Fill a tray with soil then with a second tray place it on top of soil and press to settle then place seed sprinkle more soil and lightly press. As your plants grow you can always up plant without a fail.
Hi Rachel, I'm watching this 3 years after you made this video, and it is the first year I have successfully grown Kellogg's Breakfast tomatoes--they are HUGE! And most important to me, as my tomatoes are prone to blossom end rot and other diseases, they are disease-free. I never soak my tomato seeds. Like you, I have LOTS of volunteers in the garden, and tomato seeds are so easy to germinate. Any seed that has a hard shell, like okra or peas I soak. San Marzano and Amish Paste are indeterminate, A good way to sort it out is that often tomatoes labeled "container friendly" are determinate, as they will only grow to a certain size. Peppers like it very hot when they're germinating, they're real babies that way, worse than tomato babies. I live in Vermont, and I have 2 plant-starting boxes that I start tomatoes, peppers, basil, onions, herbs of all kinds, and random other sets in. Plants will not all come up at once, and, just like human babies, they like it WARM, really warm, until they have they first set of true leaves. That would be what looks to us like the second set of leaves. Then, they start getting more leaves and getting taller, and you can move the light up as they get taller, so it doesnt burn them. But not too much, or they get leggy, because they will reach for that light and heat. This year, I was able to put my tomatoes out in early May, due to climate change, and they are beginning to ripen up in mid-July. This is super early usually about 2 weeks later. I always start my sets too early, and they are ready to go in the greenhouse or garden way before the nights are above freezing either place, ha ha! Just up-pot the teenage plants, and they'll be fine. 🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🌻
Hi. Rachel. You are doing fine with your little gardening. I am so glad you have someone who can help you with your gardening. Love you and Todd. A BIG PRAYER FOR YOUR FAMILY. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 Good Bless you and your husband. Happy Valentines Day to you both. Maria. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I think your doing great! Peppers and herbs take forever to sprout!! And echinacea doesn’t bloom the first year- just in case you plant them!! Remember, even if you mess up, you can always start again! The garden is such a beautiful and magnificent classroom!! Happy sprouting!!
Hey Rachael (hey Todd) I love how real you guys are. You don’t attack everything you do like you’re experts, but you provide good information. Even the new things you’re trying you make it fun! I call my way of doing things the Trip, Stumble, Fall method of learning, sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t! Have a wonderful weekend guys!
I love seed starting so much that I start tomato seeds for neighbors, friends, and family. You are doing a great job! I just wanted to remind you to feed your seedlings. I like to watch Gary from the Rusted Garden for seed starting. Gary does a great job explaining each step.
@@cynthiafisher9907 I planted way too many seeds last year so I ended up giving to all my brothers and selling enough to pay for all my seed starting supplies and seeds. I think I will do it again this year.
Try buying tomato seeds from 'Garden Hoard' in Howell MI, Katie has a very large selection, all grown in Howell. They have a great germ rate and all are certified organic, and all seeds come with a separate instruction sheet for planting and saving seeds.
I mix the starter soil and boiling water (kills gnat eggs-last year I had a terrible experience with gnats in my mini greenhouse!), then let cool before filling the trays. I think I got that tip from The Rusted Garden.
The worst that’ll happen is you’ll end up with big tomato plants before you’re ready to plant outside. I do this every single year because the joy of starting seeds trumps the inevitable problem of running out of room for my too-big tomato plants 😆 good luck with this years tomatoes 💕
I stopped a few years ago and pulled a broken window blind out of a trash pile on big trash day. I cut all those little plastic slats apart and into 8 inch long pieces. They are really good plant marking tags. I use a China marking pencil (basically a thing black crayon in a thick pencil form) to write on them and a bit of rubbling alcohol and paper towel and it comes right off for next year yet doesn't fade in the garden. I rarely start my tomatoes any earlier than the last week in March to the first week in April as we've been getting frosts after mothers day on our little 2 acres of Michigan. But that being said-your reading the words of a dork who started eggplants from seeds found in one over ripe eggplant from my favorite roadside stand in Oct. The 2 little foot tall plants have started blooming under my grow lights last week lol. So im just as guilty of starting things too early too! Lol I have 5 types of cherry tomatoes to start this year. And I think I'm going to only plant about 3 types of bigger tomatoes. The cherrys are chocolate pear(baker creek) they were a huge hit last year -yellow jelly bean(im trying to take these from hybrid to op. Third year growing them and culling any that are not true to form) -my absolute favorite salad cherry called Juliet(also 3 year out trying to make them open pollinated from hybrid) -a brown cherry I grow out every year from a store bought called kumato(they seem to be open pollinated as they breed true every year. This is year 8 for me) -and purple bumblebee from baker creek. This one is new but I bought a basket of them from the farmers market and they are beautiful 😍 The big tomatoes are purple Russian and opalka and one that is yet to be picked. I did san marzino and while they were okay this is the third year trying them and they just don't thrive for me and the flavor is just meh. Maybe they just need to grow in Italy to develop that rich flavor. I will probably end up with my old standby of Rutgers, unless something new catches my eye lol. I was just at fruit basket/ flowerland(I think they might only be in west MI) and they had 3 different companies/labels of seeds already up and out on display. Racks and racks of seeds lovely lovely seeds! Like porn for gardeners 😆 🤣 that white haired lady drooling over in the corner wasn't me I swear! Lol
I did the exact same thing with the mini blinds in the trash, lol! It’s exciting that you’re trying to stabilize the varieties you like. Have you tried Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes? They are amazing and our personal favorite. Juliet are a favorite cherry, as well as Sungold. Happy planting!
Just a side note I remember reading somewhere that the reason the San marzano tomatoes grown in Italy are so much more amazing is because they are grown in very high mineral rich soil from past volcanoes ... At least I think that's what it said if I remember right
@@cynthiafisher9907 I have tried the Kellogg breakfast. I know i have seeds around here somewhere. But they did crack quite badly for me. I often get huge downpours of water off lake Michigan. Almost like the darn lake effect snow machine. We've gotten close to 2 feet of snow since this cold snap started. So far for performance and taste the purple Russian just out does all other tomatoes here. Even my other old standby Rutgers. I store my seeds in big glass gallon jars and every so often they get misplaced I know I'm missing one lol. Hubby thinks he might have put it in spider haven(aka my gross basement) lol Oh heads up on the mini blinds after about 10 years those blinds do start to really get fragile and break easy but geez they lasted for a long time and I havent seen another one in the trash since. And I look lol. The best big trash day find lately was a garden claw. The lady was putting it right at the curb and sure I embarrassed my grown daughter by stopping and grabbing it but it works very well in my raised beds to loosen up compact soil. Lol but she sees nothing wrong with grabbing old wooden furniture to refurbish lol. Could be worse. I got embarrassed by my mom when she pulled into a house and asked the lady where she got her rhubarb and when the lady said you got a shovel we'll give ya some lol. But I was 16 then lol. Its a whole family thing. But at least reuse till it falls apart is coming back into fashion.
