How to Create a Seed Starting Plan
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ต.ค. 2024
- All seeds can't be started at the same time. Knowing when to start seeds and setting a plan in place can lead to gardening success. Gardener Scott shows how he creates a seed starting plan for his plants. (Video #421)
Click this link to SUBSCRIBE to Gardener Scott: / @gardenerscott
Join the Gardener Scott channel to get access to special perks. Click the "JOIN" button or link here:
/ @gardenerscott
To support the channel, you can click on these affiliate links:
GreenStalk vertical garden system: lddy.no/kdvq
Use code "GARDENERSCOTT" for a $10 discount.
Forever Garden Beds for metal raised beds.
forevergardenb...
Use code "GARDENERSCOTT" for 10% off
T-shirts and mugs at the Gardener Scott Store:
gardener-scott...
Survival Garden Seeds:
survivalgarden...
Use code "GARDENERSCOTT" for a discount.
True Leaf Market Seeds:
www.pntrac.com...
If you use Amazon and want to buy anything at all, click through with this affiliate link: www.amazon.com/...
Harvest Right Freeze Dryers:
affiliates.har...
Check out Gardener Scott's Recommended Gardening Books at: bookshop.org/s...
#EnjoyGardening #GardenerScott
Links included in this description and referenced in videos might be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase a product or service with the links I provide, I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you for those affiliate links and your support allows me to provide free content every week on the Gardener Scott channel.
Thank you for your support!
I organise my box in order of sowing date. And if I'm succession planting, I put the seed packed back near the front where it needs to be. It just makes more sense to me that way. I still haven't done it for this year though. Because I need a new box... a bigger one.🙄I set sowing dates in my phone calendar, with their own tag, so it pings a reminder each week of what I am sowing, and when. That worked well for me last year - I will forget to check a printed calendar. Thanks Scott.
I print out a calendar counting weeks backwards to our last frost date. Go through last years calendar and make a few adjustments. Really helps not missing a flower or herb you should have started weeks earlier. Tons of good advice, as always!!!
Stay Well !!!
Thank you. You've got a talent for teaching, and this spreadsheet will be helpful for many of us novice gardeners. This is my fourth year, and boy can I see how useful this single paper will be. I've taken notes from several of your videos. Please keep 'em coming!
Last season you taught me to get a calendar and mark plant date after frost deadline and then mark back each week and then figure how many weeks each variety needs to be plamted before germination plant times.
It does a good job thanks
the bigger plan, how to not buy too many seeds EVERY SINGLE YEAR
Now you’re asking for the impossible.
Impossible!!! Says who? 😂
Only if I’m dead broke & we do t want that
I know what your saying . I'm going to plant a bunch of older seeds and take crop to the pantry
@@timlawson817 That had been a winning strategy for me for the last few years. Unfortunately, my seed vault is empty. I had to bite the bullet and start buying again.
Live up north and want to grow something during the winter? Try growing some lettuce indoors using hydroponic techniques, it will scratch your itch until spring arrives. Kratkey is your friend..
Very timely. For my CO approach I succession plant almost all my seed to diversify risk from that weaselly frost problem and keeps me from ever coming up short due to weather. This means I have seedlings to give away every year, but someone always wants them.
This cracked me up. You definitely are a gardening addict. That seed collection rivels mine. Hahaha
Your method is similar to mine. Best way to not be overwhelmed
Good idea for the cold weather we are having in East Tennessee.
I’m getting planting/garden fever! I want to start planting, but I have about 5 feet of snow in my yard. ❄️
I bought a planner this year but wasn't quite sure how to use it to it's potential. Thanks so much. This really helped me goi g into my second year of gardening for food and health. God bless.
PERFECT TIMING! Thank you
Thank you because I’m new to seeds and ordered so many and not so sure what I’m doing.
Planing out the garden is perfect for me. There is snow on the ground. The garden itself is a few months away. It stops me from starting things to early and then having to up pot them and make extra trips from my basement seed starting room to harden them off because they are big. Most gardeners dont plan to fail, but it might happen if they fail to plan.
i enjoy gardening !
