The BEST Seed Starting System I've EVER Had

[@LoriSeaborg]

Only so much spare time, so I watch videos based on topic - so just wanted to pop in here to say I’m grateful you stay on topic and get the info out there in an efficient way! That helps a ton and makes me visit your channel more than most others.

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

I appreciate that!

[@enolorena]

I am starting my VERY FIRST garden this year and have been researching non stop all winter and this is the thing I've struggled most with. How to know when and what to plant. Especially in MN zone 4b with 145 day grow season. I've been looking up all kinds of planners and garden journals and nothing comes close to how helpful this is. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

I'm so glad you found it helpful

[@SouthernLatitudesFL]

I have a system. Similar but different. But you speak truth about being organized should something arise. Six days ago, I had to emergency leave to be with family IMMEDIATELY AFTER PLANTING 300 seedlings! My husband was able to take over on one hr notice! What a peace of mind.

[@collinsddc1206]

Gosh you are really organized, such an uncomplicated system you’ve shared with us! Thank you! I do keep everything I’m starting in plastic boxes like those too, my starting dates in my journal, but your idea of the erase board is Great! Happy planting

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Thank you and Happy planting to you as well

[@lustraveller717]

Wow, thank you so much, Jill! I've been wracking my brain trying to figure how to best organize my seeds. I'd get my seeds together and try organizing them, get frustrated, and would just put them away. Now I have a clear picture of how I want them organized. I'm so excited.

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Glad it was helpful!

[@KathyW5]

Yes! I don't have to remember to succession plant. I've had several of those photo containers for my seeds and crafts. When using them noted with planting dates, after I plant the first round, I can just slip the rest of those seeds in container for two weeks later. Yay! This is so simple, why didn't I think of this?

[@HiddenOaksHomestead]

Excel! Got it! You just changed my gardening life

[@AkSonya1010]

Makes me feel good, I have a very similar system. Big difference for me, I write the weeks/days back from my last frost date on my calendar so I don't have to think about it. I have my seeds in a 12x12 photo album inside the picture sleves. I have a paper diary for my seeds, I might print it out on 11x17 paper and attach it to my wall that way so I can take it outside in the spring to take notes. Thank you for such great ideas.

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Thanks for sharing!

[@MaesRuth]

I feel kinda proud of myself. I half way figured out what you do on my own. I'm going to be putting the other half in place. Such a brilliant system.

[@10xSmiles]

The best organized system for sowing seeds. I tried this last year. Thank you !!!

[@lmullens75]

Yay! I was just doing this the other night around bedtime and got a little mentally stressed. I’m so glad to hear you say that it is a little on the difficult side because that’s how it was feeling to me also. Lol! Let’s do it!!!

[@dennistotman9754]

Her smile and enthusiasm is contagious!

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Yes it is

[@kellyjmiller9326]

Haven't even finished the entire video, but this is AWESOME JILL! Thank you. I'm so inspired and totally taking these ideas and making it my own. Bravo Darling!

[@KelliBelli2006]

I can’t tell you how thankful I am that my favorite female homesteader is also in Arkansas!! I’m in N. Central AR and it’s been a relief to have your direction for my first garden!

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Hey neighbor

[@kittiew260]

I have similar system in place. When you start a bunch it's great to have a solid plan and system.

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

It sure is!

[@sarahnoah8741]

Loved hearing how Friday is the day you start seeds. Have you assigned any other tasks for M-Thurs? That would be super helpful to know if you're willing to share.

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

As the season starts to kick off I'll share my routine

[@iartistdotme]

Amazing plan! I keep telling myself I'll remember but it NEVER happens. Even with a very small garden I can see how this would work so very well. My calendar notes just don't have enough room. My CPA/spreadsheet loving heart is in love with your plan!

[@cherylbertolini3140]

Jill do you have the link for the white board?

[@lisatonkin8862]

I would also like to know the size and link? Thanks you so much!

[@mgtmoffat8411]

Thank you Jill. You make being organised seem so simple! I seem incapable of being organised! 💕💕🌻🌻

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

You can do it!

[@radharcranch7691]

Jill I needed this video SO very much!!! With almost 100 different types of seeds/varieties I am SO happy you made this video! Thank you Thank you Thank you!

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

I'm glad you found it helpful

[@kylesnyder3757]

Have you played around with the new ‘Seedtime’ program?…..I started to lay out my growing season, and it is super simple to setup and add crops. Tells you seeding dates, bed prep, cultivation, transplanting, and harvesting schedules. Literally every day it tells you what is to be done that day. I’ll post again at the end of the season to let you know what I think. Also it’s free, so bonus! Love ya Jill! Happy growing.