@@jessicah2345 I was thinking that very thing. I try not to be a tomato snob, but those san marzino in a can from Italy have a flavor that I haven't quite gotten from my tomatoes lol. But there is a paste tomatoes called Opalka that comes very close and grows here well, but it isn't a huge producer. To can with them I'd need about 50 plants ,but they do make a rich thick sauce without all day long cooking. Very dry, dense, low seeded tomato. I just like to play too. And grow those "you can't grow that here" veggies lol. Like sweet potatoes was always told they won't grow well here. Well my BIL is half Japanese and his mom said well just plant one potato in a big pot and clip the leaves for like spinach and use for stir fry. So I did. Huge decorative pot by the house in the sun. We ate handfuls of the leaves a few times a week in stuff, love it as a cooked spinach substitute. My shock when we went to put the spent soil in the compost after a frost and the pot was full of weirdly twisted but totally edible potatoes must have been good lol I think thats why I love gardening-you can find things that do well for your area and if you keep selecting seeds from your best plants it slowly becomes better suited for your area. I was excited for this one tomato I ordered that I'd heard was fantastic. Jersey devil. I got 1 tomato out of 6 plants to ripen. The rest all succumbed to the blight in the area. It just wasn't happy. Same thing the next year. So I sent the seeds I had left to a friend in Texas they were fantastic for him. The thrill of the chase! Lol Sorry I get excited about my gardens and my poor hubby just nods his head when I'm talking lol. 🤣 he helps when I need muscle but he couldn't tell you what I am growing other than. Thats a tomato or thats corn lol I learned not to send him to the garden for things without me haha. Have a blessed day Jessica.
A local radio station to me plays a segment about 1850's homesteading, growing, processing and canning. I sat in my car after getting home to finish listening to it. I immediately thought of you guys! ❤️
I tried seed starting a few years ago. The first two years my plants would come up really nice. Then they would all die. They had fuzzy white stuff on them. It finally dawned on me I must be over watering. Those poor plants. It was disheartening. So last year I tried one more time. It was successful! I think I will try it again in a few weeks. It's so fun watching you giving it a go. Please keep us posted on the progress.
You may want to break one of the six-packs off so that you can easily pull it off and put it back on when you water. You won't want to water overhead. When you water, you will only want to fill up what they can take up in 20 mins. Maybe a quarter of the way up. Pour the rest of the water out or you will have too much moisture. Tomatoes do not need light to germinate. I put either a humidity dome or lay plastic wrap over the seed tray until they germinate. Then remove the dome or plastic wrap. I usually germinate my tomato seedlings on top of my refrigerator. But, I did buy a heat mat this year. Sorry, I am full of suggestions. But, I absolutely love your channel. :) I am brand spanking new to having a RUclips channel (and it shows). But, I will be doing a couple of seed starting videos. I densely plant my tomato seeds and separate them. Tomato seedlings are much sturdier than others since they can easily grow roots out of their stems. Love your idea of labeling with the tape. I may try that this year.
I've always heard it's best to mix your soil with water until like a brownie mix consistency, then add to your grow trays, and plant your seeds. It worked well for me last year ( #newgardener ) and the soil didn't settle as much. Love learning with you!
You will LOVE growing yourown starts. A lotof $$$saved. Tip: moisten your soil before filling trays. Not too big of an issue for toms, since you can add soil to tom cells. Tip: label as you go! No, you won't remember, dear lady! Tip: don't mix varieties in a six pack. Tip: once toms sprout, put light a couple inches above soil, will help keep plant from becoming leggy. Always learning and growing. Good for you.
You're doing great. About tomatoes I'm in cold Alberta zone 4b, I started my tomatoes January all heritage varieties last year January 1. I repotted them twice. Results pain in butt however harvested 900 pounds in 2- 30 foot rows.
The rows are raised beds 4 ft wide 12 inches deep, a wire panel fence down center to tie tomatoes on so they are staggered both sides. Fertilized weekly with tomatoe liquid fertilizer. I had a few over 1 pound tomatoes. Best success yet with tomatoes. Including this incase anyone is interested. Yes I saved seeds that was the 3rd year from saved seed.
Well I thought I had settled on all of my tomato varieties for this year’s garden but those Kellog’s Breakfast Tomatoes look good and everyone has been commenting that they are delicious so I went to Hoss and ordered me some...along with some other sweet heirlooms because seeds should never travel alone ☺️ Always enjoy your channel Rachel!
Go Rachel - it is all a learning curve Great start though- Hey put an old towel down on your beautiful table as that makes it easier to clean up, also agree with comments below 100%. Cheers Denise- Australia
When you are using more than one tray, set one tray on the other after you fill them with soil and press down, that way you don’t have to press every cell with your fingers
Its ok to start early. Plan on getting out your deeper pots because tomatoes grow quick and you will need to put in deeper pots a couple times. Awesome start! Learning is the best part of any journey.
I ordered from Hoss after learning about them from you. I have already planted broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower.....and ALL have germinated. Thank you !!
You are doing great! I went to Dollar General yesterday and got my things except seed starting soil and mister. Came home and ordered that and lights from Amazon. I will plant on Monday after I get my order from Amazon. I love Hoss Tools also and their grow you tube videos are great. I live in Georgia like they do. Does not get real cold here. I do not plant as much as you do but I am enjoying the journey. Thanks for your help and for all the comments from others.
Thank you. All of your videos are encouraging, but this one and the one from yesterday regarding the canning slide really inspired me. This will be my first year planted seedlings to grow my own food as well as canning for first time.
Because of u I finally got myself a greenhouse too thought it was just like urs but it is huge lol which is fine with me and only $25 more just means I can do tons of plants this year instead of the few plants I normally do but I do have a herb garden it’s be going strong for the last 4 years
If you add a smidge of dish liquid in to your water, it will condition the soil and make it absorb so much better. I only do this once the whole time I start my seeds. This will end the floating water problem. Also, after many years of watching my beautiful seedlings die off, I finally figured out to up-pot them to 3 or 4-inch pots. This will also buy you some time if you started them too early. I'm the crazy person who always starts hers in January 😝
You can get inexpensive seed starting labels on Amazon I like the colored ones. I make the labels for each variety and the date planted before I start planting so I can mark the plant cells as I go, it really helps me keep track of what I plant and when. We all have to learn sometime, thank goodness for RUclips where we can help each other out :)
Great job, Rachel! You are so cute with your little babies, I feel the same way with mine. I have a ton of little flower babies up and under lights. I bought another shelf unit and more lights, I can’t seem to stop myself. I bought loads of flower seeds this year for a cut flower garden, I’m pretty excited, never done flowers much. I hope I don’t kill them all! We’ll cheer each other on as we go. Thanks for sharing! PS Kellogg’s Breakfast has been our favorite for probably five years, you’re going to be smitten with them!
