Hey everyone! I'm gearing up for my second year of starting plants from seed and could really use some advice to make sure I get it right this time. Last year, my germination was great, but I didn't take my humidity dome off quickly enough, which led to my plants getting waterlogged and dying. By my frost date, I'd only managed to grow watermelon and cantaloupe, but I missed the window for a bunch of other plants. So, here are my big questions: 1) When starting seeds in the same tray, how do you handle the different germination rates? Should I keep the humidity dome and heat pad on longer for the slower seeds or adjust things differently? 2) For those who use larger pots or solo cups, do they work as well on heat mats? I'm concerned that the soil might not heat up enough in bigger containers. 3) When is the best time to plant native flowers from seed? I've heard fall sowing works, but I worry about them blowing away if they need light to germinate. Thanks a bunch for any tips you can share!
1 Answer
When it comes to starting seeds, I generally recommend planting seeds with similar germination times together in the same tray to avoid issues. If you still want to mix them, consider using smaller seed containers after they germinate like 6-cell trays. Also, for native flowers, yes, you can sew them now since many need cold stratification to bloom in spring. Just make sure they’re well secured to prevent them from blowing away!
Thanks for the tip! I definitely think a smaller setup would work better for mixing seeds. I’m excited to try that this year!