One of the best ways to make sure that your plants take hold is to use seedlings. However, seedlings are much more expensive than simply tossing some seeds in the ground and hoping for the best. There is a way to combine these two techniques that is cost effective and will result in stronger plants that have a better chance of making it.
As soon as January rolls around, you can begin the process of growing your own seedlings. If you have a greenhouse, you’re already set. If not, you will need to clear a spot in your home where the temperature stays pretty constant. High humidity areas are always recommended. Many people place their seedlings in an extra bathroom and this works quite well. If you don’t have anywhere in your home where you can grow your seedlings, consider investing in a portable outdoor greenhouse or see if you can borrow some space from a friend.
You’ll need to get some high quality potting soil and plenty of small containers. You can get a variety of different sizes, depending on the plants that you plan to add to your garden. Follow the directions for each type of seed that you’ll be planting. If they have a longer gestation period, you can start planting them right now. Otherwise, you may need to wait until March or April to start your seedlings.
Once your seeds are planted, give them plenty of time and care. You’ll need to weed out the plants that aren’t as hardy to ensure that you’ll have a good crop of strong seedlings. Periodically transplant them into bigger containers as their root systems grow. As soon as your outdoor soil temperature is warm enough, you can begin transplanting your seedlings into your garden. This method will give you the same results as if you had purchased expensive seedlings from your local greenhouse.