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

I have been playing with it and actually have a video scheduled around it next week

[@cathleencaratan3373]

Could you go over how you organize certain tasks during the week?

[@jasminelouisefarrall]

I totally agree Jill ❤

[@LadysFarm]

I love seeds. ❤I’m about to start my seed starts at the beginning of the month.

[@BloominIvy]

Those photo keepers for storing seeds are fantastic, I started using them 2 years ago and I have 4 boxes full now BUT I bought mine in BLACK! (better to keep more light out) I just put the post-its on the outside of the individual boxes, although I think you can still see thru them enough that you could put the post-it on the inside if you wanted. Thanks for all the great tips. I definitely doing a glass dry erase board now!

[@busvlogger]

Rural Arkansas! Same. Thanks for the advice, this snow makes my ‘garden fever’ so much worse.

[@Car-jy8pw]

Oh my! Lol. My system is VERY similar. Only difference is some of the materials I use. I feel so validated in my antics.

[@napoleonsgarden5162]

I hope I can get to this level of organization with seed starting. It can feel pretty overwhelming. I was super excited to get your book at the Conway Books a million the other day! It’s so cool to be able to learn from and support local authors.

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Thank you so much!

[@sylviayvette]

Good 🌄 Morning Rise and Shine

[@UltravioletHeather]

I wish we could get started so early. Our estimated last frost is May 20th but last spring we had frost in the beginning of June. We are near Camrose in Alberta, Canada

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Oh wow! You guys have a short growing season as well

[@sherryburton6683]

WOW! This is a wonderfully simple system! Thank you so very much for sharing!

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

You are so welcome!

[@gigiplusthebeard]

Oh my goodness. I am ditching my seed storage boxes and implementing your system. Thanks for sharing -G

[@ilenehorowitz3060]

one word: Genius!

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

😂 not sure about that

[@jamesjessee4064]

Nice information 🙋‍♂️👍❤️

[@yukonsmomma3562]

Thanks Jill! This seems like a great way to get organized and actually get around to succession planting.

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

It really is the best way I've found

[@lesliesgarden7356]

I like it I’m a grab and see kind of gal. Trying to organize. Sure going to try it! Thank you!

[@dreyno64]

Dang I wish I’d seen this back in early Jan! This is awesome!! Love love love these business lessons!

[@cynthiamurrah9641]

Hi Jill, could you share your spreadsheet with us. Thank you for your videos!!🌻

[@markkristynichols845]

Loved this info!!! So many tight details and nuggets to increase productivity! Thanks sis! ❤ y’all, Kristy, just a few hours north of ya over the border in Missouri zone 6b 😃🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

So glad!

[@DebWHNP]

That's amazing! Please do in depth video on the excel spreadsheet you discussed

[@tammynevil2422]

I´m going to try that system this year

[@elizabeth1234..]

For me, I have a ton of highlighters and markers. When I get seeds in I grab my google sheets to denote what came in and color a chunk on the back of the packet to denote when it needs to be planted. It makes it easy to go in the bin and grab the color.

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Great idea

[@elizabeth1234..]

@@WhisperingWillowFarm I will definitely be incorporating the whiteboard so everyone knows what is happening. So thank you for that!

[@karenm5681]

Oh! I like this method! 6:33…you sort by seed starting date, not type of seed! Brilliant. Definitely going to switch to this method this year. Saves not being able to find all the seeds you want to start that day. Love it! Thank you!

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Glad it was helpful!

[@donnalarussa8149]

Oh, my. I am so excited to try this!! This looks to be exactly what I need. I have been gardening for years but always seem to be flying by the seat of my pants. Thank you! Thank you!

[@honeyb1286]

I am grouping my seeds for sowing like this also. I put my seeds together in their own zip bags dated for sowing to keep handy grab and go! 😊 like the excel sheet to keep record of what did well or not. Organisation is everything. Saves time, energy (Labour)and cost of missing sowing times (impacting crop production) etc …

[@hazelbellefarm476]

Excellent, helpful tips! Can’t wait for your book to arrive. I’m hoping there’s more in there like this!😊

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

There is lots of helpful information including charts and tips

[@brettelizabethspore]

Have been away from the channel for awhile. Boy did I come back at the right time! Great video. And PS. I love your hair that way! Have an awesome growing year!

[@ladybirdgib]

I love this. So similar to how I have done for years, but so many extra ideas that will help me and my garden! The older I get the more I have had the need for all the extra organizational tips I can get! Thanks for sharing!

