We spoke to some gardening pros about what the worst seed starting tips are and what to do instead.
Garden soil can often be too heavy for effective seed starting.
They can cause disease or even kill tender seedlings as soon as they sprout.
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Duford explains how although modern windows are great at filtering light, they’re not ideal for starting seeds.
She recommendsusing grow lights, placed about three inches above seedlings for 12-16 hours per day.
She also points out that a cold drafty window can also stress seedlings due to temperature fluctuations in winter.
Duford suggests doing some research starting with the seed packet.
Some seeds can and should be directly sown outdoors as soon as temperatures permit.
But many seeds will germinate just fine using a moistened soil starter mix.
“I’ve seen so many seedling failures happen because of this,” Zimmerman says.
Moving them into bigger containers is an option if you have greenhouse space, but not everyone does.
She also says most seeds should be started approximatelyfour to eight weeks prior to planting them outside.
This partly has to do with water absorption.
Too much consistent moisture can cause root rot and reduce proper air circulation in the soil.
She recommends starting with smaller seed trays with one-inch cells and transplanting into larger ones when necessary.
