Join me as a start the process of getting those juicy vine ripe tomatoes, toe tingling hot, hot, hot peppers and cool Spring season crops. Step by step instructions for starting your garden no matter where you live; See me plan out my garden in the video below:
Once I get my coveted seed packets, I make a plan for getting them started. Here are the steps to take to get your garden started:
- Find the local average last freeze date for your area. You can find that here. Warning: This is an average date compiled from past year’s temperatures. There is a good chance you might still get a killing freeze after that date. Especially if you live in Dallas Texas like I do. (Ask me about the freak snow storm in 2015 or the damaging hail storm of 2016) So what is a gardener to do?
- PPP=Prepare to Plant early and Protect: Save those empty milk cartons with lids on or score as many 3-5 gallon buckets from your local deli to put over your tomato plants. Read about how to have success with tomatoes even in a challenging climate here.
- Count back on the calendar 4-8wks before your last average freeze date; this is the date you will want to start your seeds. (Scroll down to see what I am planting indoors in Dallas now in mid-January)Disclaimer: In many parts of the country you can start many of these seeds out in the garden, but in Dallas Texas we have such a short Spring growing season(before it gets Hotter Than Hell;) that it works best to start inside & have them all ready to enjoy that coolish weather!
- Draw out your garden to help you know how many of each kind of veggie you need to start. This also helps you see the garden beds that will still have, say onions in them, when it is time for tomatoes to go in! No sense starting something you don’t have room for.
- Buy a 4ft shop light(with a plug-in cord, not hardwired for electricity) and 4 flourescent daylight spectrum bulbs. You can get very expensive here with special grow bulbs or not, depending on how much you have to spend. I can usually take mine outside to soak up some of that lovely Texas sunshine during the day so I can go relatively cheap. Here is a link to the light I have now: https://amzn.to/30m32mQ
- Find or buy a place to hang your light from. I am hanging my light under my china hutch beside my dining room table. I was inspired by a friend who started her seeds under her dining room table! She had a small house with no extra room to start, but she didn’t let that stop her!
- Buy or scrounge something together to plant your seeds in. Last year I bought a Jiffy Greenhouse professional seed starting planter because anything with the word professional in it guarantees success. Hee hee, kidding. While I have tried anything from toilet paper rolls to yogurt containers, this new system makes the most efficient use of space, includes a tray to water from underneath seedlings and has a fitted top to put over the whole thing. Link to jiffy professional grow kit
The jiffy system is great for beginners because it’s a no brainer, but if you have a little seed starting success under your belt, try these seed starting trays from Boot Strap Farmer: They will last you year after year, I promise! You will have to purchase a seed starting mix from your local store or mix your own from peat & vermiculite.
If you are just getting your garden started & need a place to put those beautiful little plants that you will have; then see how I created my raised beds and the soil mix I put in them, here.
If you would like to see a video of us planting our seeds & how to set yourself up for success when starting seeds with kids! Because we want them to know how to start a garden too! Am I right? click here.
For my neighbors in Dallas; it is time to start tomatoes, peppers and your brassicas(cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, & kale) Get a seed starting printable list from Northaven Gardens here.)
HAPPY SEED STARTING! CAN’T WAIT FOR SPRING!
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Getting lights is something I have been thinking about investing in so this is good for me. Found you on Simple Homestead Blog Hop.
Hi:) We’re on a little off grid homestead up in New Hampshire (Grow zone 5a/b) and we’re about to get our seedlings started next week.
Lights are a simple and inexpensive way to provide what the plants need. I remember my first time trying them out and how the little devils got leggy and weak from my inattention. That was a lesson I learned the hard way.
Cheers for the article, it’s much appreciated:)