Next level Gardening has a downloadable spread sheet set up so that you can input your last frost date and it will tell you when you should plant different seeds
Your energy is contagious. I can hardly wait for my seed delivery. I did notice the mix up, but I do the same thing.🤭 I miss labeled my trays last year, I was confused when everything started growing.🤔 You're doing great.
I’m very new to gardening but I’ve already figured out that starting from a seed, rather than a starter that was bought, is much for satisfying to me. When the seed sprouts and produces, I feel like it is a badge of honor that I started it from a tiny seed. I’m sure that is kind of an odd thought, but I have a black thumb so it makes me really happy to think I did it on my own and not with a starter.
I will tell you the #1 mistake I have made with starting seeds - not writing stuff down. So I bought a journal and calendar and I force myself to write down when I start what. If I start something too early/late or if I have problems, I write a note for the following year. I'm excited for you! Can't wait to see the tomato babies.
I always try to write them down, but I've found that I'm more likely to get that step done if I take a picture of what I did! It's much faster and easier, therefore much more likely to actually happen!
Looks like you are doing great 👍 The only seeds I soak are those with very hard shells. Nasturtiums just about have yo be soaked. Peppers and tomatoes I never do . Sometimes beans if I am trying to speed their germination . Amish paste excellent choice. San Marzano’s never do well for me 🤷♀️. It’s fun to start seeds .
2020 I grew rutabagas. Didn't germinate well, I got a few. Like 6. The first ones I tried to eat were awful. Very bitter. I cooked one in stew (was supposed to be good that way). No good. I wrote them off. Still had 2 in the garden and I covered them with agrobon along with some cabbages. Today (temp is 33 degrees) I looked under there and one of them was the size of a cantaloupe. I pulled him out and cut in half, peeled and cooked in water. Mashed, salt, pepper, butter,, and a tsp of sugar. Pretty dang good and would be low carb.
For Tomatoes you are right in time. All Seed Packages you can buy here in my Area, Germany, are telling between mid February and mid March. But don't plant them out in the Garden before Mai, 15th. It can till then freeze outside at night (we call it here the "Eisheiligen").
Rachel, I ask at the local Lowe’s for refrigerator boxes. Then use the cardboard as protection for our kitchen table when doing things like seed starting.
Laura at Garden Answer has some great videos on seed starting. Also, Floret just started putting out a video series this week on Seed Starting 101. One thing that has helped me this year is self watering trays and pre-moistening the soil before putting it in the trays. Laura talks about it in her videos.
Just love how you are using all the different suggestion it really helps to brainstorm with others. I don’t have grow lights so all my starts go outside at 8am back in at 6pm. Ca coast 9b we are spoiled like that 🥰🥰🥰🥰
Tomatoes and peppers really like that warm environment for germination and growth. 89° won't hurt them a bit while you wait for them to pop from the soil lol I'd definitely move any brassica seeds to slightly cooler areas though. They like it in the 70's for optimum germination, if memory serves. My peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes are about 4 weeks in and I noticed the germination rate was lower and slower on the tray I had in the cooler spot. I started working off temp charts because they're just better indicators than guessing.
We have grown Kellogg Breakfast Tomato for a few years here in MI. They will grow up to and over two pounds. This are great slicers for sandwiches and they can nicely. We blend them in with all the left over tomatoes for sauce. You will have great success and fall in love with them. They will need good supports due to the huge stem/stalk that they make. Good seed saver also.
I love planting seeds indoors when its still snowy and freezing, it brings me hope for spring! I have only planted onions and peppers so far. I'm still learning too and last year I started my tomatoes in mid March and they were enormous before I was ready to put them outside. I had my best harvest ever though. This year I am definitely going to wait until April before I start my tomatoes. I can't wait for this growing season.
When you are watering your seedlings, I’ve learned to pour the water in the bottom tray and let the soil/roots soak up the water from the bottom. If you water from the top it doesn’t reach the bottom of the roots and it gets moldy more often!
I agree. Tomatoes are the last thing I start as little tramsplant seem to really out grow the bigger ones. But ive also taken cuttings from leggy tomato seedlings. They root fast and easy without having to use rootone. But who knows. We might have a very early spring. I have my fingers crossed.
Dampen your soil before filling your trays. Pack the soil then top them off. Place the seeds and press them lightly into the soil with your fingernail. Cover seeds with vermiculite to keep them from drying out and water in. This always works for me.
See, don't plan to fail, they're already coming up! Good job lady!!! GOOD job! If I can do it you can to. You did awesome on the other vid to. I love planting seeds and seeing them come through the soil. Love the new life! Oh and I also love the Black Cherokee tomato. A friend from N.C. sent me seeds like 5 years ago and I have planted them every year since. One year they got to the roof on our house and we were tying them up with ropes I kid you not!!!! They were awesome!!!
You are a great student! We all learn something all the time. I really like your box idea. I am waiting to start mine till till middle of March since our last freeze date here in Los Lunas, NM is April 15 but we get frost till Mothers Day.
I’m so jealous to early for me a few more weeks. I’m enjoying your journey you are doing great. I’m Counting down to Maple Syrup season tapping trees. Have a Blessed day
Exciting! I definitely am more invested in my plants that I start from seed, which at this point is all of them. They really do feel like your babies lol! I bet you will be able to relate to my biggest issue with starting so many and living in a cold climate- by the time they’re too big to have in the tiny modules it’s still too cold to have them outside. So finding the space for the “teenager” seedlings is a challenge. I’m trying to work out how to effectively heat my 8x12’ greenhouse to get me through April/May before tender ones can be planted out in the garden.
Be prepared to plant them into larger containers. I planted mine last year in Feb and they were a foot tall by May. Had to keep putting them in bigger pots because of the late frost.
You are such a humble soul! We have always grown Juliet’s for our cherry tomatoes. They are a very sweet grape shaped cherry tomatoes! They a larger tomato and are very prolific! I pray you much luck, but think you are going to be successful!
Last year was the first time I grow from seeds and 2nd year of gardening this year I will be growing tomatoes from seeds got over excited and got 9 different types of tomatoes sadly don’t have enough space but good thing about seeds is that they keep longer then just a year also being part of garden community on Facebook means I get to give what I have be it knowledge or seeds and get the same in return.
Sweetie your doing great!! I’m going to do something different this year with my seed starts. I got vermiculite I plan on putting over the top. I think the Stivers did it as well. Helps keep down the mold/fungus. Just an option. Figured I’d try it and see. Also I’ve never soaked any of my vegetable seeds and I have almost 100% germination. But I’m so proud of you. When your done you’ll feel so proud of yourself.
This is the first year I did seeds ahead of the season. When I researched it they taught me to wet the soil the night before. That prevents the soil from settling down, thus making the seeds drop down further into the cells you are using.
