Heat Mats & Thermostat
Growing in our garage means it’s COLD (like down in the 40s and 50s right now). This is far too cold for peppers, tomatoes, and other heat-loving crops. Therefore, I plan to use the heat mats for germination at a temperature of about 70-75, but once the seeds sprout, I’ll keep the heat mats set to a lower temperature to prevent legginess (maybe 60 degrees). This is a first time thing for me, but that’s my guess. Conventional wisdom says to turn off heat mats once germinated (keeping heat mats on while growing seeds indoors can result in leggy seedlings due to the fast growth), but our garage just gets too cold for me to imagine turning off the heat mats completely for these Summer plants. I’d love to hear your experiences with this in your indoor seed starting setups! PS: this is why having a thermostat is important for regulating the heat mat temperature. Our thermostat came with the heat mats as a set.
Watering Trays
During the growth cycle of seedlings, I’ve always watered from the bottom. There are a couple reasons for bottom watering: a) some seeds are so tiny they can be flooded out if watered from above, and b) in enclosed spaces, moisture on foliage can result in conditions for disease. Since I’ll be using a combination of 4” pots and small seed trays in my indoor seed starting setup, I don’t have watering trays that are specific to these products. Instead, I’ll be using foil food trays to put under my seed pots. Watering from underneath is a great way to promote deep root growth, make sure you are watering thoroughly, and the foil might act as a good reflector of light for the seedlings too.
Update January 2023 indoor seed setup: I plan on using this same setup, but use my favorite Epic Gardening seed cells because they are sturdy and great for my space. Additionally, there will soon be matching watering trays available from Epic Gardening for these seed cells soon that I plan on using.
A Fan to Strengthen Stems
Growing seedlings indoors means there is a lack of natural breeze. Without a breeze of any kind, the plants you grow can have weak and thin stems that won’t do well once put outdoors. One way to start strengthening stems is to have a small fan run on your seedlings while they grow. This is also good for air circulation anyway, which can prevent some diseases as well. I’m just using a fan we already had in storage. Just like this one!
Other indoor seed starting supplies I’m using:
Old table for seeds
4″ pots and 6-cell seed trays (The construction and design on the Epic Gardening trays is amazing)
My DIY seed starting mix
SEEDS! You can check out Where I Buy Seeds
Now that the indoor seed starting setup is complete, all I’ll do is follow the Basics of Starting Seeds and see how the setup performs!
NOTE: If you are near me (in Orange County, Los Angeles, and parts of San Diego), you might take advantage of my “seed starting schedule” in the Garden Resources Library. This schedule is not based on pushing boundaries—it’s a very conservative schedule. You’ll notice that typically I would wait to start peppers and tomatoes and a lot of warm season plants, but this year has been a more mild winter so I’m going to start a few weeks earlier than usual for some plants. Please keep in mind that we live in a climate where we can push the boundaries of growing much more IF WE WANT. Whether or not you want to will depend on your garden size, time, budget, and overall goals.
Related Article: What Type of Garden is Right For You?
Even though I’m still a believer that you can start seeds without any fancy equipment, I am really looking forward watching this indoor seed starting setup perform. It’s going to be a lot less daily work!
Some of my personal seed starting goals this year:
Other than trying out an indoor seed starting setup, I’d like to avoid up-potting or separating plants this year. Each time you perform either of those tasks it takes a) resources- like soil medium, larger pots, and labor and b) a little time for the plant to recover. Ideally, I’d like to start my seeds at the right time, in the right size cell, and simply have them go straight into the garden when it’s nice and warm!
This year I’m pre-germinating my peppers and eggplants in coffee filters (view my tutorial HERE) and transferring one germinated seed over to each 4” pot—no thinning needed! And yes, I’ll be using 4 inch pots and don’t plan to up-pot before they go in the garden. Tomatoes will be treated the same. The flowers and herbs will be different. I’ll use my smaller seedling trays (from Epic Gardening), sow multiple seeds per cell, and thin accordingly. They won’t be up-potted before going in the garden, so the flowers are herbs will have the least amount of space to grow than my other plants.
I’m going to stagger start dates more. Last year, instead of starting all my tomatoes at once, I did a few waves. One early (like February), one in March, and another in August. It resulted in a nice spread of tomatoes. The same thing worked for summer squash, as I sowed one type earlier than usual, another once the weather was already warm, and a couple more throughout Summer. Technically, I guess this is succession sowing, but all I know is that it was nice to not have all my seeds “in one basket” and have more variation in harvests throughout the Summer. There’s a more relaxed feel to it as well. This works well in Southern California because our growing season is very long.
Use up my leftover flower and herb seed packets. Do you have lots of half-used seed packets from years past? This year I sorted through all my flowers and herbs and decided to use them. My seed purchases this year were centered on solely the main edible crops and what we love to eat. I bought some new okra, corn, tomatoes, eggplants, etc.
