Starting All Your Seeds Outside | What To Expect

For years I've grown all my seedlings outside regardless of the season. Even if you live somewhere cool you can start seeds outside for some part of the year. In this video I will cover what I've learned and what problems you may encounter as well as solutions to those problems!
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[@yesterdayseyes]

My family knows the living room will be a jungle every spring. If I lived in Cali, I would start them outside too.

[@伏見猿比古-k8c]

Welcome to the jungle~

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Haha I love it!

[@fancypantshorse]

You could always try winter sowing some things in jugs or totes, if you live in a cold climate. Saves a lot of space, and you don't have to harden them off. Plus, it means you can garden outside of gardening season. 😊

[@theheardhomestead]

Mine too they are used to it😂

[@SPW1031W]

Same! My husband was just talking about the little jungle in the office... 😂

[@rossgeredien9813]

Yes!! I love how you describe the “dance” of hardening off seedlings. It’s very time and energy demanding, and one wrong move can wipe out a tray.

[@theoneandonly1158]

You can avoid that by taking them out as soon as they germinate and as babies : 1st set of leaves and 1st set of true leaves so the sun can hit them. Then you put it back in under grow lights. Keep doing that a few times so they know who the sun is. If you keep them inside during all the stages of germination and beginning growth then yes. Hardening off is annoying. They will shock so bad and curl from the heat of the sun. I haven't hardened anything off because I introduce the sun as they are born. As soon as I see some green sticking out from the soil. Out it goes to introduce the elements.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

I just can't deal with it haha

[@wmpx34]

You can put the seedling trays inside those big Rubbermaid totes or something similar too (with the lid off). Then they get sun but the strong winds are blocked. Also keeps squirrels from getting adventurous

[@jacquesinthegarden]

That is a great solution as well!

[@dirtywhitellama]

That sounds like a great trick for those of us in colder environments that HAVE to bring them inside when the temps drop in order to have much of a season at all!

[@artistlovepeace]

I'm trying to start seeds outside (mostly) this year. I don't have the space inside. I hate hardening off. I love your advice and lectures.

[@rochellemiller6329]

This video made me laugh! I live in western Kansas, one of the windiest places on earth! I can’t imagine having my seed trays on a table outside, let alone a stack of pots. There is no place that on any given day won’t turn into a super windy part of my yard! I’d come back and find them in the next county 🤣. Jacques makes great points, but we are definitely not California! Very grateful for my little greenhouse. It’s built from heavy oilfield pipe and screwed into the ground with trailer anchors to keep it from blowing away!

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Oh yeah I have heard of your intense winds and generally of the intense winds in the Great Plains!

[@deltorres2100]

So one year I saw the Cosmos growing wild like I don’t know on the side of the street or the side of the road and I pulled the root brought it home baby it ,and it grew and ever since then I harvest the seeds from the Cosmo and that’s probably been 20 years ago. They’re the starburst cosmos and they’re beautiful so I grow every year because they bring in the bees All the pollinators and they’re lovely.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

That is actually really cool, very fun history with your plants!

[@JL-hw5hu]

Perfect timing!! Thanks for posting. Today was out in zone 9a Florida with my 4 year old grandson starting some vegetables by seed. We were not able to get much done showing him how to do it in his raised wood kiddie bed which I got him for Christmas but so much delight. He says he's going to teach his 4 year old cousin how to sow seeds. You are appreciated & always informative. Please keep growing and sharing your knowledge.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

That is a lovely story glad to hear the kids getting involved!

[@paulacothren3591]

The philosophy here is really spot on. It always seemed very counterintuitive and frankly unnatural to start trays and trays of seeds indoors. If I wanted to be so responsive to nature then why was I doing all this artificial processing inside apart from nature? I chalk it up to me not understanding seeds and the vast differences in how they germinate and thrive. I don't even start tomatoes and peppers inside anymore. Tomatoes are short season but germinate and grow very quickly. Peppers, almost the opposite, take a long time to get up to size but have a very long growing season. I've learned so much. Thanks, Jacques!

[@jacquesinthegarden]

It is a lot to ask for a plant to go from living in a sterile indoor environment to all the sudden being outside! This would be true for us as humans as well.