The spreadsheet is super helpful, super simple....and now replaces a much more complicated spreadsheet I was using. Thank you so much!
I need to start being better organized and detailed with a garden planner.
Guilty. Guilty. So far have tried to control wanting it all. Now realize how to start/.plan❤❤❤
I'm in Minnesota and have been winter sowing for over 10 years. I usually start seeds, outside, on December 21st. 😉
Great explanation! A schedule is super important especially if you have a long list of seeds 😋 and then you don’t have to stress about missing any of the dates!
I do my schedule pretty similar by with a twist! I’ve been working on a seed scheduling video too, should be out in the next couple days.
Greats work 👍
Would you share your template?
I love the way you explain the “how’s and “why’s of seed starting. It can be confusing. Thank You. I usually only grow warm season vegetables that are set out on or after the last frost. This year I am growing some vegetables that need to be planned out a little more carefully.
I love my small flat garden 🌱😂. I’ve got a couple sets of trays I have on day and night shift under the lights. Everything looks very healthy and colorful.
Such a good video mate, full of valuable info for new growers too. Planning is important and can really help you stay on track.
Thank you GS!
Super! Definitely watching because I’m addicted to seeds! Thank you! These seed starting tips will surely be helpful! 🤩🌱
I have the same alphabetical organization in a shoebox. It never occurred to me to put them in planting order. My entire career as an executive assistant involved updating spreadsheets of various analysis. Hope you don't mind, but I'm going to copy yours. Brilliant!
Muchas gracias por tus aportes a la humanidad, me encanta tu labor y me encantaría tener tus tomates en colombia, pero lastima que aquí no pueda encontrarlos. Aunque por una amiga que viajo de Estados Unidos a qui pude comprar el white beauty y el Atomic.
Gracias. Ojalá pudieras cultivar los tomates también. Estoy seguro de que puedes hacer crecer muchas cosas que yo no puedo.
I’ve started alliums, celery, 3 lettuces, Asian greens, and some herbs. It’s way too early to put anything out, but I was going to experiment with different covers like milk jugs and clear plastic tubs with putting the greens and lettuce under.
Thank you for showing your spreadsheet. It's helpful to see how others arrange and organize their information.
This year with my newer seeds, I organized them in a flip book album. Each sheet hold 8 seed packets. I have some seeds in boxes also but having them in the flip album is much easier for me to see what I got and what to sow.
Great information! TFS
V. Good info.
I’ve found some pots that fit perfectly between my inside and outside windows. I know it’s colder than in the house, but I’m thinking of experimenting on how small greens and lettuces will grow there. That way the cat won’t eat them.
I am going to write on each seed packet the date to start indoors. Then arrange in date order.
The most important thing under water and light
Very helpful! Your method is so simple and straightforward. Thanks!
you are so organized, love your videos, Thank you! I'm a beginner, you have been very helpful, I only hope i can as organized as you so I can be successful. But i also am enjoying the experiment for my garden. Love, love your videos, keep going please.
I’m literally working on my starting plan as I’m watching this. Great timing and thanks for the helpful advice!
I have limited space so my seed starting plan also includes grouping according to, for example, whether they'll need a heat mat or cooler temps for growing on, how many cells I'll use in each tray for each variety, and I keep an eye on germination time & seedling growth rate and try to start like with like so I don't end up with some yet ungerminated and some 4 inch seedlings in the same tray at the same time.
I'm in Colorado, NW of Fort Collins. Last year a two week frost buffer was not enough. Thankfully nearly all of my starts were indoors. For outdoor starts, I do look at frost date, but I also check soil temps every few days. At one inch and four inches depth, first thing early AM.. For soil temperatures, I just use my 24" compost thermometer.
I agree. Last year my two-week buffer was more than three. It's a baseline and then weather forecasts and soil thermometers help determine the best time.
Shortcut- Just signed up for a free version of Seedtime a computer program that allows me to enter the vegie that I'm planning to grow and it figures all the dates for me. It shows sowing, planting, bed prep and harvesting dates. It will also set out succession planting if I want. Have you seen this program?
