7 steps to growing your own garden

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Growing vegetables from seeds may take a little effort, but the "seeds to table" satisfaction you feel after harvesting your first batch is wonderful.

Deciding whether to start growing your garden indoors vs outdoors would depend on the space you have available and the length of your growing season. It’s important to remember that nothing is set in stone. You can make decisions on a case-by-case basis and start some vegetables indoors and some outdoors, some from seeds and some from plants.

Here are 7 steps to get you started:

  1. GO ORGANIC

    While you can use just about any sort of container to grow your seedlings, peat seedling trays are a great option because they are biodegradable, and when soaked in water almost double in size (giving your seedlings plenty of room to grow). When your seedlings are ready to be planted in the ground, you can simply plant the entire peat seedling tray as it will degrade naturally into the soil as your plant grows. 

     

  2. USING PLASTIC

    Should you decide to use plastic containers to grow your seedlings, it is important that you make sure these have been properly cleaned. You can clean them with diluted bleach (nine parts water to one part bleach). If your containers do not come with drainage holes, you can punch then into the bottom of the container and then line the container with a thin layer of newspaper. 

  3. YOUR GROWING MEDIUM

    It's best not to use soil from your garden as it is often too heavy and will therefore allow for poor drainage. You also run the risk of replanting weeds with your seedlings. Use a commercially prepared soil-less mix. These mixes usually contain peat moss, vermiculite and perlite which combined create a highly absorbent mixture which simultaneously allows for good drainage. 

  4. SOW YOUR SEEDS

    The best way to avoid a mix up is to plant only one variety of seed per seedling tray. As a rule of thumb, you should cover your seeds to about three times their diameter. Be sure to read the directions on the packet of seeds you're using for specific planting instructions. 

  5. LABELS ARE KEY

    Label each seedling tray with with: 
    The name of the seed you're planting
    The date you've planted it
    The expected date of germination

    A good tip would be to mark a calendar with your various expected germination dates, this will make it easier for you to stay on top of your seedlings growth progress. 

  6. WATER, BUT NOT TOO MUCH

    When the initial planting happens you can pre-moisten your soil. Only water your seeds if you have not pre-moisten your soil. Going forward, you should always aim to moisten and not saturate the soil. 

  7. COVER IT UP

    Covering your newly planted seeds with plastic wrap or placing them in a plastic bag will keep the moisture levels constant. Seeds are very sensitive to the water levels around them. Too much or too little water will drastically effect your growing success. Remove the cover once your seeds have germinated. 

    As soon as your seedlings develop true leaves, it's time to give them some more room.