[@Crystal-f8j]

Every time I see your garden I think how exciting it would be to have a walk around in it.

[@gingerdean1521]

A couple videos before this he did do a tour

[@Crystal-f8j]

@@gingerdean1521 yep I loved it.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

If it wasn't at our home I would love to open it up for people

[@Nat-cj4ff]

I do balcony gardening and have always started my seeds outside with fantastic results. Very informative vid, thanks Jacques. 🇨🇦

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Of course!

[@ulieg414]

What a great video.. in the past I've used milk jugs and soda bottles as little greenhouses. I'd cut the bottom of them, plant my seed in ground, place the jug/bottle over it with the top open.

[@aneilaknits]

Yes! I’m doing this now (living in Virginia) and it works so well! Winter sowing for the win!

[@deltorres2100]

I DO MINE OUTSIDE…ALWAYS… Houston,Tx 🌱🌱🌱🌱💗

[@jennbasil]

Me too. Leander, TX. ❤

[@amajeed7129]

do you cover them or just leave them out in the sun? I live in Spring but I'm new here.

[@giennefarcais6834]

Love this! You're still dancing with them, but more of a slow waltz than a jitterbug. I'm doing all mine outside this year and hoping for the best. I don't have a lot of patience for too intensive care.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Absolutely a dance but much much easier.

[@parkerlamonica2661]

Wooo new Jacque video. Love the seed starting videos, always gives me ideas for what varieties to start. Thanks for making great content!

[@wytchwoodhomesteadandkenne5036]

You're the only person I've ever heard mention having a level table when you water your seedlings. I learned that the hard way of course. This year I knew better but it's very hard to get my area perfectly level and I lost a lot of seedlings because of it. Unsurprisingly, most of them were carrots.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

It is really near impossible to water seedlings on a surface that isn't level!

[@emkn1479]

When I’m hardening off or growing things larger outdoors before transplanting I’ll put the cells in the “mesh” trays I’ve brought home from nurseries over the years. That way rain just flows right through.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Great option as well!

[@lizlucey3812]

Smart

[@susanfoy4794]

Thank you for doing this video. It's exactly what I need. I appreciate that you give us the pros and cons and that you showed seedlings from the greenhouse to compare. This was very helpful.

[@tericamcginnis5848]

This info helped motivate me! Friday I went out and planted my seeds! I had saved some large cake containers - they have the square base and dome. I want to use the dome for a time for "hot house" effect until they germinate AND keep the birds from eating the seeds. In any event I want to plant out seedlings instead of seeds this year. Last year the birds, slugs, grubs etc. ate most of my seeds as soon as they popped up. I love this info, thanks! Until seeing this info I hadn't had felt motivated to get started. Happy Easter. 🐸😎

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Best of luck out there! Hopefully the critters are kind to you this year.

[@MyFocusVaries]

Thanks for the tips. We're a little cooler up here in Vancouver BC. I'm using cold frames to start seeds outdoors and a mini greenhouse with a string of incandescent lights in a sort of winter sowing method. I have done typical winter sowing in milk jugs, but I've moved away from using plastics in the garden to reduce microplastics in the environment.

[@fancypantshorse]

I started using clear totes to winter sow. They're more durable, and when they're empty, I can use them as cloches on other things, or as mini greenhouses, if necessary. They're not disposed of, but reused year after year. I get Sterlite Clearview totes with the clips on the handles, so the lids don't blow away. Sometimes I even use them as a space to harden off my plants. I place a piece of tulle fabric over the top (clip it with binder clips), to keep the bugs out.

[@emkayprincess425]

I'm in eastern WA, i think I'm going to dive into cold frames this coming fall. What do you put in them mostly? I did use milk jugs. Got them from neighborhood facebook group. If people are tossing anyway (and buying) i may as well get use from a dozen of them. Saving to reuse again.

[@MyFocusVaries]

​@@emkayprincess425I'm using them to start the seeds I would normally start in milk jugs.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Cold frames are pretty awesome, and can be used for more than just seed starting which is really great

[@scottolson6201]

Good info Jacques. I may have mentioned it before, but I live in Zone 9b and I never harden off my indoor germinated seedlings. I just make sure that I am past my last frost date and then just put the mature seedlings outside and I've never lost one yet. One caveat is that I always elevate the seedlings off of the ground to keep any cold air that pools there away from them.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Interesting! The intense sun seems to be what gets seedlings down here in the early season.

