This video shows you two ways for starting seeds for incredible vegetable gardening success! These 2 seed starting methods maximize germination rates to help you grow bigger than ever. I show you how to germinate seeds in standard potting mix and in peat pellets!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
0:00 Starting Tomato Seeds For My Vegetable Garden
2:13 My Favorite Tool To Make Starting Seeds Easy!
2:38 How To Grow Seeds In Peat Pellets
5:34 How To Start Tomato Seeds In Seed Trays
6:33 Using A Seedling Heat Mat: A MUST For Success!
9:05 Seed Germination Results After 3 Days
10:27 Seedling Progress After 16 Days
10:39 When And How To Fertilize Seedlings
12:57 Adventures With Dale
If you have questions about how to start seeds and starting seeds in the garden, raised bed gardening, want to know about the things I grow in my garden, are looking for gardening tips and tricks, have questions about vegetable gardening and organic gardening in general, or want to share some DIY and “how to” garden tips and gardening hacks of your own, please ask in the Comments below!
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#gardening #gardeningtips #garden #seeds #seedstarting
35 Comments
At what size do you plant them outdoors? (ie) How many sets of true leaves? I live inFlorida so we're past frost date but still as low as 40 degrees some nights. Thanks.
I always learn something new from you…thanks!👍
Great video on how to sow seeds. Thanks for sharing and take care 🙂
The damp chopstick trick is brillant! I bought a baster for watering a while ago at this point, after watching your videos and it’s also much easier than trying to use a watering can or a cup. I don’t start seeds here until next month but I’m so excited for spring. I’m looking forward to seeing some of the garden changes you mentioned and what you’re growing this year. My husband loves peppers and fresh lettuce, so we grow those inside the house over winter.
He's using Japanese style chopsticks vs Korean or Chinese styled. Details matter 😀
Suggestion is for you to take only six packs off tray and put in new tray for lighting, leaving on heat mat cells not germinated yet.
thank you brother for your great teaching I already subscribed to your channel very interesting
you have any tips for Calamondin orange??
No i bought a Calamondin bush just a few says ago. It has set fruit already. I need tips though.
thank you for the tip
Great video!! I’ll definitely take these tips into consideration! I’m a young gardener I’m only 15! And my favorite thing to do is growing my own food! And I document my journey through my channel Ultimate Gardening and showcase the knowledge I know! Your An Amazing Gardener Keep Up The Great Work! Happy gardening!💚✨🌿
Kindest Regards – Emmanuel Arce / Ultimate Gardener
Thank you MG, a very information packed video. Your instructions and explanations are very clear an easy to understand. 👍👍
What do you do with the extra seedlings – pinch off or transplant?
I really liked your side-by-side comparison of the seed cells and the peat pots. I do a lot of these kinds of trials every season, especially during germination time. Seeds are relatively cheap and germination occurs quickly so it's easy to compare which method works best. You can test different germination mediums, heat mats, humidity domes – anything that comes to mind.
I quite liked your idea of using a chopstick to sow tiny seeds. I've been using the tip of a pencil in the past but I'll give your suggestion a try.
One chore that I found slightly tedious was sowing my small seeds to the correct dept (especially those tiny seeds that are the same color as the soil: e.g. lettuce). After sowing the seeds and tamping them down in the seed cells, I sprinkle a layer of fine vermiculite or potting soil to cover the seeds. Then I'll mist the covering layer until damp.
I was quite surprised by how quickly your seeds germinated in the peat pellets compared to the seed cells. I did my own comparison many years ago and although I can't remember why, I didn't like using them. I'm thinking I'll try the test again this year, just to satisfy my curiosity.
Thanks for the video.
Wow, Chopsticks! What a fantastic tip.👍 I fought windy conditions and arthritic hands trying to grab those tiny tomato and other seeds just a day ago. I knew there had to be a better way. Also, love the tomato baster tip.
