Seed Starting
Photo credit: MG Jessica Klein-DiSteffano
Seed Starting
Growing plants from seeds is a magical process. So much is created from each tiny seed! When you plant from seed, you get to choose from intriguing and unusual varieties that at aren’t available commercially as transplants. While seed starting is relatively easy, it has it challenges due to the specific germination requirements of certain seeds. In Western Washington, some warm weather vegetables such as tomatoes must be started inside in order to produce fruit by the end of our growing season.
Learn when to plant seeds indoors or outdoors, and how to raise, harden-off and plant transplants. Get tips on how to warm the soil and speed germination. Recognize the importance of tracking and labeling rows with the crop name and planting date. Learn what “open pollinated (OP)” means and discover the consequences of saving seed from hybrid varieties.
Below are resources to enhance your learning.
- Propagating Plants from Seed — PNW Extension Publication PNW0170, a 20-page publication that describes seed selection, how to start plants indoors
for later outdoor planting, and how to plant seeds outdoors. - Growing Transplants — WSU Snohomish County Extension, Community Horticulture Fact Sheet #7
- Guide to Starting Crops — WSU Snohomish County Extension, Community Horticulture Fact Sheet #8 lists the planting date and seed depth for common crops.
- Seed Starting and Intensive Plant Spacing — WSU Snohomish County Extension, Community Horticulture Fact Sheet #9 outlines the basic steps to seed starting, with a table for planting distance and thinning distance.
- Seed Selection: Seed varieties for our region are available through seed companies such as Territorial Seed Company,West Coast Seeds, Uprising Seeds, and Osborne Quality Seeds.