[@rinamorgan8795]

Several great tips in here that I had never considered! We are so looking forward to moving to the west coast and vastly expanding our gardening efforts.

[@klove020]

Thank you! I like that you challenged the idea that this is just for warm climate growers. For example, I know my sunflowers are best direct seeded, but the squirrels always topple them over. Perhaps giving them a head start outside in a controlled environment away from the squirrels will work for me. Thanks for the idea!

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Transplanted sunflowers for sure work, they just won't get as massive!

[@StillOnTrack]

I've only really been growing for 2 years, and both years I've started everything outside. I'm in Central Texas zone 9a. My "dance" is more about bringing them inside at night or whenever the temp drops below 55-60 and taking them back outside in the morning, because I don't have any sufficiently sunny places to leave them without significant bending toward a window. Which means when I HAVE to keep them in because it's cold for days on end, I have to keep rotating them. I have no building skills, so I'm growing on a plastic folding table which is saggijg from the summer heat, with sticks under my trays to try to keep them level. The humidity here is regularly 50% minimum and the seasonal swings between intense heat and freezing cold mean I don't have a lot of faith that a wooden wouldn't warp and become unprecedented to. Wood does not seem to last in this climate. Stainless steel would be great if I could afford it. Rain and wind are a major issue here. The storms can be very sudden and violent, including raindrops so big and hard they can splash the soil and seeds from thier trays, and gusts even when ots not stormy can cause cause seedling and tall plants alike to to lean hard or fall over if they don't have strong enough roots yet (i.e. newly planted trees with foliage on.) For the seedlings, I try to work around this with germination domes with rocks on top for protection, and putting the ones I don't have domes for under the table like mentioned here. I can't put anything on the ground though, because biting ants will try to move into the seed trays. Also, germination domes with ventilation holes on top (which is almost all of them) end up pooling water into a heavy drip below them, again splashing seed and soil out. That's why I really liked the Epic 1020 germination domes with rounded tops and no ventilation, and I'm so bummed they've been out of stock for so long. I wish I bought more when I had the chance. Also the wind is inescapable. There is no less-windy area of my yard and it blows from all directions. I put high-vis tape flags all over my yard to observe it. Pests have also been a minor issue but using domes at night helps with that too.

[@jennbasil]

Yesterday's wind was brutal. Brought my peppers in tonight cuz supposedly we're going down to 42 tonight. Leander, TX

[@StillOnTrack]

@@jennbasil Oooh! Thanks for the reminder! 46 here in Pf!

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Interesting perspective on the domes, that is something to think about! Sounds like you have figured out a good system for your area and your observation skills sound great. The first table I built outside was simply a free pallet that I attached some legs too! Very approachable first build. You can even just elevate a pallet a bit by placing it on some cinder blocks to add some height while doing zero building!

[@TylerLloyd]

If that’s a four foot level, I’m 12ft tall 😆. But jokes aside, great video! My laundry room is filled with things that can’t handle cold (I’m in KY) but I want to start more cold crops and have run out of room. You solved that problem for me! 💚

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Haha, I really lost my distance scaling in this one!

[@rebeccasewing]

Excellent video. I'm really impressed with all of your videos, Jacques.

[@kittiew260]

Great advice. I use both inside and outside methods in cold zone 6 with snow. Winter sowing along with setting up a table for fast vine crops. But the majority are still inside because of snow and 27 degrees still.

[@LanaiDebbie]

Another great video! I have the same experience with outdoor seed starting. The germination is a bit less, and the seedlings don’t always look as healthy at first, but avoiding the hardening off process is definitely a win. I go back and forth with starting some seeds indoors just cuz I want to use my grow light setup, but I quickly run out of room. So, I have figured out which seedlings are most advantageous to start indoors and start the rest outdoors. Thanks for reinforcing these ideas.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

I used to even start indoors and then immediately take them outside as soon as they germinated and that works well!

