Spring is well on its way, and for those of you wanting to try your hand at growing a vegetable, herb or flower garden this upcoming season, now’s the time to start planting seedlings. A seedling is essentially a plant that is grown from a seed rather than a cutting. When you visit a nursery to purchase young plants to transplant into your garden, you’re basically buying pre-grown seedlings. Although this is perfectly fine, there is something a little extra rewarding about growing your plants yourself directly from the seed. So I thought I’d give you a head start this season by teaching you how to grow your own!
SEED PACKET
Your seed packet will be very important, so don’t throw it out. The packet will tell you how deep into the soil to plant, how much water and light it needs, and what time of year is best to plant them outside. This is how you’ll be able to guesstimate when it’s ready to be transplanted outside.
CARE
Every seed is different, but most thrive in a warm, sunny environment—making a windowsill the best spot for your seedlings to sprout. Each seed also requires a different watering routine, but we suggest using your spray bottle rather than pouring water directly over the top.
TRANSPLANTING
As a general rule, you want to make sure there is no danger of an outdoor frost after you’ve transplanted, so be careful not to transplant too early. You also don’t want to start your seedling too early, and then they outgrow their eggshell before it’s warm enough outside to be transplanted. So, again, follow the guide on your packet, or do some quick research into the seeds you’re planting to establish your timeline.
When it’s time to transplant, you can plant your seedling, shell and all, directly into your soil. The eggshell will serve as a fertilizer eventually. If you’d rather, you can also crack the shell around it and plant the seedling’s roots directly into the soil.
And that’s it! With a few healthy seedlings and good weather you’ll be well on your way to growing your very own garden. Tag us on InstagramOpens in new tab if you try your hand at growing seedlings!
