How to S.T.A.R.T. Super Seedlings

The key to starting your seedlings and keeping them healthy all the way to harvest is having a good set-up and giving them consistent care. Having a good setup is like a commercial greenhouse with rows of seed starting trays under lights with timed misters and thermostats to control humidity and temperature. Giving your seedlings consistent care, like an ICU, with nurses checking on patients regularly and catching little problems before they get too big.

But chances are you aren’t working in a commercial greenhouse or an ICU. You need something that will work for you at home, on a budget, and within a busy family schedule. The START framework is your key to success.

It consists of five pillars: Space, Temperature, Awareness, Right light, and Targeted watering. The five pillars are tied together by forming good habits to consistently care for your sprouts.

Pillar One – Space

You need enough room for your seed starting containers. You also need space in your containers for soil with enough depth and nutrients for your seeds. Your ideal space will depend on what you want to grow. Starting small with a tray of salad greens or other quick sprouting seeds can help you test your setup and find what works for your family.

Pillar Two – Temperature

You need to research the appropriate temperature for your cool or warm weather plants. Most warm weather plants want seed starting soil temperatures of 70 – 80F. Cold weather plants prefer soil temperatures in the 40 – 60F range. Check your varieties online or sometimes it will be printed on the seed packet. You also need to protect your seedlings from any drafts or hot spots, so find a sheltered spot in your house.

Pillar Three – Awareness

Put your sprouts in a visible location where you will pass by and can check on them frequently. They need to be checked at least once a day. Start building your good seedling care habits by checking on your plants even before they sprout. Visibility is key, but you also need to protect them from any pets or curious children who might accidentally knock them over, so try to find the happy medium between visibility and safety.

Pillar Four – The Right Light

Your seed starting trays don’t need any light needed until they have started sprouting. But as soon as they sprout, they need bright light close to the sprouts to prevent “leggy” sprouts. Leggy seedlings grow long thin stems searching for light. Getting leggy can permanently damage your seedlings and weaken your plants. An early spring windowsill may not offer enough light. Using a lamp or grow light can help keep your sprouts from getting “leggy”.

Pillar Five – Targeted Watering

You need to maintain consistent humidity in the soil. You can use the “greenhouse effect” to your advantage by starting your seeds in trays that have a lid or putting cling wrap over the tray to keep them from drying out too fast. But, you still may need to water a small amount several times a day. Also, be sure to always water the soil, not the plant. Getting water on the tiny leaves or stems of your seedlings can encourage fungus and molds that can attack your baby plants. You can put water in the bottom of the tray and let your seed starting mix soak it up instead of watering from the top. Make sure to avoid the drought/drowning cycle when your seedlings first sprout. Seedlings have tiny roots to start, they need just enough water – but not too much.

Tie it Together With Good Seedling Care Habits

Once you have a good set up with the right Space, the proper Temperature, good Awareness of your seedlings, the Right light levels and are using Targeted watering, you need to start working on your consistency. You need to build good habits to keep your seedlings healthy and strong. Check your seed trays every day for sprouts, over watering, or dryness. Move them close to a strong light as soon as you see the first sprout in a tray. Take any lids off when the sprouts grow tall enough to touch the lid. Water your seedlings if the soil looks too dry, but try to avoid getting the leaves and stem wet.

Good luck and have at it. Go ahead and START some super seedlings today!

Want more help starting super seedlings? Checkout my FREE Super Seedlings guide including a bonus plant care tracker. Start building those habits today!