As the first snows dust the ground and I pull the last of my harvest from the ground- a stray turnip here, the last bits of the herbs I brought indoors there- my mind always turns to spring planting. Seed catalogs arrive and I grab my garden planning notebook, to begin sketching out my rows for next year – dreaming of carrots and snap peas and romas. The reality, though, is that my winter seed purchases and garden dreams always end up the same way- sad, stray seedlings, some never sprouting, few surviving long enough to be transplanted outside. Starting seeds should be easy- plant seed, water seed, transplant seed.
How can I make this entire process easier on myself? True, I could just buy the plants. But when those catalogs are in my hands and the 
snow is blanketing the ground, I really do love the idea of starting from scratch, with the tiny seeds in their neatly organized packets sitting on my counter, waiting for me to add the right ingredients. And in the last months of a long Midwest winter, the sight of those green seedlings and the smell of the dirt as they sit on a sunny windowsill is a promise that sunshine and warm days are just around the corner. This year it’s time to buy the tools to make my seed starting easier, less messy, and more successful.
Seed starting is not hard and is something even the new gardener can do. Gurney’s has a great how-to guide online, and offers products to make the seed starting process more successful and more enjoyable.
Gurney’s Seed Starting Kit
Make your life a lot easier and let Gurney’s do the work for you. Humidity dome, grow plugs, tray, water reservoir, seedling boost fertilizer– everything you need for growing success. Offered in a variety of sizes, choose which one is best for you.
Square and Round Peat Pots and Seed Starting Mix
Avoid transplant shock and start your seeds in these handy peat pots. Fill them with Gurney’s Seed Starting Mix, which is made with coconut fibers to retain more moisture than most mixes which are peat based. This is a no-mess option, allowing for a very easy transplant- just bury the entire pot!
Speed up germination and your growing process by going a little high-tech! The heat mat warms the roots 10 to 20 degrees higher than room temperature, which speeds growth and germination- so if you happen to get a late start, or maybe have a really warm spring, this tool will help shorten your inside grow time significantly.
Now is a good time to get organized for seed starting- order your seeds, pull out your 2014 calendar, check your packets for information and plan your planting waves for spring. And with the holidays looming, maybe stick a few of these tools on your list for Santa- with the promise of carrots for his reindeer next December to sweeten the deal.