Seed Starting Series: Part 1

One of the fastest ways to usher in spring is to start seeds inside the warmth of your home. It's the first part of an intimate interaction that occurs between human and food. As you start the seeds for the garden of your Heart's Pasture, you should be confident that this relationship that you've developed at the early stages of the process naturally encodes it to grow into food for you and your family. And grow it will, as long as you care for it the right way.

Depending on the set up and how thrifty you are, you could recoup the cost of the materials in the first year by growing food to eat that you would otherwise have bought at the store. Some basic materials in addition to the seeds that you have saved or bought include grow lights (or use natural outdoor light if you have good south-facing windows), seed starting medium, and  seed containers. ​

You don't need much to start seeds. The list of materials is small.

This grow cart is two levels, with adjustable lights. It can also be used as a light for house plants.

The general process of starting seeds is to place the seed starting medium into the containers, make a divot for each seed, put at least one seed in each divot, cover gently, and water. If you are using the Anastasia method, you can place the seeds in your mouth before planting for a minimum of nine minutes. Using trial and error with the Anastasia technique of placing seeds in your mouth before planting may be important if you've never done it before, as it requires that you be meditative in order to get it right. It has many benefits that can not be measured, but are experienced.

Note that all seeds are different, and some seeds require special steps, such as cold stratification, which mimics a specific environment (temperature and humidity) in order to break down the hard shell of the seed so that it can germinate. Others (peppers) require a warm environment, to be placed next to a wood stove or on a heating mat, for example. Make sure you plan ahead.

Based on experience, it's important to work with a semi-moist seed starting medium. When you open the bag, you'll notice that it's very dry and loamy. You'll find that you don't pack your seed starting containers quite high enough unless it has some moisture in it to make it slightly more compact. One way to remediate this problem is to open the bag and run some water into it, spreading it around as you go. After that, you can let it sit for a little while as the medium soaks up the moisture. If you do a little at a time, you will find the correct texture you are looking for. Sometimes I fill up a bag multiple times throughout the whole process so that too much water is not added all at once. When you think you have the correct texture, be sure to gently push down on the seed mix in each cell so that it has a semi-compact firmness and takes on water efficiently.

Filling seed trays with the seed starter mix

Breaking apart clumps

Once the seeds are ready, you will place them in each cell. You'll want to read the back of the seed packet to see how large of a divot to make. Some seeds require you to minimally cover them, while others are placed 1/4" or 1/2" into the seed starting medium. For the seeds that need minimal depth, I usually push firmly rather than "bury". I then go back and cover them with a very light amount of seed starting mix at the end. 

The pepper seeds are ready to be planted after using the Anastasia method.

Pepper seeds in their respective divots in the seed tray

Now you can cover your seeds if you created a nesting divot for them by gently sweeping some of the seed starting medium over them from the top of the cell. Be sure to cover the whole seed. You'll want to give a gentle push, making sure that it stays in place when watered. It's important to give your seeds the drink that they need by watering them at this time. Depending on the type of tray, you can water over the top, or place water below, where it is absorbed upward by the seed starting medium. If you water over the top, be sure to not dump too much water, too quickly, as to not disturb the seed. If that's done, the seed could come upward toward the top of the soil. If that happens, you can prevent that by adding more water to the seed starting mix bag at the beginning so that it is less loamy when you water it in this last step. I also use a spray bottle and give my seeds a good mist.

Following the watering, you'll find your grow light or south-facing window, and monitor your seeds at least twice a day, visually checking for germination and dryness. Keep your seeds watered, and give them love and light, and watch them sprout!

Considerations

Just as this is an act of planting with the seasons (in preparation for spring), you may want to consider planting your seeds according to the sky, which is called using the biodynamic method. When working with the "cosmic rhythms" there are advantageous days to plant different types of seed. They are labeled flower, root, fruit, and leaf. An easy way to try the biodynamic method is to start your seeds on their respective type of day. If it works well for you, you'll find that it is also used for cultivation, harvest, and much more!

Planting Bunching Onion Seeds, Start to Finish

Here is the shortened process of planting bunching onions. You'll notice that instead of seed tray cells, a seed starting flat was used. Sometimes when planting a large amount of seeds, it is easier to use flats. It provides a place to properly germinate and develop hundreds of seed. 

The onion seed is ready to be planted after using the Anastasia method.

Be sure to level the soil for even distribution of seeds and an easy-to-work-with seed flat. No divots are necessary for this type of seed.

Be sure to add a fine layer of seed starting medium over your seeds (just enough to cover) and then give it a good spray.

Materials needed for planting bunching onions: seed flat, seed starting medium, and seeds.

Onion seeds barely need to be covered. Take one or two seeds and gently push them into the seed starting medium.