[@leviduve4001]

I've learned that if you grab the soil bare handed, you can usually mitigate the big chunks pretty easily. Of course the sifter works better on a larger scale. Another awesome video Jacque, Keep spreading helpful information and P.S. check that "4' level" for length.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Haha, It is a deceptive 4 footer

[@yeoldebaccyfarm3081]

I'm in europe around USDA zone 4. Latitude wise around southern alaska. The amount of fast growing seedlings I get to start outdoors is tiny. Greenhouse would be nice but I dont have the money to buy one and have not had time to rebuilt the rotten wood framed greenhouse my grandparents used to grow tomatoes for sale. Indoor growing is a must in the north. A lot of plants that grow well like slower growing brassicas need a long indoor grow time before transplanting outside.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

There are for sure regions where it is too challenging

[@kevnatural54321]

Check out mike oehlers book on greenhouses. Very affordable. And much more effective than traditional greenhouses

[@conchasalazar131]

I didn’t know you could start seeds outside. Time to take out my seeds and get gardening 😁. Thank you. Gardening 👩‍🌾 in Sacramento ❤

[@cindykee3719]

This is a great video! This is how I am trying seed starting in central Florida right now and I was worried about the temps getting below 50 degrees F at night. There were a few nights where it got down into the low-to-mid 40s and I brought my tray of seeds indoors overnight for those. But maybe I didn't need to? I am growing basil, marigolds, alyssum, violas, and dianthus from seeds. I love the idea I won't have to harden off these seedlings! That was such a time-consuming process last year!

[@poodledaddles1091]

Thanks for the encouragement!

[@mr.whetstone889]

Californian gardeners make me smile.. life is so easy 😂

[@megmoore335]

We have so many grasses and weeds... East LA county up against the San Gabriel mtns. I always worry I am nursing weeds vs seedlings (as it happens sometimes) 😅

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Now is the time to get them before they establish deeper roots and start flowering! Get it while the ground is still soft from the rains!

[@sydneykasmar]

Jacques, I just heard from Kevin that you make the most amazing and delicious carrot 🥕 salad.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

We have made some tasty carrot salads! I don't remember which one he is talking about in this case!

[@sydneykasmar]

@@jacquesinthegarden He wasn't specific. He must've liked all of them.

[@Felicity6413]

I will always be envious of year-round growing! I wish I could start my seeds indoors, but I'm in Canada. Zone 5b is still getting snow right now. 😂 Currently I have little popup greenhouse by my kitchen window, and my husband is, thankfully, happy for the greenery. I hate the hardening off, though. I always manage to kill at least one plant every year doing this. I have always struggled with lettuce germination for some reason, and I couldn't figure it out until you mentioned they hate warm soil. Thanks for that tip, Jacques! I learn something new every episode!

[@jesswelsh9838]

Great video as always....thats why you're my favorite gardner. Thanks & happy growing 🌻💚

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Thank you!

[@andreat9847]

I've been starting seeds outside for a couple years for my fall garden. Working outside beats working in the basement.

[@mirandam8021]

Thank you! 🌻

[@miniarefuntopaint]

I think this works rather better in warmer climates than in Canada. Tomatoes started outside at the typical tomato starting time for here would die of cold, assuming they came up or didn't wait a month until the soil was warmer. But you could do it with cool-season crops where you aren't trying to get a jump on the season. At that point though, I start wondering why not just put them in the ground directly. Lack of space in the growing beds, I guess. I like winter sowing for starting cool season things, or starting indoors. I can get things started earlier, which makes it easier to get more than one crop of food from a given area of my garden per year. Though I really wish I had more indoor space for seedlings.

[@HealyMeans]

hi jacques 🤗 great tips. i am banned from starting seeds inside (the only space i had was the dining room table). starting seeds outside works great for me and my garden. tfs

[@jacquesinthegarden]

A common story!

[@NicolaiAAA]

I make due with the indoor space I have, but I like to wait until I have warmer days so I can take them out and they can get used to being outdoors right away since they're starting that way instead of having to harden them off. They just go back inside at night (or sometimes if it's just too cold out during the day for everyone). But at least I have a big south-facing window to tide them over until they can go back out.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

That is another good solution for sure!

