The Dirty Laundry Behind Organic Seed Germination

For many beginning gardeners, indoor seed starting can be a daunting task. Maybe your seeds don't germinate at all...and you don't know why. Maybe they start to grow, and then fall over and die...and you haven't a clue what went wrong. Maybe the seedling grows into a nice-sized transplant, but the minute you plant it outside, it dies...and it makes you want to chuck gardening altogether.

While my technique isn't foolproof by any means, I have tried several seed starting methods over the years, and feel most comfortable with the steps I'm about to share with you. Feel free to follow them to the letter, tweak them slightly for your own needs, or run in the opposite direction.

I do have a great tip to share, though, so read on. All it involves is scheduling your seed starting for the same day as you do your laundry.

Assemble Your Supplies

• Large, sturdy plastic tray about the size of a cookie sheet, preferably with ridges in the bottom. Clear Plastic dome-type lid fitted for tray, preferably with air vents. (I love Park Seed's BioDome - see links at bottom for more info.)
• Jiffy Peat Pellets - Use one pellet for every number of plants you want to end up with. If you want five tomato plants, count out five Jiffy Pellets.
• Plant markers - wood or plastic - small - one for each peat pellet
• Small rubberbands (like those wrapped around green onion bunches) - one for each peat pellet.
• Marking pen - waterproof
• Your Choice of Seeds - Try to make sure your seeds are not more than 1 year old. Most packets are marked as "Packed for 2005" or "2004 Lot".

Ladies and Gentlemen...Start Your Seeds!

• Wash out your tray with a mild bleach and hot water solution and allow to air dry. Wash your hands.

• Organize your seeds and figure out how many pellets you'll need for each veggie. Are you planning on starting a type of cauliflower than didn't germinate particularly well last year? Then you may want to double up, just in case most of the seeds fail.

• Place the pellets in the tray with the hole side up. (Make sure there is adequate room for all of them - they will puff up, especially vertically.) Fill a measuring cup with approximately four cups of hot water and pour it gently over the pellets. If you've got more than 10 pellets, you'll probably need more water. Five or less, use less. It takes a few minutes for the pellets to completely expand, but you'll be able to tell when they're ready. Discard any extra water in the bottom of the tray.