thanks so much, Judi! 😊🪷

[@urbanbackyardcontainergardenin]

Very nice tutorial on seed starting 💚👨🏿‍🌾

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Thanks so much! ☺️🌼

[@urbanbackyardcontainergardenin]

@ You’re welcome 😉

[@barbaragrogan1112]

Excellent video. I love your down to earth approach.

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Hi Barbara. Thanks so much, friend! I truly appreciate the feedback and support. 💞🙏🏼😊

[@grizoswald210]

Very informative and complete tutorial. Thanks very much for sharing this.

[@budgetgardeningvita]

You're very welcome, friend. ☺️🏵️

[@vickiperkins476]

Lots of great info. Thanks so much for sharing 😁

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Hi Vicki. Thanks so much for your feedback. I really appreciate it! 🙏🏼😊🌸

[@marlenemccaffrey6731]

Thank you for your video. Vast treasure trove of information!

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Hi Marlene. Thanks so much for your comment and feedback on the video. I truly appreciate it! 😊🌸

[@SouthCarolinaTransPlant]

Gotta remember to recycle my soil. Boiling it to sanitize it is a great tip! Thanks for sharing!

[@budgetgardeningvita]

You're very welcome! ☺️🏵️

[@lesliebehrens7252]

I appreciate you mentioning the distinctions. I’m still learning. It gets confusing when they say, “water it in” and looks like a drowning. Later it’s bottom water. I’m learning it all depends…..🤪

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Thank you for your comment. Definitely bottom water seedlings is the way to go. Bigger, more mature plants are ok to water from above. ☺️🌼

[@jennsmith4832]

Verbena bonariensis, one of my favorites. Proven Winners had a newer version out but doesn't get as tall. So I bought seeds and pkg indicates start indoor 10-12 wks before last frost.that seems long. Last I was anxious and tried different seeds in house, no lights just near Windows and didn't have luck grew before I could put out and became leggy with 1 set of leaves.

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Hi Jenn! I hope to grow Verbena bonariensis from seed for the first time this year. I plan to grow some indoors as well as outdoors using the winter sowing method. You are correct that the seeds should be started about 8-12 weeks before your average last frost date. Did you end up buying some lights for indoor seed starting? If not, I highly recommend it. Start small at first if you like. 😊🌻

[@Mountainside.Gardening]

I started planting my own perennial seeds last year. I bought mine from Swallowtail Seeds. Excellent germination rate and I think the prices are great. I highly recommend them! I refer to your playlist on collecting seeds. Thanks for the great information!!!

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Hi Mel. Swallowtail Seeds definitely has a great selection of seeds at a good price. I'm so glad you find my seed saving playlist helpful. I hope to add to it each year as I find more plants going to seed. 💞😊🌱

[@capecodcottagegarden]

LOL Vita! I was so confused because I was watching and looked away when you put at the bottom that this was a reposted video LOL and when you said 8 weeks until your last frost I had a panic moment that I was way behind:). OY, I should pay better attention :)

[@kierraw.3952]

Im glad you posted this. I’m not even a minute through and I thought.. it sure looks warm outside her house while I’m freezing over here in zone 6b😅

[@capecodcottagegarden]

@@kierraw.3952 🤣

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Hi Carol. Lol. I totally understand the confusion. 🤣 I really liked the information in this video so I wanted to repost it since it was timely and seeing that people in warmer climates are already starting their seeds. 🌸😊🌱

[@lovelight9164]

I did over winter my geraniums from last year. I won't be able to pot them up until next week when I get some new soil. They are a very pretty salmon color although one went to white with the salmon color stripes. I didn't tag it I wish I had. Now I will have that one in-between the all salmon colored plants, hopefully it ends up in the middle.

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Hi there. Once you wake your geraniums up, they'll start budding up and blooming before you know it. Then you'll be able to see what colors they are. 😊🌺

[@kibibishaw1194]

Thank you!

[@budgetgardeningvita]

You're very welcome, Kibibi! 💞😊🌻

[@JohnWood-tk1ge]

Glad you posted a video this morning! Below zero here and not looking forward to going out to day as I have a leg with metal rods and screws in it and it doesn’t like the cold. This Sunday I will be starting my onions 🧅 and it will be the first try with the MIgardener heat mat. Coconut coir with vermiculite and perlite, thinking of adding a little fertilizer to the mix. Any thoughts or suggestions?