[@corymonroe7343]

Your videos are great and so very useful, but way in Michigan I have to do things inside

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Hopefully the summertime allows for some outdoor seed starting!

[@gregbluefinstudios4658]

Eric at Epic Gardening (it's a new gardening channel), asked us to come and tell you that his girlfriend is trying really hard to be like you, when it comes to Bulgarian cooking. I am extremely impressed at how you help out new youtubers like Eric.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

I am always trying to give a helping hand to those in need haha

[@flintstonegirl3372]

I have never thought about seed starting outdoors! Thank you for this video!

[@marktoldgardengnome4110]

After experiencing fake Spring for the last month, yesterday brought 8"s of snow followed by about an inch of frozen rain and a low temp of 20 degrees. Need I say more. 😞 Snow was totally gone, frost was out of the ground, and soil temps ranged from 40-45 degrees. Oh Bother. All good advice Jacques

[@jacquesinthegarden]

So wild to see how some region's climates can shift so quickly!

[@Pachinko1]

Love to know how to grow cucumber specifically. I start the seeds, grow them outside and then put them in my Garden and they die back. I don’t know if I’m positioning them wrong or too much or too little water. By the way, I appreciate you covering up and wearing a hat. So many garden influencers don’t seem to wear hats and cover up through the seasons.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Will likely be working on some cucumber content this year! There is always the unfortunate potential that you have a disease killing the cucumbers back. In that case you may need to look for varieties with resistance or grow in container with new soil.

[@apkd72]

Sir! SIR! You said the magic words..."I don't have to harden my plants." I'm IN!!

[@jacquesinthegarden]

haha, it is truly the worst!

[@marthathompson2012]

Of course when you live where heavy snow, high winds, ice storms and subzero temperatures are a thing, you can’t start seeds outside during winter. I’d love to have had you go over (maybe briefly) the benefit of starting plants from seed in trays outside vs direct sowing-considering that you are dealing with temperatures and conditions that you CAN grow them outside! I know you talked about that before, but it’s fitting to mention here. I share your content with my garden group, and these questions come up! I think it’s a significant advantage to have a seed starting setup outside, though. People often don’t consider anything besides brutal winter as a reason for starting seeds

[@jacquesinthegarden]

The two main benefits that I see with transplanting are: 1) You have more flexibility and 2) You can avoid pest damage. The flexibility comes from waiting for the right space in the garden to open, you can keep potting up until the space is ready. The pest damage is avoiding by growing seedlings out to a larger size before transplanting. Once they become larger seedlings (4+ leaves) it is much harder for a pill bug or snail to full kill the plant!

[@carriecreates1207]

You are a very good teacher!! I always learn valuable tips and information from you!! Thank you for all of your hard work, creating info for us!!! You are very much appreciated.

[@permit40]

In cenrtral florida, I use the outdoor double cup seed starting procedure on my 2nd floor balcony. It is very successful.

[@studyingdhil]

THANKYOUU , it is so satisfiying to see tidy small pots and tray for sowing, and also your channel are in sub tropical/tropical climate which I need most ( because my location in tropical climate) yet I found rare good gardening channel that located in tropical climate. thankyou man, please keep going :)

[@barbaralong8665]

Thank you. This is very timely information. Starting seeds and then having to harden off gets very frustrating

[@stephaniehanuman-dale6279]

I’m glad you mentioned bird netting at the end. I would love to start seedlings outside while I’m repairing my greenhouse but the birds, squirrels and other rodents would knock them over or dig them up 😢

[@jennbasil]

I built a cage with hardware cloth to fit over my tray. I can use stakes to attach it to the ground if needed. Since I made the cage, I haven't had any issues with squirrels or rabbits. It's worked really well!

[@jacquesinthegarden]

There are a few different methods to avoid it but physical barriers are the solution!

[@julesgoh]

Thanks so much Jacques. Such wonderful timing as I was considering clearing the little bench and stop doing outdoor seed starting. Now I’ll give it another try ❤

[@bethsands7665]

Awesome ideas for growing seeds outside. I am trying to grow seeds right into the Vego bed and cover with plastic to make a green-house environment which heats up maybe too hot so I must open a side to air it out. If the bed was not covered cats would dig in it and snails and slugs would mow down seedlings.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

There is for sure such a thing as too much heat, especially for some plants like brassicas.

