Seed Starting 101→

It is the time of year to begin sowing seeds indoors and it is one of my most favorite garden activities because it’s a big step towards this year’s garden. I always have the best intentions of starting some of the slow-to-germinate seeds in January and then suddenly it’s February and I’m racing the calendar to get the grow room set up. Over the years I have expanded my seed starting supplies, but the process and results always end up the same. It goes something like this: put some dirt in a container, plant a seed, place it by some light, water, and wait. If you’re like me, waiting means checking in multiple times a day until that magical seed pushes its way through the surface. Whether you are starting seeds for the first time, have been growing for years, or just curious about the process, here are four (last month we talked about seed labels, otherwise I’d say “five”) aspects to consider:

• Containers: There are many creative ways to think about containers. I’ve seen pop (soda) cans, newspaper, soil blocks, and more. I’ve collected various sized containers over the years, unfortunately mostly plastic, so I wash and reuse them. If you plan to re-purpose containers you already have, make sure to wash them first to clean out any bacteria that may be hanging around. I like to start with small containers so I can maximize space, knowing that at one point I will need to up-pot (move the seedling to a larger pot to keep from getting root bound). Whatever container you choose to use, make sure it’s clean and provides drainage (you don’t want those roots to get waterlogged).

• Soil: You will eventually get tired of hearing me talk about soil (or will come to predict that I’ll incorporate it into every gardening conversation) because for me it is the number one ingredient for a healthy garden. The soil creates an environment for the seed to germinate and then continues to feed it with the nutrients it needs to grow into a productive plant. Potting soil is usually the recommended starter for seeds; however, I have always used with compost. Potting soil usually has very few nutrients, so once the seed does germinate it will need nutrients through a fertilizer. On the other hand, compost is nutrient dense, which can be overwhelming for the seed during germination. For these reasons, I now take a bag of potting soil and a bag of compost and stir it up (so a 50/50 mix). Layering could also be done by placing compost into the bottom of the container and then adding a layer of potting soil to the top; this way, as the roots deepen, they will reach the nutrient filled compost layer. I prefer a 50/50 mix because I rarely use fertilizers (use natural and organic options when used) so prefer to lean on the nutrients and organic matter from the compost.

• Water: This is an area I have had many misadventures! I LOVE to water my seeds and plants, and what I mean by this is I keep pouring until things get soggy and soup-like (what can I say, I live in Seattle!). Over watering can cause root rot and becomes a perfect home for bugs to breed. I have also forgotten to water and found a beautiful tomato sprout shriveled and in a hockey-puck of dirt. When it comes to watering, it’s all about moderation. The goal is to let the soil dry just enough, keep it moist, and not waterlog your plants. How much water you need will all depend on the environment of the growing space. The best way to test is to poke your finger into the soil a half to full inch, if it feels dry add some water, if it feels wet leave it alone for a day or two, and if it feels moist then it is just right! Since moist is the ideal makeup, mix some water in to your 50/50 soil mix before sowing seeds, that way you already have moistened soil!

• Light: All plants need different amounts of light, that’s why you’ll see labels like “full sun” or “partial shade”. Although this is true for the mature plant, it is not true for the seed. All seeds need light, and lots of it. Seeds need up to 15 hours of light when they are in the germination stage. Since not everyone lives in a part of the hemisphere that can supply that much light, grow lights and windowsills are often used. After researching grow lights, I landed on purchasing T5 fluorescents (this article was the final deciding factor), but until now I have used the overhead lights in my house and windowsills. I have moved to using grow lights because I found my seedlings to get “leggy” (tall, spindly) because they were not getting enough light. I now start my seeds off with 12-15 hours of light a day for the first four weeks. Eventually they will receive at least that amount as they move outside, so it makes that transition easier. Since I obsessively check on my seeds, I have a routine of turning on/off the lights, but for those that would prefer to talk to humans instead of dirt, timers work great!

Starting seeds can feel overwhelming or intimidating, but I have experienced it to be a very forgiving and somewhat flexible process. As long as there are the four elements (plus the fifth being “seeds”) above, it is very probable your seeds will germinate, turn to sprouts, and grow into productive plants! And, if you feel like something is going awry, send me a message because its likely I’ve been down that road too! Remember, have fun playing in the mud!

Understanding Seed (and food) Labels

There are many options, or so it seems, when deciding on which seeds to buy. I’m not talking about the 50 varieties of carrots, but the varying labels from Certified Organic to Non-GMO and so on. There’s argument that picking seeds isn’t as important as picking produce because it’s all in the growing practices, but I’m a firm believer that it does matter. I pick my seeds the same way I choose my produce (or any food) because sometime ago I began learning about agriculture practices and the impacts on our health and the environment. I truly believe that the quality of the soil and the seeds sown make a difference. So, as an attempt to demystify some of the labels, here is some key information to understanding seed labels:

• Conventional: You generally won’t see this term on any packaging but it includes seeds and food that are not organic, often genetically modified, and produced with agricultural practices that use chemicals and pesticides. When it comes to seeds the traces of these pesticides might be small, but if present will spread to the whole plant. Although buying conventional may be cheaper, it also supports agricultural processes that are harmful to the land, animals, environment, and our own health.