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

You're welcome

[@thepositivepregnancyjourne2462]

Praise the Lord, thank you sis!

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

You are so welcome

[@wendykruk1288]

Love it, I use a calender the same way but love the idea of putting what your doing that day in its own box and I love the white board.

[@tinylittlehomestead8582]

Great system. Looking forward to implementing it

[@CaroleW8]

Going to sort seed this week using your "X weeks to first frost" system. This will help me get ready for my first plant sale, keep the videos coming! Thank You for this!

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

You can do it!

[@AlyssaWilliams-wb9zc]

So helpful! Thank you, Jill! I am curious how this works with succession planting?

[@leagarner3675]

Yes! A great way to start my year. Thanks.

[@alisharhc]

I feel like this is totally gonna change the game for me!! Definitely giving this a go!

[@kmarshall53]

I love this! Last year I got poisoned potting mix, which was discouraging, to say the least. I didn’t really have a vegetable garden until fall, and those crops were planted too late, mostly. This year, I’ve started soooo many seeds with great success, but still found my timing is off a bit and I have too many of some things as well. I am going to go back and implement your system so that I can have a more successful fall season AND a better grasp on next year’s spring garden. Thanks!!!! 💗💗💗💗

[@lorr.jones8887]

This is brilliant! I started something similar last year but it didn't occur to me to group the seeds into their own boxes. I was fishing through my stash every time it was time to start the next crop.

[@cbak1819]

Hi Jill.. yes, it can be a pain ugh! I'm glad I'm not alone!! This is the icing on the cake for me to get everything in order so I'm not waisting time and missing important dates! Thanks so much! FYI January is usually good for sales on photo boxes 🎉

[@Nursewhilomena]

That is awesome!!! Thanks so much! I was feeling overwhelmed and I definitely needed a system!

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Glad it helped!

[@sandyoklahomatransient8557]

Nice system! Like you said, the first time you get it started all you have to do is plug in any new seeds, and quantities when using this system years after.

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Exactly!

[@toysintheclosetshop5443]

I add an extra step. I have several herbs, flowers and medicinal plants that need to be cold stratified for "x" amount weeks and I separate those out first because I need to add that amount of time to the sowing date. And a lot of seed packs don't tell you that you need to cold stratify.

[@MrsPink64]

Ty Jill💕🙏🏻

[@AGREENERLIFE]

Jill, I can't seem to find the link you said you listed below for the glass dry erase board?

[@jerseygirlvet]

This information helped me a bunch, I couldn’t figure out when to start seeds so I started them all at the same time which was a disaster. OMG thank you. Not confused anymore. I think I did over complicated it all. Thanks for sharing.

[@joannejensen4369]

Wow Jill. Thank you👍🇨🇦

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

You are so welcome!

[@beckybrock8525]

Oh, Thank you! Definitely an easy plan to follow! So helpful!

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Glad it was helpful!

[@crystals14acregarden61]

I would live a picture of your dry erase board. I could use it as a shortcut and adjust my dates by a week. Please

[@sandychristiansen1749]

Thanks for sharing your system -- I am a home gardener and I plant a lot of veg and flowers in the house since our season is very short. It seems every year I forget to start some of the things I want to grow until it is too late. I am getting my seeds out now so I can start planning mine.

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Happy growing this year

[@sheilataylor9579]

First time viewer. Thank you for explaining the last frost. I’m new at gardening. I have house plants, gardening is something I’m not familiar with and unsure about what to do. I subscribed to your channel. 😊

[@dustyflats3832]

I’m just throwing mine in jugs to winter sow. This may be handy for small scale to group together like start dates. I don’t like to up-pot, too much cost, etc.

[@daleservidio2034]

Well organized system jill 👏👏👏

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Thank you 😊

[@christineanne7834]

I start seeds using the Lunar cycle.. its more complicated but swear by the results! Above ground/leafy sow at waxing moon phase. Root crops at waning, and zero starts at the barren phase. Ive experimented & it makes a huge difference in quick germination rates. Its based off gravity & the farmers in the past always used this method

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

I've never done this but know others that say it works wonders

[@waylonratcliffe]

Love the organization

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Thank you

[@danaschelin3853]

I use a very similar system that I implemented a few years ago, and it has been a game changer for my gardening success.

[@maurabuller5606]

Best system I've seen. Thank you!

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Glad you like it!

[@mirandam8021]

GREAT video, Jill! Thank you 🌻

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

You are so welcome!