@@1870s lol I'm a dork! I actually watched it, but forgot about it. I'm learning right along with you & making as many, if not more mistakes along the way. ;)
Amish paste is what we grow, and all we will grow this year. It is another indeterminate tomato. Such a great slicer and canner. We think it's an all-around excellent tomato, too.
Seed starting is my favourite time of the year!!! Great video! Love your old house! We live in an old farm house that we are restoring, as well as starting a homestead!
Oh my gosh... I'm typing while I watch. I was just about to send you Kelloggs seeds and you got them!! They are delicious! And I kept them up to Halloween... northern Indiana here! They even canned great! You are going to have to up plant because it is early so just have dirt and solo cups ready. Yeah!!! I love seed starting!!
Hey Rachael, I started my tomato and pepper plants to early and transplanted them into red solo cups until ready to go outside. All plants did very well and had plenty of room for root growth.
I started a 18 cell tray of peppers on 1/27, 6 different varieties. I failed to realize that the early jalapeno variety would be up way before the varieties of bell peppers. I will put them in a tray by themselves next time. Live, Love, Improve.
I normally plant tomatoes about 2 weeks after I plant my pepper seeds. Hoss Tools also has Better Boy seeds. They are an extremely prolific variety that my mom and dad grow every year. They always outpace all of my other varieties every year.
Last year was my first year gardening in years, and the first ever starting from seed. The only seeds I soaked were some of the beans and the corn (direct sown outdoors). Tomatoes, ground cherries, herbs, squash and melon germinated wonderfully! Unfortunately we had some super cold snaps after the last frost date that stunted my Cherokee and mortgage lifter tomatoes. The cherry tomatoes survived and produced like crazy though :-)
I always enjoy your videos, thank you! I just took Joe Garderener’s master seed starting course. It was really good. I had no idea how many bad things I was doing. 😀. Please keep trying things out and sharing.
I love tomatoes! I have a spring seed starting spreadsheet available for anyone. It allows you to put your last frost date in and calculates when you should start your seeds. I can send it to you. I like those little long lights with legs you have in the window on your brassica! Where did you get those?
Hi there I’m in middle TN and it’s Feb 17th and I just started my onions, lettuce, kale, cabbage and peppers. Onions are a first for me this year. Our last frost date is around April 10th. Check what you are growing and it will tell you when to start. There are tons of good calculators and calendars online. I ordered a nice slide calculator from baker creek this year. Good luck!
I have everything bought. I found your greenhouse at menards for $25! Whoo hoo! I still holding back watching you and listening to you is giving me courage.
Determinant tomatoes and pruning - yup, I did it too Rachel. I only got one plant just to see how it compared to my other types, and I just really decimated its chance to prove itself. It yielded maybe 3 tomatoes and I only got 1 because I had a bad problem with birds or a squirrel eating my tomatoes last summer. I only got about half of my tomatoes in total because of them eating them right on the vines. I was so frustrated. Of all the years gardening, that was the first year I had a problem like that. Coulda ripped my hair out. I actually did have a meltdown out there one day :/
We have a lot in common, only I am not sharing my journey online. Thank you for sharing, I am looking forward to seeing how things turned out for you. I live in Rochester, NY and think we are in similar zone as well as frost dates. Looking forward to your future videos!
I’ve learned to pour boiling water in my seed starter soil & moisten it completely but just enough to moisten it & then cover with foil & let cool completely. This kills fungus gnat eggs that could be in your seed starter. Last year I had a problem with fungus gnats & this year none!!! Then fill my trays with moisten soil
Zone 3/4 area here. I've got 30 CSA boxes this year. My 12 wk before last frost crops start in March & I plant continuously thru growing season. Starter plants ready to replace interplanted & maturing crops. It's a full time job!!
You are doing great! I really like that you add boiling water to the mix you use, I do that as well. One of my tips would be to start using the mix semi-wet, that way it settles nicely for you in the containers. One of the main reasons why you don't want to start your tomatoes too early is because of space, you will have to keep moving them up and up to a bigger container... I learned this the hard way last year with mine. Good luck!
I have watched Living Traditions Homestead plant and harvest the jet star tomatoes for a couple of years now, so I plan to grow those this year. I have a small garden space so I am always on the lookout for high yielding varieties. Also, I have started seeds for years, I have never presoaked my tomato seeds and they turn out great. I do have to repot them up 1-2 times before they go outside because I plant them earlier than needed too. Cant help it, once your garden itch happens its just out of control lol
So glad you are doing this. You will love the versatility of growing your own. It’s not too early you will just have to take of bigger plants which will help you in MI.
Rachel, i learned the hard way...make the seed labels FIRST, then plant the seeds. Water the soil BEFORE the seeds, not after. Lessons learned.
Honestly labeling and keeping track of varieties is the most timeconsuming part of gardening!!!!
I had to learn that lesson myself!!😂😂
yep, learned that myself! the hard way
Fill a tray with soil then with a second tray place it on top of soil and press to settle then place seed sprinkle more soil and lightly press.
As your plants grow you can always up plant without a fail.
Hi Rachel, I'm watching this 3 years after you made this video, and it is the first year I have successfully grown Kellogg's Breakfast tomatoes--they are HUGE! And most important to me, as my tomatoes are prone to blossom end rot and other diseases, they are disease-free. I never soak my tomato seeds. Like you, I have LOTS of volunteers in the garden, and tomato seeds are so easy to germinate. Any seed that has a hard shell, like okra or peas I soak. San Marzano and Amish Paste are indeterminate, A good way to sort it out is that often tomatoes labeled "container friendly" are determinate, as they will only grow to a certain size.
Peppers like it very hot when they're germinating, they're real babies that way, worse than tomato babies. I live in Vermont, and I have 2 plant-starting boxes that I start tomatoes, peppers, basil, onions, herbs of all kinds, and random other sets in. Plants will not all come up at once, and, just like human babies, they like it WARM, really warm, until they have they first set of true leaves. That would be what looks to us like the second set of leaves. Then, they start getting more leaves and getting taller, and you can move the light up as they get taller, so it doesnt burn them. But not too much, or they get leggy, because they will reach for that light and heat.
This year, I was able to put my tomatoes out in early May, due to climate change, and they are beginning to ripen up in mid-July. This is super early usually about 2 weeks later. I always start my sets too early, and they are ready to go in the greenhouse or garden way before the nights are above freezing either place, ha ha! Just up-pot the teenage plants, and they'll be fine.
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Hi. Rachel. You are doing fine with your little gardening. I am so glad you have someone who can help you with your gardening. Love you and Todd. A BIG PRAYER FOR YOUR FAMILY. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 Good Bless you and your husband. Happy Valentines Day to you both. Maria. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I think your doing great! Peppers and herbs take forever to sprout!! And echinacea doesn’t bloom the first year- just in case you plant them!! Remember, even if you mess up, you can always start again! The garden is such a beautiful and magnificent classroom!! Happy sprouting!!
