• To start growing on your schedule.
• To have varieties that aren't available locally.
• To avoid bringing in pests and diseases.
• To have big, healthy starts.
• To save money.
• To continue the chain of saving seeds.
• To have the satisfaction of doing it yourself and being self-reliant.
• For the fun of it.

• Hybrid - In agriculture and gardening, hybrid seeds are seeds produced by cross-pollinated plants. Hybrid seeds production are predominant in modern agriculture and home gardening. An important factor is the heterosis (the increase in growth, size, function, yield, or other characters in hybrids over those of the parents).                                              
• GMO - GMO seed varieties are created in a lab using high-tech and sophisticated techniques like gene-splicing. The goal was to create a pest-resistant plant, but many of these seeds are growing toxic foods that causes diseases, sicknesses and death. The foods have no nutritional value. Read more on GMOs.                                                                                   
• Open-Pollinated - "Open pollinated" generally refers to seeds that will "breed true". When the plants of an open-pollinated variety self-pollinate, or are pollinated by another representative of the same variety, the resulting seeds will produce plants roughly identical to their parents.                                                          
• Heirloom - Heirloom vegetables are old-time varieties, open-pollinated instead of hybrid, and saved and handed down through multiple generations of families. Usually, they cost less than hybrid seeds. But there are more reasons than just seed prices to choose heirlooms. You need to become a heirloom nerd and keep saving and growing these seeds.

• containers to start the seeds in
• "soil" (anything light that doesn't form a crust on top)
• small watering can/jug/bottle
• misting bottle
• labels
• marking pencils
• mild fertilizer (many like fish emulsion mixed with seaweed or John's Recipe but use half strength) 
• seeds  

• Lights - you can do this in a window if you have a bright enough one (most aren't), so lights might be a must-have. 
• Bottom heat is nice, too, especially for sprouting, but not really imperative if your house is warm enough. Many do place trays and other containers on the top of refrigerators because it is warm. If you put trays close to vents, plants can dry out. 
• A cover for the tray to keep it moist (saran plastic wrap works great and it's cheap).
• Timer for the lights (Use light timers to automatically turn your grow lights on and off each day).
• Cold frame outside for hardening off.

1. If starting seedlings individually, wait until they are well-rooted in their current pots, then lift the root ball out with a fork and pot up into containers about ¼ bigger than their current container, watering in with seaweed fertilizer.                           
2. If starting seedlings in a communal pot, wait until the seedlings have at least one set of true leaves, lightly grasp by a leaf and lightly pull while pricking under the roots with a pointed object (small fork, tweezers, point of a knife, etc.). Transplant into an appropriately sized pot (small is better), and water in with half-strength seaweed fertilizer. When well-rooted, pot up again according to the instructions above for individually grown seedlings.

• Remember that if you start early, you will get a bigger harvest sooner. 
• A greenhouse is like a hospital. It has pests and diseases on transplants. It's a risk of gardening. 
• You can't store potting soil in sheds or garages. It's too hot! Store inside house or other air conditioned areas. Add water if it is dry. It should be damp when you use it.   
• The enemy of seeds are "moisture" and "temperature." Leave extra seeds in seed packets after use and close with paperclip. Place packets in canning jar with rice at the bottom, then store in freezer/refrigerator for  long term seed storage. Label the contents clearly and date it as well.  
• Seeds can be started in or outdoors. Basil don't like to be inside.
• Put 1 label for every kind of seeds. Cauliflower and cabbage look identical as seedlings so you need to label. Put label in then plant or plant them then add label.
• Plant tomatoe seeds around X-mas inside. Plant peppers New Years day. Beans and squash is "stupid easy" so you can plant in the ground. Spinach won't start when it is 80 degrees. 
• When you plant outside, you can put 2 or 3 seedlings in same spot and remove the ones that are not doing well.

email:  cathyharrisspeaks@gmail.com

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