[@tennisisme222]

Love! I did the same, wrote out on a spreadsheet Spring seed starting dates (10 weeks, 8 weeks, etc) and what to start. I'm in Texas so I'll also look into Fall starting dates soon.

[@lh3130]

Love the logic in this!! I’m in zone 10b so we don’t have a Frost and our seasons don’t follow the typical instructions.

[@Kate98755]

i use calendars to track fertlizing…my focus is more landscape gardening. I have always designated certain chores for different days, and i’ve broken my landscape into zones…since I’m still working daily, I take breaks and can go out and go right into a task. It helps break up any weeding, dead heading..etc. Great information, new subscriber…

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Great idea and thanks for checking out our journey

[@scattershomestead]

Thanks for sharing all your knowledge with us!!!!! Your great! Love your laugh! Puts a smile on my face every time!

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

You are so welcome

[@NuggetFarm2011]

Great vlog, Jill! Thank you for sharing this info with us. 😊❤️🌱

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

You are so welcome!

[@digsindirt4490]

This is a great system. Your video made me realize I’ve overcomplicated it and need to step back and start fresh. It’s hard to let go of all the work I did over the winter but seriously, I think my brain will be happier with fewer moving parts. Thank you.

[@terrimundy6191]

Getting ready to try your seed starting system. Ordered a new seed organizer to get this going. I’m so impressed by your ability to think of this!!! Have thought about adding fertilizing schedule line? Thinking about onions, etc….

[@ma2janael]

I get inspired to try again every time I see one of these prep videos, but I fail every year because I can't seem to find a decent soil. Last year we picked up a truck load of 50/50 mix, and each time I would water, the water wouldn't even penetrate 2" down, yet the top would be a muddy mess. So discouraging. I just want to produce something but the only year I was successful is when I bought bag by bag from Home Depot. I wish I could afford the soil³ cube.

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

There are some good recipes online to make your own

[@IHealLiving]

I am using this!! Fantastic idea!! I will be adding stratification dates too as we are in Canada.

[@trishapomeroy9251]

Awesome system!!! I just started working on something similar. I will utilize many of the things you have shown here. Thank you!!

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ivyclark70]

Thank you for sharing your system. I’m a newbie home gardener and it’s always great to see how others plan their planting. I plan monthly on a spreadsheet and have a similar approach. I list out everything that I want to start each week, and my spreadsheet does the calculation of estimated transplant dates, so it helps me identify what I can transplant when and as I harvest or pull out old plants from my garden. Thank you for sharing your ideas and beautiful energy with us. ❤

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Sounds like you are a step ahead of most. Happy growing this year

[@samuelguiden3321]

First timer and just saying I've watched tons of videos and all are good being I'm green to the game,BUT, I say but your video, to me, was pretty darn diddly good. Thanks

[@robinjohnston8180]

I start my seeds in January or February.

[@videocompilationvarieties739]

Congratulation!! Wow this is the best explanation about seed starting. I needed this.

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Glad it was helpful!

[@melissasekely5107]

Thank you so much Jill!!! 💚

[@harrymyhero]

I have soil block makers and I would love to see how you do yours.

[@jamesjessee4064]

I herd that purple bockchoy would help keep insects off cabbage family plants what you 🤔 👍❤️🙋‍♂️

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Worth giving it a try

[@TheGumbootGarden]

I love how organised you are!! I planned on being organised this past growing season and it seriously alllll went out the window! With some of the additional growing knowledge I’ve gained and taking ideas from your seeding schedule, I think it will help me be in a much better place for the next season. Love these planning videos and if you have anymore good tips, please share!

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Glad you found it helpful. Happy growing this year

[@lareemcodingo5391]

love this system, gonna give it a try :)

[@AndrewSemple]

Brilliantly organized!! 👏

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Thank you! 😊

[@sharieads8375]

Very helpful!!!

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Glad you think so!

[@BeccaNolte]

Thank you for sharing this!!!!!!

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

You are so welcome!

[@sajmt1414]

QUESTION- what do you do about succession planting ? How do you schedule it? Do you divide your seed packs up and then add them to the appropriate plastic box?

[@WhisperingWillowFarm]

Great question. Succession planting all depends on how many and how often you are wanting to continuously harvest

[@gbparn]

Very nice. I like the photo boxes. I’ve got a similar system in a spreadsheet, but I also added a column for anticipated harvest dates. That way I can make sure I’ve not planned a trip for when I’m anticipating main harvest for canning or processing. Records and planning are key. Thanks for sharing.