Great vid. I always get something new from your videos. I also like that you always seem to give a little more "why" explanation. Thanks!
I've been using a floating seed starting kit that has worked pretty well. I planted two seeds per plug and got almost 100% germination. This year I'm getting the same germination rate but planting only one seed. When I heard you mention that once the seedlings came up that the heat map was no longer needed, so I immediately unplugged the mat. The second tray has a few seedlings coming up the majority haven't. Do you think that the humidity dome can be removed without negatively affecting the seeds that haven't germinated yet? Thanks for another great practical gardening video!
Oh my my 1st is peppers especially hot ones & eggplants. They take forever vs tomatoes. Learned last year 10 weeks too much for 🍅 transplants holding back until 7 weeks before planting. I don't need trees again just nice sized transplants.
Nor will I not use organic fertilizer vs synthetic. I haven't used blue stuff in years too much salt destroys soil. If you buy dr earth organic vegetable and dilute you don't have smell nor bugs.
subscribing simply for the chopstick trick! that's amazing for those of us with sausage fingers! Thanks much!
Do you have an equivalent video like this for peppers?
great tip on removing from heat mats after sprouting. i used heat mats for first time last year and had some pretty leggy seedlings!
I noticed the one seedling to come up in the corner of your tray was siletz! Go little siletz! Thanks to your advice I'm excited to try this variety in my garden this year! Good luck seedlings!
Wow! I just found your page today (thanks algorithm lol). I have watched several of your fig videos and I had no idea it was so intense. As a millennial myself, it's awesome to see men gardening and sharing their experience! I wish I had found you years ago, but I'm going to power through your videos, I loved the advice on finding the discounted fertilizer as well. I am excited to see what your entire crop production looks like this summer. I also love seeing Dale 😍 j
Thanks for all the info
Great tutorial. And interesting info about the first leaves ~ did not know their purpose 🙂 I also use a wet chopstick. And bamboo food skewers & used fireplace matches work well too. You can also start seeds in clear plastic grocery double-egg tray containers. To create a mini greenhouse.
(Start by punching/melting 1-2 small drainage/watering holes in the bottom of each egg cup (cell) with a hot nail. Then nest it inside the other egg cup tray, separated from the packaging with scissors. This way you can bottom water the seedlings if you like. Close the lid & set in a sunny place. I have Early Treat & Super Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes sprouting now, 3 days after sowing. But really heed the advice here & watch the seedlings well. If they become too leggy they're usually too fragile to survive or thrive, true.)
That's some good tips MG. I am more lazy and do a set it and forget it approach. I use 72 cell tray, add moistened potting mix, then fill the bottom tray with a 1/4 inch of water. Add seeds then let sit in partial shade or full sun for 2 weeks. If in full sun, I might replenish the 1/4 inch of water every few days, but otherwise the initial water is enough to last the two weeks. To me, leggy seedlings are fine because I actually prefer them to grow taller before I transplant into my hydroponic setup. Appreciate the video my friend
Great video and well presented as usual
Chopstick trick is the bomb!
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Um. It’s been 2 weeks and none of my jalapeño, bell pepper or tomato seeds have sprouted. I wonder what I did wrong
Does the 72 seed germination cell tray come with the potting mixture already in place? If not, what do you use to fill them? I “assume” the peat pots fill with peat when they have hydrated… 😀😉
I winter sow in milk jugs outside, and use grow lights and heat pad inside as well.
what is next step ? my seeds become like this size now.. what shall i do ?
It's a waste to use more than one seed.. most all tomatoes always germinate.. in fact I get 98 percent all the time.. I personally am not a fan of needlessly killing plants like most people seem to love doing.. thinning is stupid and unnecessary.. no need to kill plants…
Good video. My plastic seed starting trays and cells are cracking after two years. I want to find something that will last or not plastic. I hate throwing away plastic and gardening unfortunately involves so much plastic it seems.
I think next spring I will try the peat pods.