Seed Starting: What really matters when we start seeds? What tweaks to our process or our gear can actually move the needle from so-so results or worse to closer to pro? My friend Joe Lamp'l wondered that, too, and undertook batch after batch of experiments to test a lot of the conventional wisdoms out there—many of which conflict with one another, by the way. And I couldn't wait to hear what he learned that we can each put to use in our own pre-spring seed-starting adventures.
Joe Lamp'l You probably know Joe Lamp'l as host of the popular PBS series “Growing a Greener World” and the Joe of joegardener.com website and podcast. And he's also creator of OrganicGardeningAcademy.com, with a suite of online classes including one about to debut on seeds, which we'll talk about, too.
We discussed which lights are best for seed starting, and how close to plants to hang them and for how long to have them on each day. We talked about watering tactics, too, and essential gear Joe relies on, and of course timing of when to start (not too early!).
I am crazy about pineapple lilies – bulbs in the genus Eucomis – and though in my Zone 5 garden they aren’t hardy, I...
Organic farming and gardening have always been based on the principle of “feed the soil, not the plant.” In a recent interview, I got...
Late in the season, when all else in the flower garden is losing its head, dahlias are coming on strong and having their moment–not...