It is okay if the soil settles with tomatoes, you can back fill when the seedlings have grown to make more roots and sturdier plants!
Hey Rachael (hey Todd) I love how real you guys are. You don’t attack everything you do like you’re experts, but you provide good information. Even the new things you’re trying you make it fun! I call my way of doing things the Trip, Stumble, Fall method of learning, sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t! Have a wonderful weekend guys!
Way to many experts out there already, I'll let them keep thier stage 😜
This is why we love you 😉👍🏼👍🏼😉
I love seed starting so much that I start tomato seeds for neighbors, friends, and family. You are doing a great job! I just wanted to remind you to feed your seedlings. I like to watch Gary from the Rusted Garden for seed starting. Gary does a great job explaining each step.
Maybe it’s time for you to sell seedlings?
I was gonna suggest him. He goes into great detail. Janice
@@cynthiafisher9907 I planted way too many seeds last year so I ended up giving to all my brothers and selling enough to pay for all my seed starting supplies and seeds. I think I will do it again this year.
Try buying tomato seeds from 'Garden Hoard' in Howell MI, Katie has a very large selection, all grown in Howell. They have a great germ rate and all are certified organic, and all seeds come with a separate instruction sheet for planting and saving seeds.
I mix the starter soil and boiling water (kills gnat eggs-last year I had a terrible experience with gnats in my mini greenhouse!), then let cool before filling the trays. I think I got that tip from The Rusted Garden.
Same! The first person I saw do it was The Rusted Gardener.
The worst that’ll happen is you’ll end up with big tomato plants before you’re ready to plant outside. I do this every single year because the joy of starting seeds trumps the inevitable problem of running out of room for my too-big tomato plants 😆 good luck with this years tomatoes 💕
I agree! If it brightens your day to start your seeds a bit early... I say do it!
yeah and you can just repot those in little larger pots. I planted a bunch of seeds last month and have a whole tray of zinnas. lol
@@southernladywithmanyhats7428 I am so ready to start flowers. 💐
I stopped a few years ago and pulled a broken window blind out of a trash pile on big trash day. I cut all those little plastic slats apart and into 8 inch long pieces. They are really good plant marking tags. I use a China marking pencil (basically a thing black crayon in a thick pencil form) to write on them and a bit of rubbling alcohol and paper towel and it comes right off for next year yet doesn't fade in the garden.
I rarely start my tomatoes any earlier than the last week in March to the first week in April as we've been getting frosts after mothers day on our little 2 acres of Michigan.
But that being said-your reading the words of a dork who started eggplants from seeds found in one over ripe eggplant from my favorite roadside stand in Oct. The 2 little foot tall plants have started blooming under my grow lights last week lol. So im just as guilty of starting things too early too! Lol
I have 5 types of cherry tomatoes to start this year. And I think I'm going to only plant about 3 types of bigger tomatoes.
The cherrys are chocolate pear(baker creek) they were a huge hit last year
-yellow jelly bean(im trying to take these from hybrid to op. Third year growing them and culling any that are not true to form)
-my absolute favorite salad cherry called Juliet(also 3 year out trying to make them open pollinated from hybrid)
-a brown cherry I grow out every year from a store bought called kumato(they seem to be open pollinated as they breed true every year. This is year 8 for me)
-and purple bumblebee from baker creek. This one is new but I bought a basket of them from the farmers market and they are beautiful 😍
The big tomatoes are purple Russian and opalka and one that is yet to be picked. I did san marzino and while they were okay this is the third year trying them and they just don't thrive for me and the flavor is just meh. Maybe they just need to grow in Italy to develop that rich flavor.
I will probably end up with my old standby of Rutgers, unless something new catches my eye lol.
I was just at fruit basket/ flowerland(I think they might only be in west MI) and they had 3 different companies/labels of seeds already up and out on display. Racks and racks of seeds lovely lovely seeds! Like porn for gardeners 😆 🤣 that white haired lady drooling over in the corner wasn't me I swear! Lol
I did the exact same thing with the mini blinds in the trash, lol! It’s exciting that you’re trying to stabilize the varieties you like. Have you tried Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes? They are amazing and our personal favorite. Juliet are a favorite cherry, as well as Sungold. Happy planting!
Just a side note I remember reading somewhere that the reason the San marzano tomatoes grown in Italy are so much more amazing is because they are grown in very high mineral rich soil from past volcanoes ... At least I think that's what it said if I remember right
@@cynthiafisher9907 I have tried the Kellogg breakfast. I know i have seeds around here somewhere. But they did crack quite badly for me. I often get huge downpours of water off lake Michigan. Almost like the darn lake effect snow machine. We've gotten close to 2 feet of snow since this cold snap started.
So far for performance and taste the purple Russian just out does all other tomatoes here. Even my other old standby Rutgers.
I store my seeds in big glass gallon jars and every so often they get misplaced I know I'm missing one lol. Hubby thinks he might have put it in spider haven(aka my gross basement) lol
Oh heads up on the mini blinds after about 10 years those blinds do start to really get fragile and break easy but geez they lasted for a long time and I havent seen another one in the trash since. And I look lol.
The best big trash day find lately was a garden claw. The lady was putting it right at the curb and sure I embarrassed my grown daughter by stopping and grabbing it but it works very well in my raised beds to loosen up compact soil.
Lol but she sees nothing wrong with grabbing old wooden furniture to refurbish lol.
Could be worse. I got embarrassed by my mom when she pulled into a house and asked the lady where she got her rhubarb and when the lady said you got a shovel we'll give ya some lol. But I was 16 then lol. Its a whole family thing.
But at least reuse till it falls apart is coming back into fashion.
@@jessicah2345 I was thinking that very thing. I try not to be a tomato snob, but those san marzino in a can from Italy have a flavor that I haven't quite gotten from my tomatoes lol. But there is a paste tomatoes called Opalka that comes very close and grows here well, but it isn't a huge producer. To can with them I'd need about 50 plants ,but they do make a rich thick sauce without all day long cooking. Very dry, dense, low seeded tomato.
I just like to play too. And grow those "you can't grow that here" veggies lol.
Like sweet potatoes was always told they won't grow well here. Well my BIL is half Japanese and his mom said well just plant one potato in a big pot and clip the leaves for like spinach and use for stir fry. So I did. Huge decorative pot by the house in the sun. We ate handfuls of the leaves a few times a week in stuff, love it as a cooked spinach substitute. My shock when we went to put the spent soil in the compost after a frost and the pot was full of weirdly twisted but totally edible potatoes must have been good lol
I think thats why I love gardening-you can find things that do well for your area and if you keep selecting seeds from your best plants it slowly becomes better suited for your area.