I haven't. I've started using the Planter app for that.
awesome video and super useful. Even if its just to make you feel more on top of things. Plans are fab!
I inherited seeds from relatives. Some from 1995. Doing a germination test.
Thanks for the ideas. I just planted two trays and am trying to narrow down my choices for a third tray. I think I'll adopt your spreadsheet idea because this year I want to do succession planting with my lettuces, carrots and a few others. I stay kind of confused as I read the seed packets over and over again trying to keep it organized. I really do need one sheet of information like you have. I do not have a printer so I'm going to draw up one myself. I'm using a heat mat this year for the first time. I can't wait to see the results. I just hope I can keep my watering correct. I check them obsessively...lol. Especially the one with the heat mat. Thank you for keeping us informed as the days and weeks go by. Take care and have a blessed day!
FYI. I’m sure you have watched videos about it, but only use the heat mat till germination. Once any plants come up turn it off or it’ll fry the seedlings. 🌱🤣🤞🏻
Heat mats are great, I even use them to cure my sweet potatoes.
My first year starting seeds, I had my poor tomatoes and peppers in our cold basement without a heat mat. They were so pitiful. Now I've got the upstairs for the grow room, only problem is lugging all that water up two flights of stairs... good exercise.
Thank you for all your info. Appreciate your knowledge!
Oh hoho
That was fun
Geeze and I thought I had alot of seeds. Compared to you I don't have enough. Lol
Thanks!
Thanks, Pat!
Awesome system you got going on there Scott. I noticed you start your cilantro seeds on May 1st and 15th. I have experienced Cilantro to be super cold tolerant. By May 15th, im usually starting to harvest my cilantro in new hampshire. Any reason you push back the sowing date for that one?
It's primarily because I grow it in beds with other plants and many of those aren't going in until then. It's easier to plant the whole bed at about the same time rather than stagger planting.
Growing in Oklahoma, I feel like I have to start too many seeds to insure I'm not left with nothing. I've lost way too many seedlings to pests and unexpected freezes to take the chance of not having back up plants.
I have a similar spreadsheet. I include columns for the variety, source, comments, and results. Of course, the results column isn’t that helpful if I forget to review it before buying more seeds.
I'm doing a lot of different peppers (including super hots!) this year, too! Do you mind sharing which specific peppers you plan to grow? I have seeds from Pepper Joe's, Puckerbutt Pepper Company, and some Amazon sellers.
I identify the peppers in this video: th-cam.com/video/pjvLX-TPPJs/w-d-xo.html
Hi, how to start a garlic in a small garden?
Hey, I appreciate your wealth of knowledge. What light do you think works best for a grow light? I bought a couple of full spectrum bulbs from Lowe's.
The light that you can afford and fits your space is usually best. I use lights like that from Lowe's with good success.
Looking at your chart. You start tomato seeds 3/15 and transplant outside 6/1. That is 12 weeks indoors. What do you do to keep them Healthy in small containers for that amount of time.
I transplant them into bigger containers with a good potting mix.
Scott, can I ask: how to you keep track of what is actually planted in your garden? Do you keep a separate spreadsheet that lists every varietal, date planted, etc.? I can see the benefit of such a spreadsheet, but it also gets complicated and is a bunch of work.
I usually make a basic drawing of what's in each bed and annotate dates. It doesn't include exact plant count though. This year I plan to use a planning app. I'll show it in a video soon.
@@GardenerScott Super cool. Thank you!
How does your greenhouse stand up against our crazy summer hail that we get in Colorado?
The polycarbonate material is incredibly strong. Even the worst hail won't break it.
@@GardenerScott Awesome. Thank you so much for the response. I always assumed it was out of the question for us. I searched and found your greenhouse videos that I'll watch for more info.
I plant more than I'll need because some die or don't look good enough.
Great, timely video. Thanks, Gardener Scott
Can you email your spreadsheet? It looks like a great idea.
It's simple to make by just copying what I did.
Great video as usual! Question. I have a 3 week work travel coming up in February. Is there an alternative other than having a friend babysit your seedlings?