[@roserizzo3094]

I’m in zone 7a and winter sow outside. I don’t like hardening off plants. Thanks for a great video !

[@deboz8793]

Being in Central Ohio (6a), last year I did an experiment with hardening off my seedlings. After it warmed up enough in May, I sat out my seedlings shaded with a white bed sheet. All the seedlings survived! My only concern was properly watering and making sure after a rain, they didn’t drown by sitting in water.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

That is awesome!

[@deboz8793]

@@jacquesinthegarden That’s I call: ‘Lazy Seed Hardening!’ 😅

[@drleucine]

Oh, maybe I should try this since you're practically my neighbor (6A E. Central IN)! 🙃

[@FunAtDisney]

Overall I have not had great luck with starting seeds in seed trays, etc. I live just up the road from you in Orange County, so essentially the same 10b zone. This year I got one of those mini vertical greenhouses I can wheel around. It gets full sun, but this year in SoCal so far has been a lot more overcast. I will take the the seed trays out a nice days so they all the get the same amount of sun (hard to do with a vertical greenhouse) and I am using a few of the Epic seed trays. I am mainly doing micro greens, lettuce, and herbs. The result is better, but not great. They were all put in 2 months ago - Not all have taken and what has is no where near usable yet.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

It can be a challenge with overcast days for sure. The bonus is that it is the reality for the plants outside as well so it won't be a surprise. Now that we are truly in spring things should start to grow much quicker as daylight hours increase and you may find that the seedlings grow twice as fast now compared to a month ago!

[@FunAtDisney]

@@jacquesinthegarden And I have noticed that in just the last week or so! Even in my raised bed where I direct-sowed brussels sprouts seeds in November, it has taken this long for them to come up.

[@lp-rg2ge]

I have hot water heat with old fashioned radiators. I lay folded towels on top and put my seed trays on them until they start to sprout. Then I put them in clear plastic tubs outside during the day. If it will be less than 40 degrees overnight, I bring the tubs inside. If the days over 50 I take the lids off of the tubs during the day. This is my third year of doing this.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Sounds like you got a solid system down!

[@420Treez]

Thanks

[@TimStiles]

Unsure if this question was covered in the video but I have a Burpee seed starting kit. I'm starting my seeds outside whereas the kit it technically made for indoors. Should I use the clear plastic dome or leave it off while waiting for the seeds to germinate/sprout?

[@emkayprincess425]

This is very insightful great video. I did fo a lot of my pollinator patch flowers in winter milk jugs! The cold frame though. That could be a game changer, might be a great thing to circle back to. I'd love to learn more on using those, hoping to go grocery free on most veg soon.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

It is really nice being grocery store free for veg, we can pull it off for a majority of the year with some exceptions

[@carenmcfarland7034]

Just wondering from this and the last video, do you grow eggplant? And if you do, what do you cook with them?

[@gingerdean1521]

He does grow eggplants

[@jacquesinthegarden]

I do grow a lot of eggplant! I usually roast in slices and eat it with an herb or yogurt sauce, make moussaka, make babaganoush, make bulgarian based eggplant spreads, use it in Asian cuisine, and a few different other preparations I am blanking on.

[@mel-il4yu]

Geez Jacques! It’s like you spoke to my husband.😂😅. Being in zone 6, starting indoors is the only way I can get an early start. The sacrifice to some dining room floor space is worth it….. to me. ❤-ya.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Haha, I'll let him know to give you some extra space!

[@saal0]

snails and grubs made quick work of my lettuce and cucumber seedlings. im trying to get rid of most of them with beer traps and ill buy some netting but... for now they stay inside 😅

[@jacquesinthegarden]

yeah that can be a major challenge for sure!

[@valeriezendiver263]

This overview was so helpful, thank you!

[@LifeHomeandGardenwithAnaRica]

I like the cold frame, Thanks this very informative video.

[@lisag9752]

Thank you for this. It helped me rethink the location of my seedlings.

