Before winter ends, get a jump on your next garden by starting seeds or cuttings indoors. Creating an indoor planting station that provides the right amount of light, temperature and humidity ensures your garden gets off to a healthy start.

Rack and Bench

A table about six feet in length is enough to hold a few seed trays and provide a preparation area. If you plan on more than a few trays or you will be making starts throughout the growing season, then prepare a unit with several shelves that is open on all sides.

Simple shelves made from lumber will work, but plastic shelves are easier to clean. You need a separate bench or table for seed tray preparation. If you add doors to the bottom section of your shelves, you can store your soil, tools and other supplies there.

Seed Trays and Soil

There are several kinds of seed starting medium. Here are two popular options:

- Plastic seed trays – These typically come in trays with 72 cells into which you add your own soil or starting mix.

- Dehydrated Coir Pellets – These have the soil and container combined. Set a pellet in water and it expands into a tiny mesh pot that is perfect for planting one or two seeds. When the seedlings are ready, they can be planted directly in the outdoor garden.

Most seeds germinate well in a light, loamy soil mix made from organic materials. It is essential that the soil is sterilized to ensure no pathogens or viable weed seeds are present. A common recipe for mixing your own soil is 1/3 vermiculite, 1/3 perlite and 1/3 milled sphagnum moss.

Lighting

Seeds do not need light to germinate but sufficient light is critical once they begin to sprout. You can use a combination of warm and cool fluorescent bulbs or use a single all-spectrum light. Avoid incandescent bulbs as they radiate too much heat. Keep the lights two inches from sprouting seeds. They should receive about 16 hours of light per day, which you can control via a plug-in timer.

Temperature and Humidity

Different plant seeds have their own ideal germinating temperature, but an average temperature of 25 Celsius works well for most seeds. Once the seeds have sprouted, normal room temperature is perfect. Soil temperature is more important than air temperature. You can maintain an even soil temperature with a heating mat.

Most sprouts do best with modest humidity. Humidity can be provided with a clear plastic cover over the sprouts. Remove the cover once or twice a day for air exchange. A mister can be used to provide a gentle dose of humidity throughout the day also.

Find All Your Indoor Planting Supplies in One Place

Starting seeds indoors is less expensive than buying starts, and you will have a wider selection of varieties. It is also a terrific way to get your green thumb moving before the last frost arrives.

Van Beek’s Garden Supplies have all the materials and tools you need to put together a quality seed and propagation station. Visit our Burlington or Oakville locations to pick up your supplies and receive guidance from our knowledgeable staff.