We’ve all been there — looking for answers to our gardening questions but not sure who to turn to for accurate information. With conflicting advice all over the Internet, it’s best to find a reputable source (or two) and stick with it to ensure you’re getting reliable information. But have no fear, we’re here to help! We’ve been partnering with Territorial Seed on social media and they’re even offering our C-BITEs in their spring catalog. Suffice to say, they are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to gardening and we’ve included some of their best seed starting tips and links to their growing guides below. If you’re new to gardening, this is a great place to start!
Basic Seeding Tips
Territorial Seed’s Spring Basic Growing Guide is a great starting point for new gardeners or those who need a refresher before they start their seeds. We’ve included some of their information on seed starting below. To view the entire guide with tons of more helpful info, check it out on their website.
Indoor Seeding
- Always start with new and/or sanitized potting supplies and a sterile, soilless, seed starting medium to avoid damping-off, a devastating fungal disease
- Note: To sanitize trays or pots use a mild bleach solution and rinse well
- Start seeds in trays or individual 3‒4 inch pots
- Plant your seed to the appropriate depth (see specific vegetables for measurements)
- For fine seed, lightly press the seed into a pre-watered medium so that it has good contact with the soil
- For best results, plant 2-3 seeds per cell/pot
- Water in without washing away the seed
- Keep evenly moist during germination
- Use propagation domes during germination and remove after seedlings have emerged
- To maintain proper soil temperatures for germination use heat mats or soil heating cables
- Adequate light (full sun or direct artificial) is key while seedlings are developing — if seedlings are stretching and spindly looking, they are reaching for light
- Thin cells/pots to strongest plant
- To prevent damping off, do not over water and provide adequate air flow around seedlings
- During development apply a foliar spray of liquid fertilizer like Age Old Grow diluted to 1/4 strength
Transplanting
- When your starts are well developed, but before they are root bound, they are ready for transplant
- Harden-off transplants by gradually exposing them to full sun and outside temperatures (this generally takes several days)
- As a general rule, most warm-weather transplants go out after the threat of frost has passed
- Veggies such as lettuce and brassicas are more cool tolerant than tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants
- See specific vegetables for plant spacing
- Keep the soil level the same on the stem of the plant, so it's not too deep or too shallow (tomatoes are an exception)
- Irrigate well to ensure roots do not dry out
Specific Plant Guides
We know that our followers love growing plants that climb, so here are some of Territorial Seed’s specific guides for some of our favorite plants that pair well with C-BITEs:
- Bean Growing Guide
- Cucumber Growing Guide
- Pea Growing Guide
- Pepper Growing Guide
- Tomato Growing Guide
Territorial Seed’s Planting Chart
If you’re looking for more information on other plants or general growing guides, Check out their entire list of growing guides here.
Looking for seeds for your garden this year? We couldn’t recommend Territorial Seeds enough! Shop their entire seed selection here.