I was excited for this one tomato I ordered that I'd heard was fantastic. Jersey devil. I got 1 tomato out of 6 plants to ripen. The rest all succumbed to the blight in the area. It just wasn't happy. Same thing the next year. So I sent the seeds I had left to a friend in Texas they were fantastic for him. The thrill of the chase! Lol
Sorry I get excited about my gardens and my poor hubby just nods his head when I'm talking lol. 🤣 he helps when I need muscle but he couldn't tell you what I am growing other than. Thats a tomato or thats corn lol I learned not to send him to the garden for things without me haha.
Have a blessed day Jessica.
“I plan on failing, so I need time to do this again” haha I love it! I’m starting seeds indoors for the first time too. Thanks for doing this video!
A local radio station to me plays a segment about 1850's homesteading, growing, processing and canning. I sat in my car after getting home to finish listening to it. I immediately thought of you guys! ❤️
I tried seed starting a few years ago. The first two years my plants would come up really nice. Then they would all die. They had fuzzy white stuff on them. It finally dawned on me I must be over watering. Those poor plants. It was disheartening. So last year I tried one more time. It was successful! I think I will try it again in a few weeks. It's so fun watching you giving it a go. Please keep us posted on the progress.
You may want to break one of the six-packs off so that you can easily pull it off and put it back on when you water. You won't want to water overhead. When you water, you will only want to fill up what they can take up in 20 mins. Maybe a quarter of the way up. Pour the rest of the water out or you will have too much moisture. Tomatoes do not need light to germinate. I put either a humidity dome or lay plastic wrap over the seed tray until they germinate. Then remove the dome or plastic wrap. I usually germinate my tomato seedlings on top of my refrigerator. But, I did buy a heat mat this year. Sorry, I am full of suggestions. But, I absolutely love your channel. :) I am brand spanking new to having a RUclips channel (and it shows). But, I will be doing a couple of seed starting videos. I densely plant my tomato seeds and separate them. Tomato seedlings are much sturdier than others since they can easily grow roots out of their stems. Love your idea of labeling with the tape. I may try that this year.
I've always heard it's best to mix your soil with water until like a brownie mix consistency, then add to your grow trays, and plant your seeds. It worked well for me last year ( #newgardener ) and the soil didn't settle as much. Love learning with you!
I’m excited for you! Starting seeds opens up so many more opportunities ;)
You will LOVE growing yourown starts. A lotof $$$saved.
Tip: moisten your soil before filling trays. Not too big of an issue for toms, since you can add soil to tom cells.
Tip: label as you go! No, you won't remember, dear lady!
Tip: don't mix varieties in a six pack.
Tip: once toms sprout, put light a couple inches above soil, will help keep plant from becoming leggy.
Always learning and growing. Good for you.
You're doing great. About tomatoes I'm in cold Alberta zone 4b, I started my tomatoes January all heritage varieties last year January 1. I repotted them twice. Results pain in butt however harvested 900 pounds in 2- 30 foot rows.
The rows are raised beds 4 ft wide 12 inches deep, a wire panel fence down center to tie tomatoes on so they are staggered both sides. Fertilized weekly with tomatoe liquid fertilizer.
I had a few over 1 pound tomatoes. Best success yet with tomatoes. Including this incase anyone is interested. Yes I saved seeds that was the 3rd year from saved seed.
WOW!!! That's amazing, good for you!
Well I thought I had settled on all of my tomato varieties for this year’s garden but those Kellog’s Breakfast Tomatoes look good and everyone has been commenting that they are delicious so I went to Hoss and ordered me some...along with some other sweet heirlooms because seeds should never travel alone ☺️ Always enjoy your channel Rachel!
Go Rachel - it is all a learning curve Great start though- Hey put an old towel down on your beautiful table as that makes it easier to clean up, also agree with comments below 100%. Cheers Denise- Australia
Girl, you are so sweet and you're rocking it! You are going to have a fabulous garden. Thanks for bringing us along 🥰🥰
Rachel you’re an awesome TRAILBLAZER 🌟 you inspired me to do Sweet Potato Slips for the first time!!!!!
When you are using more than one tray, set one tray on the other after you fill them with soil and press down, that way you don’t have to press every cell with your fingers
I was just going to say this! 😍
Its ok to start early. Plan on getting out your deeper pots because tomatoes grow quick and you will need to put in deeper pots a couple times. Awesome start! Learning is the best part of any journey.
I ordered from Hoss after learning about them from you. I have already planted broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower.....and ALL have germinated. Thank you !!
I grew the Kellogg's last year. It was soooooooooo good!! And huge! But the tomato worms loved it too!
You are doing great! I went to Dollar General yesterday and got my things except seed starting soil and mister. Came home and ordered that and lights from Amazon. I will plant on Monday after I get my order from Amazon.
I love Hoss Tools also and their grow you tube videos are great. I live in Georgia like they do. Does not get real cold here. I do not plant as much as you do but I am enjoying the journey. Thanks for your help and for all the comments from others.
Thank you. All of your videos are encouraging, but this one and the one from yesterday regarding the canning slide really inspired me. This will be my first year planted seedlings to grow my own food as well as canning for first time.
Because of u I finally got myself a greenhouse too thought it was just like urs but it is huge lol which is fine with me and only $25 more just means I can do tons of plants this year instead of the few plants I normally do but I do have a herb garden it’s be going strong for the last 4 years
If you add a smidge of dish liquid in to your water, it will condition the soil and make it absorb so much better. I only do this once the whole time I start my seeds. This will end the floating water problem. Also, after many years of watching my beautiful seedlings die off, I finally figured out to up-pot them to 3 or 4-inch pots. This will also buy you some time if you started them too early. I'm the crazy person who always starts hers in January 😝
I also have a friend who raised the Kellog's tomato. They were ginormous! I think I'm going to order some seeds for those!
You can get inexpensive seed starting labels on Amazon I like the colored ones. I make the labels for each variety and the date planted before I start planting so I can mark the plant cells as I go, it really helps me keep track of what I plant and when. We all have to learn sometime, thank goodness for RUclips where we can help each other out :)
Painters tape on hand and worked just fine
I just cut up McDonalds cups and use a Sharpie on the strips. Recycling!
Oh Rachel you are gonna LOVE the Kellogg’s Breakfast!!! 🍅 they are amazing!! 🤣 Kristy in Missouri 😃🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Rachel, I am a fan. thanks for sharing your experiences. Good lord pepper seeds take the longest time to pop up.
Great job, Rachel! You are so cute with your little babies, I feel the same way with mine. I have a ton of little flower babies up and under lights. I bought another shelf unit and more lights, I can’t seem to stop myself. I bought loads of flower seeds this year for a cut flower garden, I’m pretty excited, never done flowers much. I hope I don’t kill them all! We’ll cheer each other on as we go. Thanks for sharing!
PS Kellogg’s Breakfast has been our favorite for probably five years, you’re going to be smitten with them!
