Seed Starting

Start seeds outside in milk jugs this winter and get tough, ready-to-plant seedlings in spring. Steps, seed list and timing by USDA zone.

Count back from your last frost with this seed starting chart for 25 vegetables, a worked example and a quick-reference calendar for USDA zones…

Cell trays, open flats, soil blocks or peat pots? Pick the right container and cell size for each crop, plus what you need from…

Why seeds need a fine, soilless mix, what goes in it, a two-ingredient DIY recipe, and when to switch to potting mix for vegetables.

Perlite drains and aerates; vermiculite holds water and nutrients. Here’s how to choose for seeds, pots, cuttings and beds, and how to handle the…

Tall, floppy seedlings are stretching for light. Here’s how to fix them, why burying the stem works for tomatoes but not most crops, and…

Everything you need to grow stocky vegetable transplants at home, from choosing containers and mix to lights, feeding, hardening off and fixing common seedling…

Seeds need moisture, air, the right temperature and sometimes light. Use these germination temperature charts, a simple paper-towel viability test and seed storage tips.

Move seedlings outside a little longer each day for 7-10 days before transplanting. Here’s a day-by-day schedule, timing by zone and the night temperatures…

LED vs fluorescent, how many hours, how close to hang them, how to build a simple shelf setup and how to read your seedlings…

Damping off makes seedlings pinch and topple at the soil line. Learn the causes, a prevention checklist, what to do when it appears and…