Growing your own bedding plants is a fun way to keep the costs of gardening down. A package of 100 seeds is far less money then purchasing 100 bedding plants. After the initial investment of the gardening supplies you need in the first year, growing your own bedding plants can be economical. The following is a list of supplies the first time gardener will need to grow their own bedding plants.
Containers: You will need containers to plant the seeds in. I would suggest a tray (with no holes), a tray insert, which is placed in the tray and planted in, and a clear, plastic dome, that is placed on top of the tray to keep the moisture in. Some gardeners prefer to use peat pellets instead of tray inserts, to plant their seeds. Peat pellets are a small, self-contained disc, made up of compressed peat and held together with a fine net. A peat pellet expands after they are soaked in warm water for a few minutes, and then are ready to have the seed placed in it. Peat pellets make transplanting easy, as the entire pellet is placed into the ground. There are also peat pots available in the garden centres. These small, biodegradable pots are made of peat moss and wood pulp, and are filled by the user, with a starter mix and then planted. The advantage to using peat pellets and peat pots is easy transplanting. The disadvantage is that the pots need to be replaced every year. When re-using last years containers, always wash the containers first with a mild bleach solution. This will prevent any potential pest or disease problem.
Labels: Place a plastic label in the container when you are planting your seeds. Use a permanent marker to write on the label. Put the type of plant, variety, and date planted on the label. If you have emptied the seed packet, save the seed packet so that you can use it for reference later in the season.
Planting medium: The medium that the seeds are planted in is very important. Do not use garden soil. There is a starter mix available that is made up of peat and vermiculite. It is light, airy and sterile, and so is disease, and insect free. A good starter mix has good drainage, as it holds the moisture but does not become soggy.
Heating mats: Other equipment that is helpful in growing healthy, strong, sturdy plants, is a heating mat. Heating mats are placed under the planted trays to keep the soil warm. Seeds germinate faster, and better in warmer temperatures. Lighting: Lighting is also important. Placing the planted trays in a south-facing window is good, but it might not be enough light and the trays would have to be turned every two to three days so the plants get even light. Plants will grow toward the light and if the tray is not turned the plants will grow on an angle. An adjustable light stand with fluorescent bulbs works well. It is placed over the planted trays. As the young seedlings get larger the light slowly gets moved up so that it remains eight to 10 cm above the seedlings. This assures enough even light.
If you are starting from scratch, there are seed-starting kits available. Some kits have a tray, insert, or peat pellets and plastic dome. There are window-sill kits that are small enough to fit on a window ledge and some of them contain seeds. For those gardeners with limited space, there is a four-tier greenhouse (1.56 m high x 59 cm wide x 39 cm deep) available that is large enough to hold four seed trays.