I’m very excited to try some of my own saved heirloom seeds this Summer. My long term goal is to save a collection that is well acclimated to my garden, robust, and healthy! Black Krim is one of my favorites (pictured with other tomatoes).
Some things to be excited about!
Oh gosh, I get giddy thinking about some of the saved tomato seeds I collected last Summer. I collected seeds from some of my best heirloom tomatoes (like Black Krim) and I’ll be growing them this year. Collecting and saving your own seed is a great way to acclimate varieties to your specific climate— which means stronger, healthier, and happier plants. I’ve been on a mission to develop a strong collection for our garden climate, starting with the seeds that are easiest to save: heirloom tomatoes and dried heirloom beans. I don’t tend to save any melon or squash seeds since the cross pollination chances are too high for me to feel like it’s worth it.
Dried heirloom beans! This year I bought several new dried bean varieties to grow. It’s become very obvious that dried beans are a crop we use a lot here at home, and homegrown tastes the best! This year the dried beans are getting priority and space! If you want to learn about growing heirloom dried beans, I’ve written up a post about them HERE.
What is something you are excited about for the upcoming Summer garden?
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Expert Introduction: As an avid gardener with years of experience in indoor seed starting and plant care, I can confidently provide insights and knowledge on the topics discussed in the article. I have successfully grown a wide variety of plants, including peppers, tomatoes, and heat-loving crops, in challenging environments such as garages and indoor setups. I have experimented with different techniques, equipment, and strategies to optimize plant growth and achieve healthy seedlings. My expertise is based on practical experience, extensive research, and continuous learning in the field of gardening and horticulture.
Heat Mats & Thermostat: Heat mats are essential tools for indoor seed starting, especially when growing heat-loving crops in colder environments. They provide a consistent and controlled source of bottom heat to promote germination and early growth. By maintaining a temperature range of 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit, heat mats create optimal conditions for seeds to sprout. However, once the seeds have sprouted, it is important to lower the heat mat temperature to around 60 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent legginess, which occurs when seedlings grow too quickly. A thermostat is crucial for regulating the heat mat temperature and ensuring optimal conditions for seedling development.
Watering Trays: Watering from the bottom is a beneficial technique during the growth cycle of seedlings. It helps prevent small seeds from being washed away and reduces the risk of disease caused by moisture on foliage in enclosed spaces. In the absence of specific watering trays, using foil food trays as a substitute is a practical solution. The foil can act as a reflector of light, providing additional illumination to the seedlings. Bottom watering promotes deep root growth and ensures thorough watering.
A Fan to Strengthen Stems: Indoor seedlings often lack natural airflow and breeze, which can result in weak and thin stems. To strengthen the stems and encourage sturdy growth, it is advisable to use a small fan to create air circulation around the seedlings. The fan not only promotes stem strength but also helps prevent diseases that thrive in stagnant air. Any small fan that can provide gentle airflow will suffice for this purpose.
Other Indoor Seed Starting Supplies: Apart from heat mats, thermostats, and watering trays, there are several other supplies mentioned in the article that are commonly used in indoor seed starting setups. These include:
- An old table for organizing and setting up the seeds and seedlings.
- 4" pots and 6-cell seed trays, preferably with sturdy construction and design for optimal plant growth.
- DIY seed starting mix, which can consist of a blend of peat moss, vermiculite, and compost for a well-draining and nutrient-rich medium.
- High-quality seeds from trusted sources, ensuring good germination rates and healthy plants.
Staggered Start Dates and Succession Sowing: To extend the harvest period and reduce the risk of crop failure, it is beneficial to stagger the start dates of seedlings. This involves starting a portion of the seeds earlier than others, allowing for a continuous supply of produce throughout the growing season. Succession sowing, as mentioned in the article, is a technique that involves multiple plantings of the same crop at different intervals to ensure a steady harvest. This approach provides a more relaxed and varied yield, especially in regions with a long growing season like Southern California.
Using Leftover Seed Packets and Saving Heirloom Seeds: An excellent way to minimize waste and maximize variety is to use leftover seed packets from previous years. These seeds can still be viable and provide a diverse range of plants. Additionally, saving and collecting your own heirloom seeds is a rewarding practice that allows for acclimation to specific climate conditions, resulting in stronger and healthier plants. Certain crops like tomatoes and dried heirloom beans are easier to save, while others like melons and squash may cross-pollinate, making seed saving more challenging.
Overall, the article provides valuable insights into indoor seed starting and highlights various techniques and supplies to optimize plant growth. By implementing these strategies and adapting them to specific gardening conditions, individuals can enjoy successful seedling development and a bountiful summer garden.
