I started my first seed babies on January 26. And I’ve planted new seeds almost each weekend since. Watching my seeds sprouts is a joy I didn’t know existed. 😉 I tried starting seeds last fall, but didn’t really know what I was doing. Some sprouted while others didn’t. And it was really more to do with lack of light, even though I had them sitting outside. I didn’t provide them a good “place” to start.
This go around, I’m a bit more prepared thanks to investing in seed starting supplies. It’s all still one big giant experiment, and I’m learning as I go. But knowing that and having that type of mindset, I’m just excited to watch the growth happen.
After watching a bunch of different gardeners online, I narrowed down my own seed starting supplies. A wire shelf, grow lights, heat mats, 1020 Bootstrap Gardener Trays & Cell Trays. I already had some Burpee cell trays, so I used them too. Here’s the full line-up of what I’m using below…keep scrolling to see my notes for each.
SEED STARTING SUPPLIES
Light Timer – I have my lights “on” for 16 hours a day. And let my plants “sleep” 8 hours. I try to follow daylight hours for this. So even though it’s “light” outside, my lights are on. And then once the 16 hours has completed in the cycle, they get to sleep.
Heat Mats – I use one heat mat with the thermostat. And the rest, just how they work right out of the box. Supposedly, they operate within 10-20 degrees of the temps, but I’m not sure what it’s actually doing. The one I use with thermostat is specifically for my tomatoes, and any other plants that need to be at a very specific temp.
Wire Shelf – I bought a 6 shelf version so I had a lot of space for seedlings. I would do this again once I know exactly how many plants (specifically flowers) I’ll be growing in my next full growing season (2026).
Landscape Staples – Use one of these to help you pot up your seedlings. I started my tomatoes in 3″ pots so I wouldn’t have to pot up right away. But I’ve already had to pot up some marigolds and cosmos and broccoli who were little engines that could. haha Take one of these and stick it down the sides and “pinch” it to pull out your plant baby…roots and all.
Seed Trays & Seed Cells – Hands down, Bootstrap Farmer products. I own 1020 trays & the 72 seed starting cell trays & the 50 seed starting cell trays. I will actually need to purchase more because I’m just about out of what I bought (10 of each). The 1020 trays make it easy to bottom water your seed starting trays. So you don’t have to top water except for misting. I have some Burpee seed starting trays as well, but it was because I hadn’t done any research yet.
Grow Lights – I first used my grow lights with the added “shade” strips that you slide in to the lights (they are these metal strips). I quickly realized they were “shading” parts of my cell trays. So out they came.
Seed Starting Soil – I watched a YT video (H/T to Soil & Margaritas) that tested 4 brands of soil. And hands down, Fort Vee from Vermont Compost Company blew the others out of the water. So that’s what I bought. I think what I have linked is the smaller bag (20 QT). But you can get the 45 QT bags as well, which is what I bought. I mean – I am starting a flower farm this year, so I knew I was going to need a lot of soil. And to date, I’ve already used all of 1 – 45 QT bag. I might need to get another one on order. LOL
One tip I learned so far in all of this, is to sprinkle cinnamon in your seed starting soil to help in algae prevention. You also need some air flow from some kind of circulating fan. I have a large fan suspended up in my ceiling, but it seems like it’s not moving air closer to these seedlings. So I’ve got to add a small fan to my setup for a little bit more airflow.
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