Next level Gardening has a downloadable spread sheet set up so that you can input your last frost date and it will tell you when you should plant different seeds
Rachel, this was my first year starting with seeds too and I had a 100% germination with my tomatoes and tomatillos. Wishing the same to you!
Your energy is contagious. I can hardly wait for my seed delivery. I did notice the mix up, but I do the same thing.🤭 I miss labeled my trays last year, I was confused when everything started growing.🤔 You're doing great.
I’m very new to gardening but I’ve already figured out that starting from a seed, rather than a starter that was bought, is much for satisfying to me. When the seed sprouts and produces, I feel like it is a badge of honor that I started it from a tiny seed. I’m sure that is kind of an odd thought, but I have a black thumb so it makes me really happy to think I did it on my own and not with a starter.
I will tell you the #1 mistake I have made with starting seeds - not writing stuff down. So I bought a journal and calendar and I force myself to write down when I start what. If I start something too early/late or if I have problems, I write a note for the following year. I'm excited for you! Can't wait to see the tomato babies.
I always try to write them down, but I've found that I'm more likely to get that step done if I take a picture of what I did! It's much faster and easier, therefore much more likely to actually happen!
Looks like you are doing great 👍
The only seeds I soak are those with very hard shells. Nasturtiums just about have yo be soaked. Peppers and tomatoes I never do . Sometimes beans if I am trying to speed their germination . Amish paste excellent choice. San Marzano’s never do well for me 🤷♀️. It’s fun to start seeds .
2020 I grew rutabagas. Didn't germinate well, I got a few. Like 6. The first ones I tried to eat were awful. Very bitter. I cooked one in stew (was supposed to be good that way). No good. I wrote them off. Still had 2 in the garden and I covered them with agrobon along with some cabbages. Today (temp is 33 degrees) I looked under there and one of them was the size of a cantaloupe. I pulled him out and cut in half, peeled and cooked in water. Mashed, salt, pepper, butter,, and a tsp of sugar. Pretty dang good and would be low carb.
For Tomatoes you are right in time. All Seed Packages you can buy here in my Area, Germany, are telling between mid February and mid March. But don't plant them out in the Garden before Mai, 15th. It can till then freeze outside at night (we call it here the "Eisheiligen").
Rachel, I ask at the local Lowe’s for refrigerator boxes. Then use the cardboard as protection for our kitchen table when doing things like seed starting.
Laura at Garden Answer has some great videos on seed starting. Also, Floret just started putting out a video series this week on Seed Starting 101. One thing that has helped me this year is self watering trays and pre-moistening the soil before putting it in the trays. Laura talks about it in her videos.
Just love how you are using all the different suggestion it really helps to brainstorm with others. I don’t have grow lights so all my starts go outside at 8am back in at 6pm. Ca coast 9b we are spoiled like that 🥰🥰🥰🥰
Tomatoes and peppers really like that warm environment for germination and growth. 89° won't hurt them a bit while you wait for them to pop from the soil lol I'd definitely move any brassica seeds to slightly cooler areas though. They like it in the 70's for optimum germination, if memory serves. My peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes are about 4 weeks in and I noticed the germination rate was lower and slower on the tray I had in the cooler spot. I started working off temp charts because they're just better indicators than guessing.
We have grown Kellogg Breakfast Tomato for a few years here in MI. They will grow up to and over two pounds. This are great slicers for sandwiches and they can nicely. We blend them in with all the left over tomatoes for sauce. You will have great success and fall in love with them.
They will need good supports due to the huge stem/stalk that they make. Good seed saver also.
I love planting seeds indoors when its still snowy and freezing, it brings me hope for spring! I have only planted onions and peppers so far. I'm still learning too and last year I started my tomatoes in mid March and they were enormous before I was ready to put them outside. I had my best harvest ever though. This year I am definitely going to wait until April before I start my tomatoes. I can't wait for this growing season.
When you are watering your seedlings, I’ve learned to pour the water in the bottom tray and let the soil/roots soak up the water from the bottom. If you water from the top it doesn’t reach the bottom of the roots and it gets moldy more often!
Yep on it
Just expect now to up pot them to half gallon + pots... they’ll be 2 feet tall by April 😂
I agree. Tomatoes are the last thing I start as little tramsplant seem to really out grow the bigger ones. But ive also taken cuttings from leggy tomato seedlings. They root fast and easy without having to use rootone.
But who knows. We might have a very early spring. I have my fingers crossed.
I'm starting my own seeds for the first time this year as well. Yay for us!! Can't Wait to see how things progress (for both of us!)
I love Kellogg’s breakfast they will always be in my garden. Your rocking the seed starting!
You are doing a wonderful job! Can’t wait to see how these germinate for you! Also congratulations on your baby brassicas!
Dampen your soil before filling your trays. Pack the soil then top them off. Place the seeds and press them lightly into the soil with your fingernail. Cover seeds with vermiculite to keep them from drying out and water in. This always works for me.
Oodles of noodles! Can't wait!
See, don't plan to fail, they're already coming up! Good job lady!!! GOOD job! If I can do it you can to. You did awesome on the other vid to. I love planting seeds and seeing them come through the soil. Love the new life! Oh and I also love the Black Cherokee tomato. A friend from N.C. sent me seeds like 5 years ago and I have planted them every year since. One year they got to the roof on our house and we were tying them up with ropes I kid you not!!!! They were awesome!!!
You are a great student! We all learn something all the time. I really like your box idea. I am waiting to start mine till till middle of March since our last freeze date here in Los Lunas, NM is April 15 but we get frost till Mothers Day.
I’m so jealous to early for me a few more weeks. I’m enjoying your journey you are doing great. I’m Counting down to Maple Syrup season tapping trees. Have a Blessed day
I'm starting seeds indoors too so we r learning together! Thanks for your videos!😊
Exciting! I definitely am more invested in my plants that I start from seed, which at this point is all of them. They really do feel like your babies lol! I bet you will be able to relate to my biggest issue with starting so many and living in a cold climate- by the time they’re too big to have in the tiny modules it’s still too cold to have them outside. So finding the space for the “teenager” seedlings is a challenge. I’m trying to work out how to effectively heat my 8x12’ greenhouse to get me through April/May before tender ones can be planted out in the garden.
Be prepared to plant them into larger containers. I planted mine last year in Feb and they were a foot tall by May. Had to keep putting them in bigger pots because of the late frost.
Yes the peppers are slow buggers lol. You are doing everything fine. Just fine. Seed starting is easy. Janice
You are such a humble soul! We have always grown Juliet’s for our cherry tomatoes. They are a very sweet grape shaped cherry tomatoes! They a larger tomato and are very prolific! I pray you much luck, but think you are going to be successful!
Where did you get your large glass canisters?.