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Hi John. It definitely has been a cold winter! Thank goodness we have indoor seed starting as well as winter sowing to keep our hands in the dirt! 🌼 I think adding fertilizer to the mix is a great idea. To be honest, I plan to start doing that either this year or definitely next year. I know you've mentioned using Trifecta+ by MIGardener. I need to research it a bit more and see if there is something that is just as good but maybe cheaper. Time will tell on that one. But yes, making your own potting mix with a combo of coconut coir, vermiculite and perlite is a great idea. Don't get too hung up on ratios. Make something that looks good, feels good, and go from there. 😊🌸

[@maureenrebele2071]

Thanks for reposting this video. I hadn't seen it before. I have one question about kicking some plants out to your garage. Do you have grow lights out there or is there enough natural light. My indoor space is very limited but I have a nice, large garage. Even in this very cold weather, it stays around 40 degrees. It is currently -11 outside and my garage is 38 degrees. It would be awesome if I could take advantage of this space..

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Hi Maureen. I do not have grow lights in my unheated garage. There are a few windows so just a little natural light comes in. The plants are dormant so they are not really growing; they're just staying a live. My garage is very similar to yours in terms of the temperature. It's a great space for plants that you want to keep alive but dormant. 😊🌼🪷

[@marlenemccaffrey6731]

@@budgetgardeningvita Great answer. Thanks!

[@juneramirez8580]

I am trying to maxamize my grow light shelves so I am trying to get all my pots the same height in the trays on a shelf. Trying to save money, I have an assortment of different things I use as pots. Hence the problem. I was hoping not to have to invest more money this new year, as I spent more than I wanted to last year to set up my new plant business on a small budget. But I have to have something to plant them up from the 12 cell pots. I ran out of containers I have gotten free. I have used all kinds of boxes to raise plants closer to the lights, but since they are not uniform in height they waste space and look unslightly. I like the square pots myself. As always thank you Vita!

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Hi June! One of the big reasons why I multi sow seeds in restaurant take out containers is because I don't like having empty cells in my 6 cell packs. Grow light space is very valuable after all lol. Yogurt containers with holes punched in the bottom are great to to use if you have run out of pots. Which seeds have you started so far? It's an exciting time of year! My average last frost date is May 15 so I'm just starting to think about starting seeds indoors. 😊🌱🌻

[@juneramirez8580]

My last freeze is March 1st so I have lots of things growing indoors. I have spicy globe basil, cinnamon basil, Bee balm, celosia pampas plume, desert marigold, hyssop, Mexican hat, coleus, nasturtium peach Melba triple curled parsley, lilac Bell pepper, broad leaf stage, Russian tarragon, French thyme, envy zinnia, black beauty eggplant, cucumber, tomato, butterfly flower, sweet marjoram, and desert milkweed and Arizona milkweed. I have many more to plant but I think they need to be started later. There are probably a few I haven't listed. I am hoping this will give me my inventory to sell maybe in March here in the low AZ desert. I have so much still to learn. I really enjoy your videos, they are a huge help to me. So thank you.

[@budgetgardeningvita]

@@juneramirez8580 Oh wow! You have started so many awesome things! I am just barely starting seeds indoors. However my average last frost date is May 15th so I still have plenty of time. I think you're going to have a great year with selling plants! ♥️

[@LoriDupre-d8y]

Thank you for your great videos! I am in the process of setting up one 3-tiered shelf unit in my basement with the shop lights. I live in MA so am in zone 6 and my basement is very cold. What is the coldest temperature seedlings can tolerate?

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Hi Lori! How exciting that you're setting up a grow light system in your basement. I'm curious - what is the average temperature in your basement? I think it really depends on the plant. Some plants like peppers, eggplant and tomatoes really like warm temperatures. Other plants do fine in the cooler temps. The big thing is some seeds need warmth to germinate so you may need a heat mat down there in order to get some seeds to germinate well.

[@LoriDupre-d8y]

@@budgetgardeningvita I put a thermometer in the basement this week to see how cold it is. Today is it 55F. Is that too cold to germinate seeds?

[@NYArts88]

When you do fertilizers in seedlings please make video with measurements.

