What I'm Using for Seed Starting

Seed Starting Medium

It all starts with a good seed starting medium. I do not use conventional "seed starting" mix which is formulated to have a finer texture than a regular potting soil, because I can achieve similar texture by sifting potting mix.

You can make a soil sifter with scrap wood and small hole hardware cloth. I used a staple gun to attach the hardware cloth to the frame. I made my sifter the dimensions that would fit on top of the tub I use for soil.

If you do want to use seed starting mix, just know that every one that I have ever looked at is pretty devoid of nutrition, which is not an issue for the seed to germinate, and grow through its first set of leaves as the seed has enough nutrition to get through these stages, but after the first set of leaves, you will need to add some nutrition. I recommend using Kickass Frass plant food mixed into water to add nutrition for your seedlings once they start developing their second set of leaves (which are known as the first set of "true" leaves)

I like to sift my favorite peat-free potting mix which is packed with nutrition. You can sift it with a sifter you make yourself or a kitchen colander from the dollar store.

My favorite potting mix that I use for seed starting is Fox Farms Soil and Fertilizer Bush Doctor Coco Loco. It may be difficult to find near you but their website has a "Find Local" link to see if a store near you carries their products. I was able to find a store near me, but you can also have it shipped. But if you can't get your hands on this brand, there are lots of other good brands. Just find a good quality organic potting mix.

Soil Blockers

I use soil blockers to start most of my seeds (there are specific cases where I don't and they usually involve something that has to be started more than 10 weeks before my average last frost date.)

I exclusively use Swiftblocker soil blockers instead of conventional soil blockers like Ladbrooke due to several reasons.

1. Swiftblocker soil blockers allow you to seed the blocks before pressing them out (and sprinkle the tops with vermiculite before pressing out eliminating getting vermiculite in the channels clogging up watering)

2. Swiftblocker soil blockers are American made with Michigan steel in Michigan and designed and sold by a husband and wife flower farming/engineering duo. Love supporting small businesses.

3. Swiftblocker soil blockers are ergonomically designed and are easier on wrists/fingers/hands that suffer from carpel tunnel and arthritis. I deal with both of those and the swiftblocker does not hurt my hands like a conventional soil blocker.

   

I use the Swiftblocker Nanos and Mini 27 as they are geared towards the home gardener, but they also sell larger sizes of blockers for flower farmers.

Trays and Pots

The Bootstrap Farmer brand of trays and pots are my favorite as they are the most durable and strong. I have had mine for years and years and they still hold up. I use the shallow 1020, standard 1020, the 6 cell air pruning trays, 2.5 inch pots, humidity domes and 32 cell inserts.

Mixing Tub

I use an inexpensive cement mixing tub from a big box home improvement store to hold my seed starting mix. It comes in handy when soil blocking as you will be adding water to the soil and mixing it up.

Potting Mat

I like to do all of my seed starting indoors and that can get messy. I use the Hoselink Potting Mat so that I don't ruin my dining room table and rug.

Fine Grade Vermiculite

I like adding fine grade vermiculite to the tops of my soil blocks and pots to help prevent them from drying out. You can add some cinnamon to the vermiculite to help prevent fungus and even if you don't believe that helps, it smells really good.

Rack

I purchased a four foot wide 5 shelf metal rack for my seed starting. I can move the shelves to my desired spacing/height and the racks allow me to easily hang my lights with zip ties (I use reusable zip ties) I keep my rack in the dining room during seed starting and in the garage the rest of the year.

Lights

I prefer less expensive LED shop lights instead of lights that are marketed as "grow lights." I use two lights per shelf and one of the things I like about these lights besides the price point is that the lights daisy chain together so that ultimately, I can have lots of lights and not need a ton of outlets. Each light has its own pull cord to turn them on and off individually. I use two lights per shelf so that no seedling is every leaning in search of light. I keep my lights an inch or two above the seedlings to prevent leggy seedlings.

Shop lights come in different lengths and you will want to get lights the same length as your shelf. If you have a 3 foot shelf, get 3 foot lights.

Pulleys

I use these pulleys to attach my lights to my rack. The pulleys are key to being able to easily raise and lower the lights as needed. For LED shop lights like these, they need to be 1-2 inches from the tops of the seedlings at all times. If the lights are more than 1-2 inches from the seedlings, the seedlings can become leggy as they reach towards light making the seedlings weak.

I remove the two silver clips off each end and attach the pulleys directly to the lights and rack with reusable zip ties. This allows for a few extra inches of space to be able to raise the lights.

Heat Mat

Heat mats are great for speeding up and helping along germination. Plants like peppers and tomatoes and heat loving plants especially do well with heat mats. If you are starting your seeds in a cold area (think garage, shed, or basement) a heat mat is key. I upgraded this year to a heat mat which allows me to control the temperature which makes it easier for adjusting the germination conditions for different vegetables and flowers. Not every veggie/flower likes the same germination temperature.

Let me know if you have any questions. I am always happy to help.

**The links provided in this post contain affiliate links and I receive a small percentage from the brand company. This does not raise the cost for you, it is paid fully by the brand. These small earnings help fund my garden endeavors and make it worth spending the time to put together posts like these.