Paul James, host of HGTV's Gardening by the Yard, explains how to grow your own garden plants from seed. Starting plants from seed indoors is in vogue these days, with the growing interest in heirloom seeds and the demand for more choices among flowers and vegetables. A lot of folks have tried and failed at growing from seed, however, because they think it's as simple as planting, watering and waiting. Growing from seed is one of the most gratifying gardening endeavors you'll ever experience, and it's a great way to stretch your gardening budget, whether you're growing flowers, vegetables, herbs--even trees. Start with good containers, whether plastic pots or trays, peat pots or a self-watering system, and make sure the containers are at least 1" to 2" deep and drain readily. Then pick a potting medium of some kind. Some folks prefer to start seeds in vermiculite, perlite or peat moss, used alone or in combination, and then transplant the seedlings into a nutrient-rich potting mix once they develop their first true set of leaves. Grow the seeds from start to finish in a sterile potting mix. Make sure you moisten the soil thoroughly before filling your containers. Use warm water, and give the mix time to absorb plenty of moisture. You'll know you've added enough water when the mix holds together when squeezed without dripping. Next, fill your containers, leaving at least 1/4" of space at the top. Plop a seed or two in each container, top it off with a light layer of potting mix, and water gently with a hand-held sprayer or mister. You've created the proper conditions for germination, a process that can only be reversed by your failure to provide four things: moisture, warmth, air and light. Providing even moisture to germinating seeds and young seedlings is crucial. If the potting mix dries out, the plants will die. So pay careful attention to the moisture level in your containers, watering as often as every day if necessary. If it's tough to stick to such a schedule, place the containers inside a clear plastic bag to keep the potting mix from drying out so quickly and to maintain a high level of humidity. Just remember to remove the bag once the seeds have germinated to prevent fungal diseases from developing. You could also invest in a seed-starting system with a clear plastic dome and capillary mats to draw the water from a reservoir into the potting mix. These systems last for years, and they take much of the worry out of watering. Most seeds germinate faster with supplemental heat, but soil-heating cables designed to provide that warmth are expensive, and most seeds ultimately sprout just fine at room temperature. Besides, once the seeds have sprouted, room temperature is ideal for plants' development. At that stage, adequate light is critical. Seedlings need even more light than full-grown plants--ideally as much as 16 to 18 hours a day. In many cases, a sunny window sill works well for raising seedlings. A south-facing site works reasonably well. Just remember to rotate the containers each day so that all the plants receive roughly the same amount of light. You might also want to cover the window at night to prevent cold air from damaging your seedlings. But if you want really healthy plants, grow them under lights. All you need is a shop light equipped with a cool-white 40-watt bulb or two, which you can find at hardware stores for less than $20. Add to that a simple timer that automatically turns the lights on and off, and you've got a simple but highly effective growing system. Seeds need no fertilizer initially because everything the plant needs is contained in the seed. Once a plant develops its first true set of leaves, it's a good idea to feed it each time you water with a quarter-strength or half-strength solution of liquid seaweed, fish emulsion, compost tea or another nutrient source. Three weeks later you can feed plants full-strength every 10 to 14 days. As seedlings grow, transplant them into larger containers, much as you would repot a houseplant that's overgrown its pot. The best time to transplant seedlings is when they begin to develop true leaves. Using a fork or a Popsicle stick, gently lift the seedling from its original container, getting as much of the root system as possible, and place it in its new container. Grasp it by the leaves, not the stem: too much pressure on the stem can kill the plant. Gently water the newly transplanted seedling, and return it to the window sill or grow lights. Depending on the kind of plant you're growing and its rate of growth, you may have to repeat this procedure two or three times before the plant is ready to be planted in the garden.
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