Seed Starting 2023

Stop looking for more plants! You are starting nine new flowers from seed this year, not to mention adding new plants). That is plenty. Also, more different plants will not make that slope look how you want. Grow more of the same and repeat throughout the bed.

Materials: 

• 1 half bag potting soil, 2 full bags (25 qts) Moisture Potting soil for winter sowing

• 4 half bags Seed Starting Mix

• 2 Full size seed starting trays

• Need 2 half size trays

Seed Trays

Six- 1020 Bottom trays

One- Small cells 50 (5x10) 
Four- Medium cells tray 36 (4x9)  
One- Large block seed tray 32

One- Deep pots-3 1/2 x 3 1/2"- 18

Four- Half trays (16)

One- Epic Four Cell deep- 32 (4x8)

One- Epic 6 cell- 72 (6x12)

    $9.99 per 4 pack at Gade Farms

Plan

Shelf One- Small cells (50) 1a. half tray (16)= 66
Shelf Two- Medium cells tray (36)  2a. half tray (16)= 52
Shelf Three- Medium cells tray (36)  3a. half tray (16)= 52
Shelf Four- Large block seed tray (32) 4a. half tray (16)= 48
Shelf Five- Deep pots-3 1/2 x 3 1/2"= 18 
                Total: Max 210 seeds starts

Seedlings in Bins- Upstairs

• Four seed starting shelves, plus top shelf with less light (clip ons).
• You can fit 16 seedlings in cups per bin, two clear bins per shelf, 32 seedlings per shelf
• Total maximum 160 seedlings on five shelves (including top) 

Seedlings in Bins- Downstairs

• Four seed starting shelves, NO top shelf (ceiling)
• You can fit 16 seedlings in cups per bin, THREE clear bins per shelf, 48 seedlings per shelf
• Work Bench can hold four extra large bins (ones you use for hardening off)= 64 seedlings 
• Total maximum 256 seedlings on four shelves and workbench

Total Seedlings = 416 

Batch One- March 6- Delphinium (Feb 13), Anise Hyssop, and Lavender, Pearl Yarrow= 40 

Batch Two- March 20- African Daisy, Broccoli, Cornflower, Dianthus Siberian Blue, English Thyme, Rose Campion, Yarrow and Milkweed= 154 (194)

• Before starting more on April 3, pot up the good seedlings and move down to basement. Keep one heat mat on, wrap those two shelves in cardboard and reflective insulation to keep heat in. 

Batch Three- April 3- Basil, Cosmos, Lovage, Marigold, Nasturtium, Globe Thistle, Salvia Blue Sage, Tomato and Zinnia= 110 (304)

 

Delphiniums- Start 10-16 weeks before last frost, also winter sowing. Place seeds sandwiched between sheets of moist paper towel in a bag or food container in fridge for 36 hours starting Feb 6. Start the seeds on Feb 13 in the 2" cells (24), in a large bin, heat mat and grow light in office until March 6 when shelves go into kitchen. Keep a lid on to keep cats out! Place on top shelf of seed starting shelves. Mark with red tape!

Batch Two Planting Plan

The half pans are working well on the shelves, and the medium cells (16 per) that I bought in bulk fit in there perfectly. My only worry with those is there are only small slits in the corners, no hole in the bottom. I think this might make it harder to water from the bottom and to get the seedlings out when potting up. Maybe for the next batch I'll drill a hole in the center of each one.