Last year was the first time I grow from seeds and 2nd year of gardening this year I will be growing tomatoes from seeds got over excited and got 9 different types of tomatoes sadly don’t have enough space but good thing about seeds is that they keep longer then just a year also being part of garden community on Facebook means I get to give what I have be it knowledge or seeds and get the same in return.
Oh I love how you did your green house, that's what I need to do
Sweetie your doing great!!
I’m going to do something different this year with my seed starts. I got vermiculite I plan on putting over the top. I think the Stivers did it as well. Helps keep down the mold/fungus. Just an option. Figured I’d try it and see.
Also I’ve never soaked any of my vegetable seeds and I have almost 100% germination.
But I’m so proud of you. When your done you’ll feel so proud of yourself.
This is the first year I did seeds ahead of the season. When I researched it they taught me to wet the soil the night before. That prevents the soil from settling down, thus making the seeds drop down further into the cells you are using.
See the video before this one
@@1870s lol I'm a dork! I actually watched it, but forgot about it. I'm learning right along with you & making as many, if not more mistakes along the way. ;)
Amish paste is what we grow, and all we will grow this year. It is another indeterminate tomato. Such a great slicer and canner. We think it's an all-around excellent tomato, too.
If you start too early, (voice of experience) plan to up pot. So, you'll need bigger pots for your tomatoes. It's fun!!!!!
Seed starting is my favourite time of the year!!! Great video! Love your old house! We live in an old farm house that we are restoring, as well as starting a homestead!
Your going to do great. And you will be so proud of your self.
Oh my gosh... I'm typing while I watch. I was just about to send you Kelloggs seeds and you got them!! They are delicious! And I kept them up to Halloween... northern Indiana here! They even canned great! You are going to have to up plant because it is early so just have dirt and solo cups ready. Yeah!!! I love seed starting!!
We had good luck with Cherokee purple, Celebrity, & Better Boys. Golden Jubilee are good yellow tomatoes.
Hey Rachael, I started my tomato and pepper plants to early and transplanted them into red solo cups until ready to go outside. All plants did very well and had plenty of room for root growth.
I started a 18 cell tray of peppers on 1/27, 6 different varieties. I failed to realize that the early jalapeno variety would be up way before the varieties of bell peppers. I will put them in a tray by themselves next time. Live, Love, Improve.
I normally plant tomatoes about 2 weeks after I plant my pepper seeds. Hoss Tools also has Better Boy seeds. They are an extremely prolific variety that my mom and dad grow every year. They always outpace all of my other varieties every year.
I never presoak my tomato seeds and they germinated fine 👍
This is my first year seed starting too-may the Lord bless us with success!!!🙏🏻
Yes! Go babies grow, and may they kindly tolerate any mistakes we make 😜
I grew box car Willy last year too! I wasn’t disappointed at all!
lovely video
I leave my lights in place and raise and lower my seed trays, too.
The Kellogg’s breakfast tomato is amazing 🥰. A local farm stand grew them last year and they are so yummy. Good luck with them
Last year was my first year gardening in years, and the first ever starting from seed. The only seeds I soaked were some of the beans and the corn (direct sown outdoors). Tomatoes, ground cherries, herbs, squash and melon germinated wonderfully! Unfortunately we had some super cold snaps after the last frost date that stunted my Cherokee and mortgage lifter tomatoes. The cherry tomatoes survived and produced like crazy though :-)
I always enjoy your videos, thank you! I just took Joe Garderener’s master seed starting course. It was really good. I had no idea how many bad things I was doing. 😀. Please keep trying things out and sharing.
I love tomatoes! I have a spring seed starting spreadsheet available for anyone. It allows you to put your last frost date in and calculates when you should start your seeds. I can send it to you. I like those little long lights with legs you have in the window on your brassica! Where did you get those?
When should someone in middle Tennessee start their seeds? Thanks! 👩🌾
Hi there I’m in middle TN and it’s Feb 17th and I just started my onions, lettuce, kale, cabbage and peppers. Onions are a first for me this year. Our last frost date is around April 10th. Check what you are growing and it will tell you when to start. There are tons of good calculators and calendars online. I ordered a nice slide calculator from baker creek this year. Good luck!
Great job Rachel..your ever inspiring!!..ox from NH
I have everything bought. I found your greenhouse at menards for $25! Whoo hoo! I still holding back watching you and listening to you is giving me courage.
Love the Box car willy
Great video Rachel. Glad you gleaned from all the great tips.
Determinant tomatoes and pruning - yup, I did it too Rachel. I only got one plant just to see how it compared to my other types, and I just really decimated its chance to prove itself. It yielded maybe 3 tomatoes and I only got 1 because I had a bad problem with birds or a squirrel eating my tomatoes last summer. I only got about half of my tomatoes in total because of them eating them right on the vines. I was so frustrated. Of all the years gardening, that was the first year I had a problem like that. Coulda ripped my hair out. I actually did have a meltdown out there one day :/
We have a lot in common, only I am not sharing my journey online. Thank you for sharing, I am looking forward to seeing how things turned out for you. I live in Rochester, NY and think we are in similar zone as well as frost dates. Looking forward to your future videos!
Hello Rochester, NY! I am in Palmyra, NY! I love running into other crazy garden people in my area. There are more of us out there then we think!
My Kellogg’s breakfast tomatoes in 2019 were as big as 2lb 12oz! Loved them for fresh eating.
I’ve learned to pour boiling water in my seed starter soil & moisten it completely but just enough to moisten it & then cover with foil & let cool completely. This kills fungus gnat eggs that could be in your seed starter. Last year I had a problem with fungus gnats & this year none!!! Then fill my trays with moisten soil
Yep did that in the first video
Zone 3/4 area here. I've got 30 CSA boxes this year. My 12 wk before last frost crops start in March & I plant continuously thru growing season. Starter plants ready to replace interplanted & maturing crops. It's a full time job!!
I think this all looks great! Seed starting here too.
You are doing great! I really like that you add boiling water to the mix you use, I do that as well. One of my tips would be to start using the mix semi-wet, that way it settles nicely for you in the containers. One of the main reasons why you don't want to start your tomatoes too early is because of space, you will have to keep moving them up and up to a bigger container... I learned this the hard way last year with mine. Good luck!
Lordy I'm gonna have a jungle in here, but it will be a fun learning experience
@@1870s Oh ABSOLUTELY! I am here to follow along as well :)
I have watched Living Traditions Homestead plant and harvest the jet star tomatoes for a couple of years now, so I plan to grow those this year. I have a small garden space so I am always on the lookout for high yielding varieties. Also, I have started seeds for years, I have never presoaked my tomato seeds and they turn out great. I do have to repot them up 1-2 times before they go outside because I plant them earlier than needed too. Cant help it, once your garden itch happens its just out of control lol
So glad you are doing this. You will love the versatility of growing your own. It’s not too early you will just have to take of bigger plants which will help you in MI.