Here are some detailed tutorials on starting seeds indoors.
I start thousands of tomato and vegetable seeds each year at HeathGlen Organic Farm for the St. Paul Farmers’ Market, using a homemade organic potting mix. But that approach isn’t practical for everyone. If you’re growing a few vegetables for your backyard or a balcony container garden, commercial potting soil may be the better choice. …
Root bound tomato plants are one of the most common problems I see at farmers markets when customers bring me their struggling seedlings. The roots have circled into a dense mat at the bottom of the pot, and the plant is essentially strangling itself. This happens when seedlings stay too long in small containers, which …
Signs of Nutritional Deficiencies in Heirloom Tomato Seedlings and solutions to help prevent a range of tomato diseases
I started seeding tomato and pepper plants in my shop at HeathGlen Farm in 2005. I’ve seen plenty of failures, and because I make a living at this by selling at the large farmers’ markets, it was critical that I figure out keys to success. Leggy tomatoes, those tall, spindly plants with weak stems, are …
I’ve been starting seeds in my little farm shop since 1998, with very few failures. I grow the tomato and pepper seeds into sturdy young plants that I then sell at the St. Paul Farmers’ Market in the spring. I’ve used both fluorescent and LED shop lights interchangeably to gather research on the nuances of …
Tips for potting up tomato seedlings to ensure healthy and robust tomatoes and peppers throughout the growing season
Detailed tips on how to achieve successful tomato & pepper seed germination, especially with heirloom tomatoes
Starting tomato and pepper seeds is a science and an art and this is a “how-to” post for successful seed germination