5 Seed Starting Mistakes to Avoid for Over 90% Germination Rate

Starting a garden from seeds can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience, but it requires time, money, and effort. The last thing you want is for your seeds to fail due to simple mistakes that could have easily been avoided. In this blog post, we will cover five seed study mistakes that you can avoid to achieve over 90% germination rate, resulting in a lot of success in growing your seeds.

Mistake #1: Growing Medium One of the most common mistakes people make when starting seeds is using garden soil. Garden soil is too compact and heavy for seeds, and what you need is a light and fluffy growing medium made of organic compost, worm castings, coconut coir, and perlite. Your growing medium should be capable of retaining moisture, and you can make your own by mixing compost, worm castings, and coconut coir.

Mistake #2: Watering Watering is crucial when starting seeds, but it can be easy to under or overwater your plants. Underwatering will hinder your seeds from germinating, while overwatering can cause mold and rot. Coconut coir is handy in retaining moisture, and it's like a sponge that absorbs excess moisture and releases it as your plants need water. Water your plants evenly, do not let them dry out, and do not excessively overwater them. Water lightly but often, and avoid letting the soil dry out.

Mistake #3: Humidity Humidity is vital for seeds to germinate, especially lettuce. A tray and dome or spinach container can help create humidity for your seeds to grow. Maintaining humidity helps in providing an optimal environment for seeds to germinate. You can then transplant the seedlings once they have grown big enough.

Mistake #4: Heat Heat is essential when germinating seeds, especially when the temperature outside is low. Heat mats are handy in providing heat for your seeds to germinate. You can set your heat mat at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit to help your seeds germinate. Heat mats are essential, especially when the temperature outside is in the 40s or even below freezing.

Mistake #5: Light Light is one of the most important factors in growing seeds. Seeds do not need light to pop out of the soil, but once they are one to two inches tall, they require light. You can use grow lights indoors, but they consume a lot of electricity. Taking your seeds outside during the day and bringing them inside at night is an excellent way to provide enough light without consuming a lot of electricity.

Bonus Tip: Fan If your seedlings become weak and laggy, you can add a fan to provide air to your seedlings. This helps them become stronger and healthier.

In conclusion, starting a garden from seeds is a rewarding experience that requires patience, effort, and attention to detail. By avoiding these five common seed study mistakes and implementing our bonus tip, you can achieve over 90% germination rate and grow healthy and robust seedlings for your garden. Happy gardening!