Navigate Seed Starting: Pros and Cons.

It’s March! Can you smell the fresh spring air? Actually, my spring allergies are about to kick in, so I might not be smelling it for much longer. Haha!

I want to share a few thoughts on seed starting in this blog post. I love starting my seedlings, and I hope you do too. However, it is not for everyone, and there are a few things to evaluate before you dive in! Here are some pros and cons of seed starting:

Can you feel the love?!

Check out my spinach seedling that I started a few weeks ago. I can’t wait to transplant it in the garden!

Advantages of Seed Starting

1. You get to garden when it’s too early or too cold to garden outside! I know I'm not the only one who itches to garden in February or early March. Seeing a tiny seed burst open to glorious life NEVER gets old. It simply brings me joy

2. Get a head start on growth: Since certain plants require numerous days to mature, initiating seed growth indoors can trim down weeks of waiting compared to directly sowing them in the garden. Now, keep in mind that not every plant loves to be transplanted.

3. You get to plant hard-to-find varieties. Last year, I started Champagne Bubble cherry tomatoes, and they are now my favorite cherry tomato variety. They are light yellow with a very sweet taste and low acidity. I have never seen that variety in a plant nursery, but because I bought and started the seeds myself, I was able to grow this new-to-me variety.

4. You can save money on plants. This point comes with a caveat. We’ll talk more about it in the cons. It can save you money, but it is not guaranteed if you just do it one year. Maybe I should phrase it like this: you can grow a lot of plants for a reasonable price.

5. You grow all-natural plants. If you value growing organic food, you will love starting seedlings because you know exactly how the plant was grown and what was NOT sprayed on it. 

Look at the sweet little onions!

Downsides of starting your own seedlings:

1. Learning curve: As with most things in the garden, you grow by experience. Sometimes it’s success, and sometimes it’s failure. It might take a few attempts to find your sweet spot with seed starting.

2. Upfront setup costs: For your seedlings to be healthy and strong, there are a few things you will need to get started, such as some sort of tray and cells or soil blocks, grow lights, shelves, or a table, etc. Some will also buy heating mats to start their seedlings. In the first year of starting seeds indoors, there will be higher costs, but I reuse the materials year after year.

3. Space and time: Depending on how many plants you are starting, you need the space to adequately tend to them, and you need to be able to use that space for many weeks. My seed starting setup stays put from February to the beginning of May. I tend to my seedlings every day. While you can automate many things like the grow lights and possibly the water, I personally go check on my plants morning and night. It doesn’t take much time at all, but it is still a daily commitment.

4. Seedling necessity: Do you actually need to start seedlings for everything? So, you might be super excited to start 85 kale plants (ahem, I’m slowly raising my hand), but in reality, your family might just need 2 plants. Take a look at your growing space, too, and find that sweet spot between what you're starting and what you'll actually be using. I'm all for sharing the extra, but keep in mind this is daily work you're putting in – just find that balance.

I hope this was helpful as you navigate through starting your seeds indoors! Plan, plant, and enjoy the process!

With a good set up, soil, water, and seeds, the possibilities are *almost* unlimited. :)