SEED Starting Bottom
What is the best seed starting container?
Seed starting containers can vary widely, and no one container is best. In general, shallow containers or seed starting trays are more effective and easier to use for seed starting than deep containers. Most small seedlings do not need an overabundance of soil. Whatever container you choose, make sure it has drainage holes. If it doesn't, drill holes in the bottom. Waterlogged soil in a poorly drained container will cause many problems including rotted seeds and dead seedlings. Here are just a few options to consider:
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Multi-Cell Kits
A multi-cell seed starting kit can grow dozens of starts in a compact space and comes with everything needed to germinate a lot of seeds quickly. Gurney's 55-cell kit includes a cell tray, water reservoir, soil plugs, fertilizer and a humidity dome and simple instructions for success.
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Biodegradable Pots
The perfect size for small seedlings, biodegradable pots allow you to transplant without disturbing the young plants growing inside, because you plant the whole pot directly into the garden. These convenient vessels are made of peat, newspaper or compost and will break down in the soil over time. A drainage tray will be needed for indoor watering.
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Compressed Peat Pellets
Expanding up to five times their original size when wet, peat pellets create an ideal substrate for seed germination, thanks to the highly absorbent and non-compacting nature of peat itself. To get started, arrange the pellets in a tray, add water to expand them and sow your seeds. When the seedlings are ready to transplant, the whole pellet, outer bag and all, can be planted in the garden.
What is the best seed starting soil?
Start with a soil blend specifically made for seed starting like Natural Beginnings™ Seed Starting Mix or the Seed Starting Fertilizer Mix. A seed starting mix should be very light and fine textured. Avoid bagged soil that contains pine chips, wood fiber or other chunky material that can prevent seeds from breaking through the soil blend. Also, never use garden soil. It doesn't drain well, is too heavy and can contain pests, diseases and weed seeds. Avoid reusing potting soil since it can contain soilborne diseases. It's well worth the extra effort to start with a good quality mix. A strong start can carry over to better garden performance.
Keep in mind that you should moisten the soil before or after putting it in your containers. Many people pre-moisten in a separate container. This is especially helpful if the soil mix has become extremely dry and can't readily absorb water.

What are the temperature considerations for germinating seeds?
The best temperature at which to plant seeds depends on the type of crops you're planting:


A Seedling Starter Heat Mat provides a good way of keeping a consistently warm soil temp. Simply place your containers on the heat mat until the seeds have germinated and are well established. Once established, the plants can be moved off the heat mat as long as the ambient temperature is warm.
Seed Starting: Step-by-Step Guide for Germinating Seeds
Wondering how to germinate seeds indoors? Continue reading on to learn our step-by-step process for how you can start your garden and easily grow plants and vegetables from seed to harvest!
1 Gather the supplies you'll need

2 Prepare the soil

Watch Seed Starting Video
Watch Seed Starting Video
3 Plant the seeds

4 Water and feed the seedlings

5 Provide light

6 Provide bottom heat

7 Keep the air moving

8 Move outdoors

9 Transplant seedlings

Seed Starting Troubleshooting
What are these small insects flying around my pots, and should I be concerned?
The most likely suspects are fungus gnats. Fungus gnats are small flies that can be found in and around containerized plants and potting soil, especially indoors and in greenhouses. Their larvae feed on organic matter in potting soil and sometimes feed on plant roots. Besides being a nuisance, they can damage your seedlings. They thrive in wet soil, so allow soil to dry between waterings. A gentle breeze from a small fan will help keep them from landing and laying eggs. It will also help keep them out of your houseplants. Houseplants are often a source of fungus gnats, so make sure you get these pests under control before your seedlings emerge. Any Bt product listed for mosquitos can be sprinkled on the soil surface of seedling containers and houseplants to help control insect populations. Yellow sticky traps like Pot Stickers - Insect Glue Trap are very effective at catching gnats and flies.

My seedlings collapsed and died.
When seedlings collapse and die soon after germinating the main culprit is a disease called Damping Off, which is caused by several different fungal species. To help prevent this from affecting your seedlings, start with new seed starting soil mix. Do not reuse old potting mixes or use garden soil as these can carry the disease. Cold, wet soil should be avoided. Use a heat mat to warm the soil, and make sure your containers drain properly so the soil won't get waterlogged. It's also a good idea to start with clean pots. Dipping them in a mild bleach solution kills off any fungal spores or pathogens.

My plants are tall and spindly. What should I do?
Make sure your grow light is very close to the tops of your plants. You don't want them reaching for light. Plus, light level is lower when the source of light is farther away. Also make sure your plants are getting enough light. They need at least 14 hours a day. Excessive warmth can cause spindly plants, too. Try lowering the heat in the area where they are growing. Finally, air movement from a small fan will make the plants sturdier.

My seedlings have a purple cast on their leaves. What's wrong?
A purple cast on the leaves and purple leaf veins indicate a phosphorus deficiency. When seedlings are young and their root systems are not well developed, they often have trouble taking up enough phosphorus to prevent deficiencies. To remedy this, feed your plants with a water-soluble fertilizer. If you have been doing this at low doses and they are still purple, increase the rate. However, never exceed the recommended rate on the package. Do not use full strength the first time you fertilize because this may burn the seedlings.

Why didn't my seeds germinate better?
Your seeds could have been planted too deep. Some seeds need to be exposed to light and are sown on top of the soil; if covered, they won't germinate. Before sowing seeds always check the seed starting instructions or look up each plant variety online. Some seeds need warmer soil temperatures to germinate. Peppers are very sensitive to low temps. Soil too wet can rot seeds, and soil too dry can inhibit germination.

My plants keep wilting.
Plants that have vigorous top growth but are root-bound will wilt soon after watering. Once watered, they recover until the soil dries again. If this continues, the plants will need to be transplanted into a larger container or planted outside, weather permitting. One other solution is to put a saucer under them to hold a little water. This will help them stay hydrated longer.


Starting your own seed is a rewarding hobby. Picking that first tomato is much more meaningful when you have nurtured it from seed to fruit. The selection of flowers and vegetables to grow from seed is vast. We hope the steps outlined above will start you on a long path of seed starting.