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Sure. I will definitely show that in a video. 😊🌸

[@michaelh7506]

Hi, I'm so bored one year I started in February. That was way too early for my I usually plant 5-31 memorial Day and I have to wait till HOA lays the front mulch. I was carefully counted my Dalia seeds. As usual I grew too many. I planted yellow and red ones. It's amazing how the colors mixed. I plan to plant around tax day. Tomatoes, marigolds, petunias, and daliahs

[@budgetgardeningvita]

I'll be starting seeds soon. That video was made later in the season last year but had some good seed starting tips. I love starting dahlias from seed. So much fun! It sounds like you have some great plants that you'll be starting from seed. ☺️🌱🏵️

[@jennsmith4832]

Good morning, I've been watching your shows but even the older ones on seed starting. I live not far from you. Still confused. I wanted to start the foxgloves that are suppose to bloom first yr. Pkg says s for spring sowing when soil can be worked. Germination 14-21days. So when can I start indoors to get head start for blooming? Thank you

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Hello Jen! Please let me know the variety of Foxglove that you are starting. Also, do you have grow lights set up indoors? 💞😊🌸

[@JillWelch-g5g]

I have not had very good luck on my petunias! They germinate and look good but then die…I’m very careful to make sure I don’t overwater.

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Hi Jill. I plan on sowing some petunia seeds this winter. Be on the lookout for that video. I hope you have better success growing petunias from seed this year. 🤞🏼😊🪷

[@gwen6518]

What do you do with the extra seedlings in the restaurant trays when you pot up what you want? I always feel like i have to keep them all even if i don't need them.

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Hi Gwen! I try to keep potting up seedlings that are in restaurant trays but once I've gotten enough plants, sadly the rest of the seedlings go into my compost pile. Almost all seeds that I start are from seeds that I've collected, so even though I feel bad, I know that I'm not wasting a lot of money. But nevertheless, I still feel bad lol. 💞😊🌸

[@marycochran-mm6hy]

When is your first frost date and do you have a schedule of planting it seems early for me my first frost date is May 15th but I have a high tunnel to plant in a little early?

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Hi Mary. I live in New Hampshire and garden in zone 5b (which means my average winter lows are near -15 Fahrenheit). My average 'last' frost date is around May 15 (same as you). I have a spreadsheet and I keep track of which plants I can start from seed and when. What you want to do is count backwards from your average last frost date. So if a seed is supposed to be sown 8 weeks before your average last frost date, then count backwards from May 15 and that's when you can start that particular seed. 😊🌻

[@judywright5424]

What kind fertilizer do you put on your seeding how often how much I feel like I can ask you guestion judy

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Hi Judy. I used diluted Miracle-Gro fertilizer for my flower seedlings and diluted Alaska Organic fish emulsion fertilizer for my vegetable seedlings. I fertilize once a week at a very weak 1/2 strength. I begin fertilizing after seedlings have their cotyledon and first set of "true" leaves. I'll be making videos this winter showing this in more detail. 😊🌸🌱

[@chrislee9479]

How long does you impatiens take to sprout. Mine are on a heat mat, under grow lights . It’s been almost three weeks. I do have a handful that has sprouted.

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Hi Chris. I believe my impatiens start sprouting after a few weeks. I'll be sowing more seeds soon and you can follow along with the process. 😊🌸

[@NYArts88]

So can transplant with just two leaves for all plants?

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Hi there. Yes, it's generally safe to transplant any seedling after it has it's initial (cotyledon) and it's first 1-2 sets of true leaves. 🌻😊

[@georgestewart5814]

I have a problem for you. I started some geranium seeds (I have been doing this for years) and they came up quickly but within a day or two they had spots on them. It looks like they were burned, but they weren't. I have not given them anything but water. Are the leaves sensitive to getting wet when they first come up?? They may have gotten wet. I am trying to determine if I need to start over. Thanks!

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Hi George. Are you bottom watering your seedlings? You definitely want to be doing that. If the delicate foliage gets wet, that can lead to fungal diseases. You may not need to start over (yet). But definitely get in the habit of bottom watering and maybe remove some of the leaves that don't look good (as long as you leave behind a few good leaves on each plant). 🌸😊

[@gordonrachelcraighton1137]

You mentioned a couple of times that you were 8 weeks before your average last frost date.... or did you say 18??

[@budgetgardeningvita]

Hi there. I'm sorry for the confusion. This video was created last year and I reposted it because the information was timely, especially for people in warmer climates who have already started sowing seeds. My average last frost date is May 15, so I still have 15.5 more weeks until my average last frost date. 😊👨🏼‍🌾🌸