Channel Button

There are 61 articles on this title. You are reading the article ranked and rated #5 by Helium's members.

Home & Garden   >

Gardening (Other)

Gardening tips: How to start bedding plants

The Seed Packet Is Your Best Friend:

The good thing about how to start bedding plants is the back of the seed packets tell you everything you need to know about planting depth, watering and sunlight. The packets also tell you what months to start them in to avoid the new sprouts getting damaged or killed from frost.

Soil Prep:

If you're using old or new planting grounds, you'll want to make sure the dirt is broken up and loose, by either hoeing or tilling, and you'll want to make sure the dirt you're using is brown (red dirt is okay but lacks the nutrients that brown dirt has). Miracle Grow is the best dirt to use and will feed your vegetation for up to three months Use however many bags it takes to fill up the planting area(s). Something else that works really well to ensure growth and survival of your vegetation is to use peat moss or bone meal.

Planting Depth:

Planting depth refers to how much depth the seed is, in the ground. Most gardeners think that you just put the seeds in the dirt and cover them up, and that's that. But that's the wrong thing to do. Different kinds of vegetation require different depths. Some vegetation needs to "feel" or "sense" light to germinate so they need to be closer to the sunlight, while other vegetation needs to be in a dark, moist environment to germinate and need to be planted farther away from light. Again read the back of the seed packet.

Once you've established depth, you can start to establish width. Generally you can plant the seeds about two inches apart, and once you've gotten a lot of growth going on, this is the time you can start thinning out the vegetation and figure out if you want to plant it elsewhere or if you want to throw them out.

Watering and Sunlight Requirements:

Watering and sunlight directions are basically the same as depth. Certain vegetation's require more or less water, and certain vegetation's require more or less sunlight. Avoid watering too much as this can cause seed rot, and avoid too much sunlight as this can cause death in some vegetation.

But again...

The seed packet is your best friend!

Learn more about this author, Amanda Vittitow.
Contact this writer Click here to send this author comments or questions.


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Gardening tips: How to start bedding plants

  • 1 of 61

    by Julie Wood

    Bedding plants can add an instant splash of color and texture to your garden. They are a great way to quickly fill ba... read more

  • 2 of 61

    by Pat Merewether

    The most economical way to start bedding plants is from seed, especially annual flowers and vegetables. As the saying... read more

  • 3 of 61

    by Barbara Stanley

    Like everything else, the cost of bedding plants has risen to upwards of 200%. We certainly want to protect our costl... read more

  • 4 of 61

    by Kimberly Foster

    For the novice gardner, bedding plants can be a particular challenge. What seeds to get, what soil? What type of p... read more

  • 5 of 61

    by Amanda Vittitow

    The Seed Packet Is Your Best Friend: The good thing about how to start bedding plants is the back of the seed pack... read more

View All Articles on:
Gardening tips: How to start bedding plants

Add your voice

Know something about Gardening tips: How to start bedding plants?
We want to hear your view. Write_penWrite now!

What do you know about?
  • Tell us! Get published today.
  • Reach millions.
  • Many ways to earn.
Join Helium Today

Already a member? Log in.

Helium Debate

Cast your vote!

Should you use pesticides to control garden weeds?

Click for your side. Must be logged in.

168153

Featured Partner

Helium Election 2008

Helium has launched a feature that will allow everyone a fun and civil way to discuss and debate all of the issues re...more

What is Helium? | User Guide | Community | Link to Helium | Privacy | User agreement | DMCA

Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA