We're taking a break from the usual scenery to bring you to our seed-starting operation. Most of the seeds that we start inside begin right here. Join me as we check it out!
0:52 Intro
Meet Bo! He's our seed starting master, and thousands of plants start off right here in his garage. It's all done indoors under these grow lights, so this is something that ANYONE can do.
1:21 Get To Know Bo
Bo started gardening in the late 60s when he was living in Illinois and had a tomato farm out there. Tomatoes are his main crop of choice, but he knows it all.
1:57 Seedlings En Masse
So how does he get hundreds of seedlings ready to plant out for the farm? He's turned about half of his garage space into a growing operation! Over the years, he's developed this system of racks with grow lights.
Tip 1
I'm always talking about sifting soil. Bo has taken that a step further and pre-sifts it, and then stores that soil separately in containers.
A very common planting mistake is putting seeds too deep. Gone are the days of sticking your finger in the dirt and dropping a seed in. Just cover up your seeds with about 18/8 to 1/4 inch of sifted soil and water it in.
4:38 Seed Starting In Action
Tip 2
Bo starts with 6-pack trays. These are a great option because there is more soil that the trays with dozens of cells. That allows the seed to have more moist soil around it, and it allows the plant to grow in one place longer.
Tip 3
Using trays means you can just put the water into a reservoir instead of overhead watering. He places the 6 packs into the tray to soak up water for a day or so BEFORE planting so the soil is already moist.
When your soil is ready, you can simply place your seeds on top. Cover up with your sifted soil when ready. All you need is a light dusting and a light spray.
7:10 Light Show
Now that your seeds are planted, you're ready to move them under your light setup. But what setup is best? There are so many options with colors, styles, and so on.
Tip 4
Bo is using LED lights because the amount of electricity really adds up when these are on for 14 to 18 hours per day. LEDs also don't get hot so you don't run the risk of burning your seedlings.
By using timers, it becomes a pretty automated process. By the time the seedlings have grown about 4-6 inches and are nearing the top, they are ready to go out into the greenhouse or under a tree to get hardened off for a week or two.
9:18 Reading The Room
Soil, light, and moisture are all critical, but let's not overlook environmental factors like temperature and humidity. By keeping an eye on those, you're able to know if you need to make any adjustments to create an ideal situation.
Tip 5
Most seeds want to germinate in soil around 80 degrees (even 85 for peppers). If you live in a colder climate, consider a heating mat. Even here in Southern California, we use them to start some of our crops in December and January.
If you really want to geek out, check out Bo's infrared gun! This is one way you can check the temperature of the soil, not just the ambient air (because the soil temps may not be the same as the air).
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