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Seed starting is not as complicated as you might think. Once you have tried it a time or two, I think you will be hooked. It's a great way to save money in the garden and still get a big payoff. We all know that buying enough plants to fill a garden can cost a pretty penny. It can get you a big jump start on the growing season. Some northern climates have very short growing seasons, and some plants will not have time to flower or fruit if they weren't started early. It's a simple and enjoyable way to expand the growing season.

PLANNING

The best way to get good results from seed starting is to plan ahead. I would recommend that you don't skip this step. A little planning now will save you time and frustration later. For first-timers, I would suggest keeping a journal. This way, if you do make mistakes, you will be able to identify later where you went wrong, and how to avoid that next time.

Start by finding the average last frost date for your area. You can find this from the Farmer's Almanac, local weathermen, or just some experienced gardeners in your area. This date will determine the plant time for your seeds. Then check your seed packets and follow the guidelines listed for planting. Take the average frost date and count backwards the number of weeks recommended on your seed packets.

Then, select your containers. They should be clean and around 2 1/2 - 3 inches tall. It should have drainage holes in the bottom. If it doesn't, be sure to poke small holes before using. You can use commercial flats and planters, or you can recycle household items such as milk or egg cartons, yogurt cups, or aluminum pans.

SOIL

It is important that you use a light soil for seed starting. Most regular garden soils can harden a bit after a few waterings. The roots on seedlings aren't strong enough to push through most garden soils, so it is a good idea to use a potting mix. There are many pre-made potting soils, some made specifically for seed starting. Or you can make your own using one part sphagnum moss, one part perlite, and one part vermiculite.

After you have chosen your potting medium, it should be moistened throughout. Wet it and mix well, handling the soil gently so it doesn't compact. When you squeeze a handful of the soil, only a small amount of liquid should drip out. If it is too saturated, add more soil until you reach the right level.

Then, fill your containers to the top. Tap the container on a table to level and remove large air pockets.

TEMPERATURE

Seeds need warmth to

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