[@michelleh4588]

The only things i have inside right now in zone 6a are my dahlia tuber cuttings and my hot pepper plants😂 I winter sow almost everything else or just start them in trays outside under cover. It's sooo much better than all the hardening off crap!

[@jacquesinthegarden]

For sure worth avoiding the hardening off!

[@newpage4874]

Yay thank you I’ve been waiting for this video!!!!

[@tericamcginnis5848]

What great information! Kind of like a cross between indoor and winter sowing. I really like the idea you show. I would just need to protect from birds! Thanks again! 🐸😎

[@anelam71]

I wish I could do this. 28 degrees the other night here in Maryland. Starting inside is done! 😊

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Best of luck! Hopefully it frees you up a bit

[@redrose7375]

me too i didn’t at at t any inside . Last year they got too leggie and were wasted so i just waited to seed what i wanted to start by seed and having better outcome . Plus i don’t have indoor space for seedlings

[@Chocamatoes]

Your brand new greenhouse, considered an outside or inside area? Do you still have to harden them when they come out of the greenhouse?

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Some greenhouses that are climate controlled or too different from the outside will need hardening off. This is pretty close to the same as outside at night, it is unheated, so they don't seem to suffer when transplanted out at all.

[@bunnywhite6513]

Ugh thank you so much for saying all you said about the pain in the ass it is to start seeds indoors (especially calling out all the gear and the awful hardening off process). After years of just being the student learning what and how to do these basic gardening tasks, I finally realize that I have zero interest in starting seeds indoors. And I wish everyone who taught the process would start with a disclaimer that (a) this is not necessary in many cases, followed by explaining when you may want to and when you may not, and (b) if you decided you want or need to, then be forewarned that many gardeners find it to be a real pain.

[@rossgeredien9813]

Do you have any videos about how to build a cold frame like the one you showed?

[@伏見猿比古-k8c]

You probably make a perimeter using bricks for the bed and buy an old window from a thrift shop to put on top of it.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

I didn't fully commit to recording it but there are some good visual and video guides out there! I have a link in description showing a few different builds.

[@ThriveGarden]

Great work, impressive!

[@KyleTheFountain]

Thats awesone, mine would die from frost in the early spring lol as far as tomatoes, that is 😂. Need to build one of those cold frames, lol.

[@hollydimig3998]

Practical and awesome. Great video

[@samuelwilliams5743]

How do you keep the brand new seeds watered before germination? I see you’re soaking them from the bottom but that wouldn’t work for germination would it? Any info you have on how to do it and cadence is appreciated!

[@baileydubs]

I wish I could do this in northern Utah. We’re still getting snowstorms multiple times a week in April

[@catherinedonley2781]

I’m hoping to build a couple cold frames this summer for seed starting next year. They could easily extend the growing season here (Ohio-zone 6) by a month!

[@gingerdean1521]

You can use an old window for the lid. Just make sure the lid slants so the rain flows off

[@jacquesinthegarden]

They are a super cool system for extending seasons!

[@MalaMala-os2no]

So many good tips

[@DVArr-xi5hf]

Are those BLUE epic 6-cells behind you at 4:29?! Will they come out soon?! My fingers are so very crossed… I've been needing to buy more, but I've been holding out for more pastel colors!!

[@jacquesinthegarden]

They are! They were a limited drop, I will inquire if we have plans for more!

[@ziamoon3934]

awesome vid, thank you so much this was very helpful

[@christinab9133]

❤❤❤

[@jeannamcgregor9967]

I really like outdoor in-ground starting for squash, peas, & cucumbers, but my outdoor seed attempts are crippled by sow bugs (roly polys, wood lice, etc.) eating the emerging seedlings. Applications of Sluggo Plus will sometimes work but not always. Are there any other options you use? 💚

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Usually I grow them out into bigger containers before transplanting to avoid the damage from those guys. Transplanting more mature seedlings can make a big difference.

[@melanieallen8980]

good advice.

[@Phalaenopsisify]

I wish I could start my tomatoes and chilli seeds outdoors, but here in Sweden they'd never have time to set fruit. However, I start a lot of perennials outdoors which need cold stratification. I feel that having seed trays in the fridge isn't very nice.

