Seeds & Seedlings
Category
Seeds & Seedlings
Vegetable seed starting is a sequence of small decisions: which seeds to choose, when to sow them and how to care for the plants before they reach the garden. These guides follow that sequence from reading a seed packet to transplanting, with room for troubleshooting when the seedlings do not look as sturdy as you expected.
Seeds & Seedlings
Vegetable Cross Pollination: How to Prevent Hybridization in Seed Saving
Seeds & Seedlings
Soil Temperature for Planting: When to Safely Sow Warm-Season Crops
Seeds & Seedlings
Seed Germination Test: How to Check If Your Old Seeds Will Grow
Seeds & Seedlings
Chitting Potatoes: How to Sprout Seed Potatoes for Early Harvests
Seeds & Seedlings
Winter Sowing in Milk Jugs: A Foolproof Seed Starting Method
Seeds & Seedlings
Leggy Seedlings: How to Fix Weak Plant Stems
Seeds & Seedlings
Seed Starting Mix: What to Buy, How to Make It and Why Garden Soil Fails
Seeds & Seedlings
How to Thin Seedlings: When, How, and How Far Apart
Seeds & Seedlings
Direct Sow vs Transplant: Which Method is Better for Your Vegetable Garden?
If you are planning a first sowing, begin with direct sowing versus transplanting and the seed-starting calendar. If you already have older packets, the seed germination test guide can help you decide what to use. Articles on thinning, leggy seedlings and bottom watering address the next stage.
Before moving indoor plants outside, read about hardening off and check the guide to soil temperature for planting. This collection also includes winter sowing, sprouting seed potatoes and other ways to start new plants. For the end of the growing cycle, explore seed saving and the role of cross-pollination.
To connect your sowing choices with a complete garden plan, see The Year-Round Vegetable Garden for Beginners, then return to the relevant guide as each task comes around.