Thanks. For just a few days you could overwater slightly, but for that long it's really best to have someone take care of the plants.
@@GardenerScott Will do. Thank you!
You could use a wicking mat with a water reservoir to make it less work for the babysitter (you'd probably still need one to make sure the soil isn't too waterlogged or the reservoir run dry).
killing me that im still like 3 months away from even last frost
Why do you plant some seeds in the greenhouse? Does this protect them from critters?
That can be an important reason. It's also good if you have limited indoor space. And it makes it easier for transplanting because the greenhouse is usually closer to the garden.
Hi Scott, I'm wondering if you have thought of looking into: Are average last and first frost dates slowly shifting with climate change? In my 6A garden (Rhode Island), my average last frost date is listed as April 28th, but for two of the last three years, we have had no frosts in the entire month of April. My average last frost date is listed as October 12th, but in the last number of years, it routinely is not until late October or early November. The site I am looking at, the Old Farmer's Almanac, says it uses data from 1991 to 2020, which is good in that it includes the last 10 years, but I am wondering if the 1990-2005ish data is skewing it. Any thoughts on this?
Yes, I believe the dates are gradually shifting. That's why I recommend keeping a garden journal and tracking temperatures like you are. The "official" dates are based on average data over decades but they aren't updated often and can be skewed by older data.
Scott... I have been having a difficult time finding my exact hardiness zone. I am in Canon City Colorado... different places I look say I am in 5a, 5b, or 6a... very confusing ... do you know the zone for this area? thank you.. enjoy your videos.
Zone 5 is good default, but it can vary depending on whether you're closer to Royal Gorge or Florence. If you plan for Zone 5 you shouldn't have any problems.
@@GardenerScott Thank you... actually I am closer to Royal Gorge I believe... just 2 miles north of Canon city Proper ... Have a Great Day... Jesus Loves You!
How long can you store the seeds o.o
It varies by seed. Here's my video on that: th-cam.com/video/vfwtBI4-gcE/w-d-xo.html
What kind od soil to use if u have garlic in a carton. If I'm not using chemicals.
Here's how I do it: th-cam.com/video/7B8KmyOsym0/w-d-xo.html
I plant half a pack of seeds so I can get a couple of good plants. I've never had too many plants for the garden.
Don't forget: If you need to chit potatoes before planting, give them (and yourself) the proper time to chit them.
I always plant twice as many 6-packs as I need. I have dropped a 6-pack or two or three and broke the stems. I end up giving them away first when planting time outdoors comes. I might plant some of the extras or composting them.
Good luck with Pepper Joe's. They're infamous for sending the wrong seeds. The package does not necessarily reflect what you're getting with Pepper Joe's.
Half those seeds won’t even last 😂
Since I see that was your 2022 calendar, I'll ask, how was your Pepper Joe's growing experience?
(I ordered from them in the past with no problems, but my pepper seedlings failed. I think I know why - I planted in cowpots - so I don't have issues or complaints against Pepper Joe or his products.)
Would you consider making a video about growing Pepper Joe seeds and how well (or not) the plants grew and what your harvests looked like? I still have some seeds and I really want to make them work when I plant them.
I suppose I AM actually asking for a product review... but what I really want is a pepper growing video.
(I searched your channel for 'Pepper Joe' but I didn't search for peppers. I'll have to try again.)
So, what was your Pepper Joe experience like?
That was last year's calendar that I used as an example. This is the first year I'll grow Pepper Joe's seeds. I am planning videos to show the experience.
@@GardenerScott
Aha. Mmkay.
I actually just watched the first video, just now. I'm looking forward tothe full journey. I have a small greenhouse; I think I'll put it together and give an early start to some hot pepper seeds.
This time, I'm trying soil blocks.
In Berlin Germany the last frost is April between 21st to April 30th BUT then often comes a frost in May called the EISHEILIGEN en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Saints. Though with global warming sometimes it does not come but MOSTLY it does. It is a very confusing situation that involves us running out at night to cover our tomato plants with sheets. Any advice you could give for such a crazy situation?