[@gingerdean1521]

Just put the seed packets in the freezer for a few weeks. No soil needed

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Yeah with your season that is essentially impossible!

[@ermidacabrera8796]

For us here in NE, can u start seeds indoor and the moment they germinate, take them outside?

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Yes! I used to do this when I did start indoors to avoid the hardening off process!

[@ermidacabrera8796]

Thanks. I’m gonna try that. This is my first year gardening, so I need all the help I can get. Thanks for all ur great tips.

[@DippyNikk1]

I started a fair amount of plants indoors on a heat mat in jan/feb. I have a greenhouse and live in a temperate climate in Germany. My greenhouse is averaging 8 degrees C at night and up to 38 degrees C during the day on sunny days. I'm wondering if I can move my plants out to the greenhouse yet, or should I wait till the risk of frost is completely gone which appatently could be mid May.

[@gingerdean1521]

I live in NYS USA zone 5. My last frost day is June 1. Now 0 degrees C =32 degrees F and 30+C =100+F. I think they will be fine, It may even be too hot during the day. Do you have windows? If you are worried about night time ,put a blanket over things.

[@DippyNikk1]

@@gingerdean1521 I do indeed have windows in there. With automatic openers. I think I'll move some out and leave a couple inside just in case

[@jacquesinthegarden]

8 degrees should be totally fine! That is what I had as my nighttime lows up until late March!

[@DippyNikk1]

​@@jacquesinthegarden great! Thank you. I've actually moved half of them last week, just in case they all kicked the bucket. They're doing great and I've now planted some into the two raised beds I have in the greenhouse. I'm growing "Gigantomo" plants in there. If you don't know what that is, it's well worth a Google

[@TrixieJFerguson]

Hi Jacques! Thanks for the info and encouragement. I have a question, though. If you start your seeds in the greenhouse, what, if anything, do you do to transition them to the outdoors? I am in zone 9a (TX) and while most of our winters are pretty mild, there is always a danger of a hard freeze. I have a glass greenhouse, but I don’t know how to transition my plants from the greenhouse to the garden. Sometimes they are ok but sometimes they just fail to thrive. I’m probably doing it all wrong 😑

[@jacquesinthegarden]

If you are transplanting early in the seasons when your greenhouse is pretty close to the same conditions as outside then it shouldn't matter much. Once you get deeper into spring and there starts to be a bigger contrast between the outside the seedlings will need a little harden off period. Best bet is to place them outside the greenhouse in some spotty shade or under shade cloth for a day or two before planting them in full sun!

[@jordanyeager9220]

13:48 if we use real glass, how would that attach to the wood? Some kind of glue?

[@gingerdean1521]

make a frame

[@jacquesinthegarden]

This was using real glass, so I built a frame around it by using a router to cut down the edges of the wood sitting above it.

[@patriciaterry5539]

I love this!.

[@latebloominghippie]

💚💚💚The Epic Hermit Almanac 😂 Thank You!

[@chrisz.9974]

My problem is evaporation being in south Florida. I’m away from home for over 24 hours at a time a lot of the time. I’m going to try starting seeds in a makeshift humidity dome made from two big tupperwares stacked up from the dollar store.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

That should work well!

[@SalFernandez1]

This is super helpful! I’m also in California (zone 9b) and literally every other source I have found says that tomatoes and peppers have to be started indoors, which doesn’t make a lot of sense to me in our very long growing season. Btw, have you ever had success directly sowing tomatoes or pepper seeds into the garden rather than in seed starting trays?

[@theoneandonly1158]

I wish. I have an amazon $100 6x8 greenhouse. The key with that green house is to put it away when you're done. If not, itwill degrade. I can put a heater out there but my husband is paranoid. So what i do is take stuff out during the day so the sun hits it. If its too cold i have grow lights (it always rains). As babies i take them out. That way i dont have to harden off. So im using the driveway, greenhouse, and grow light's all together AS my plants grow. I haven't hardened anything off because they dont need it. But people who live where it snows they NEED grow light. They NEED the protection.

[@Grateful_Grannie]

Thx! I wonder if the outside down tomatoes might not be more resilient in the long run. Have you noticed any difference in seasonal vitality & resilience between the two starting methods over the course of your growing season?