Sprouting seeds

I have questions about sprouting and starting seeds. Is there a minimum depth for a container used to start seeds? How much room should each seed have? I have larger containers I'd like to use to start seeds - should just one container be used for each plant to be started? Thanks.

How big are your large containers?  You can probably start more than one plant per container depending on the type of plant, the size of the container and how long you will let the seedlings grow before transplanting them into the garden.

For starting you do not need much depth ... even an inch or two is fine. I use whatever is available as a starting container. Once the seeds have sprouted and before they get too big and have too many roots you then should transplant then into larger containers/pots/cells. This year I've experimented successfully with starting tomatoes in vermiculite and then transplanting them into 3 inch pots containing Mel's Mix or potting soil. As they get bigger they will be potted up into bigger containers.  That's one way but certainly not the only way. You can even sprout the seeds in wet paper towels and after they sprout move them to containers of MM or potting soil.

As far as the amount of room for each seed there are several options.  You can sow them according to the instructions on the seed packet or anyway you like. If you sow too many too close together then you can thin them out after they have sprouted by cutting off the ones you do not want with scissors. If your are starting them off in cell packs or peat pellets I would put a couple of seeds in each one and thin out the weakest later on.  

Don't forget the seeds need a growing medium, moisture and LOTS of light. Keep the seeds damp at all times.  As well, if the seedlings do not get enough light they will become leggy and weak.

You can check out some of the recent posts in my "third Year SFG in Canada" thread to see what I am doing.

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t21190p150-third-year-sfg-in-canada


Here are some examples as well of what I am doing.

These were sown in vermiculite in small plastic containers which have holes in the bottom for drainage.  These containers were placed inside a bigger container that has a lid to hold in the moisture and warmth.  After the seeds sprouted the small containers were removed from the covered container to allow air circulation around the seedlings. After a few days of growth I have transplanted some of the seedlings into their own bigger pots with MM.










The following were sown in 9 cell packs in potting soil. They will be thinned out and allowed to get bigger in their individual cells.





These were started in toilet paper rolls containing potting soil.

Thanks for the reply. The text and photos tell me everything I need to know. I have several sizes of containers and plenty vermiculite so I'm good to go. Thanks again.

Bob_ka3zci wrote:Thanks for the reply. The text and photos tell me everything I need to know. I have several sizes of containers and plenty vermiculite so I'm good to go. Thanks again.

Just remember you can start them in vermiculite but they need to be transplanted into potting soil or MM in order to grow into healthy plants that can be set out in the garden.

I sow seed in shallow meat trays and then transplant seedlings into deeper containers when the get their first true leaves.