• Organic or Certified Organic: In order to use this label businesses have to follow regulated guidelines that limit the use of chemicals, practice sustainable methods, and prohibit genetic modification. Seeds labeled “organic” mean that they have been produced in an environment under these guidelines. Purchasing seeds with this label supports agricultural processes that are required to follow these organic guidelines in order to keep their certification.

• Heirloom: This label describes the genetic make up of a seed. These are seeds that come from older varieties that tend to maintain their characteristics, usually experienced in flavor and stable growing. Traditionally heirloom seeds come from open-pollinated plants, which means the wind, bugs, and birds have naturally caused the pollination.

• GMO vs Non-GMO: These labels also describe the genetic make up of a seed and whether it has been created in a laboratory, greenhouse, or natural environment.

  • Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) seeds are bred in laboratories in order to alter the DNA to produce specific characteristics, like being drought tolerant or disease resistant. The altered genes have also been said to produce insecticides and the cause of superweeds and superbugs that require larger doses of toxic poisons sprayed on the crops to keep these at bay. GMO seeds are not easily accessible to the home gardener, but traces can and will show up in conventional seeds.

  • Non-GMO means that the seed has been bred as open-pollinated or hybrid. This process is a way of reflecting what happens in nature. As noted above, open-pollination happens through wind, bugs, and birds. Hybrid is cross-pollination of two different varieties of the parent plants being bred, such as two different tomato plants. When choosing seeds you may seed the label of F1 (first-filial), which means it was a hybrid pollinated plant that produced characteristics that were not “true to type” of its parent plants. Open-pollinated are more likely to produce “true to type” characteristics of the parent plants.

Here are some of my favorite companies with seed labels I trust:

• Johnny’s Seeds

• Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

• High Mowing Organic Seeds

Growing Food, Growing People

I have two passions in my life: growing food and growing people. As I continue working and playing in both fields I see the never-ending parallels between the two. I have been growing food for a handful of years and have been growing people for a handful more. My day job is in the L&D (learning and development) field, where my passions lie around coaching, training, and learning with the intention of growing people into their full potential. I spend as much of my free time as possible in the garden growing food with the intention to see its full potential.

For me, both areas come down to fostering an environment that provides the most opportunity for potential, introducing possibilities and resources, and being present throughout the growing process. In both areas I started out my journey believing that I could control the results (let’s be honest, I still think that at times before snapping myself back to reality and fall over laughing at my own ego and insanity) of my attempts at growing food and people. However, I have learned that I actually have no control over what will happen throughout the process and only some influence in guaranteeing success, no matter if it’s a plant or person. This is part of what I love about both, it’s a partnership each step along the way and my job is to bring what I know and can contribute to the process to support an environment for potential.

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Here’s how it goes every time I grow food: I find some dirt, plant a seed, place the container in some location I swear will be perfect for growing, water regularly, and then I stare, literally I stare (for hours), waiting for that moment when the magic that has happened beneath the soil pushes itself through the surface to reveal a tiny green sprout. The moment that happens a flood of hope comes over me that I will have baskets of harvest, the sun will be shining, and all will have grown perfectly. As simple as the process of my attempt to grow plants from seed is, there is a complex system taking place behind the scenes. Not every seed will sprout, nor is every seed meant to sprout. So, each time I sow seeds it’s a gamble, a goddamn heartbreaking gamble.

I have experimented with soils. I have over watered, I have under watered. I have found each plant prefers different environments and amounts of sunlight. I have found some plants sprout quickly while others seem painstakingly slow. Once that sprout finally pushes itself through the surface of the dirt I get excited, and then begin waiting again to see if it will last and grow its true leaves. The process continues, often repeating itself over and again, and my job in the quest of growing food is to create the best possible environment for that little seed to find it’s potential and grow.

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In the same way, I have found that the process of growing people is no different. I have been in the practice of growing people for years and the process of growing myself for even longer. Like seeds, humans need certain environments, regular tending, and a partner to hang with them through the process knowing they have the potential to produce a crop of possibilities. Sometimes the environment needs to be simple so that the unseen work can take place, just like the work with seeds that is done below the surface of the soil. Sometimes the environment needs to change because the person has outgrown their current situation and needs a new space in order to flourish. Sometimes the saturation of an environment is needed and the intensity of the heat of life is what will make the person thrive, while at other times having those times to cool and quiet down is the key.

As a practitioner of growing people (In the L&D world this is called coaching, training, people development, talent development, and so on) I continue to learn that my role is to do my best to learn about and understand the person so I can be mindful of environments they most thrive in. This includes recognizing and speaking to when they’ve outgrown their current situation, holding faith throughout the process of the unseen work, bringing possibilities and resources to the conversation, and committing the be present throughout the entire growing process. Its about calling out extraordinary qualities when they don’t see it themselves and sometimes pruning parts that aren’t proving any benefit. It’s about being a part of the process, tending to the process, and being committed to their potential.

“It’s about being a part of the process, tending to the process, and being committed to their potential.”

I dream of being with dozens of people each day doing the work of growing people while also holding the dream of doing the work of growing food across acres of land. These often feel competing, yet complimentary; two different worlds connected by very similar practices. Regardless of the similarities and differences, I’m grateful to live out my passions and be a part of the growing process whether that’s taking place in my own self, in a corporate office, or in a backyard garden. It’s beautiful, it’s addicting, and I can’t imagine spending the hours of my day any other way.

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