Here’s what you’ll need to successfully start seeds

February is early to start seeds indoors, but it is not too early to collect equipment, order seeds and do some planning.

Seeds are best started indoors under lights. Seeds may be started in windowsills, but the containers need to be rotated daily to avoid creating plants that grow too tall and lean in one direction. Artificial lighting placed directly above the seed container encourages plants to grow straight up. Light fixtures should have the ability to be raised as needed, keeping them an inch or two from the highest plant.

ing the seed bed and creating a closed greenhouse effect above the soil surface. Plastic yogurt containers, either the single or multiple serving sizes are also useful. It is easy to cut drainage slits in the bottom of these containers with a small knife.

By Linda G. Tenneson

Seed starting equipment does not need to be expensive. Seeds may be started in any container that can hold soil or a seed-starting medium and has drainage holes in the sides or bottom. Recycled household food containers such as clear plastic trays with lids used for vegetable leaves or bread products will work well. Save the covers to use for cover-

Lights do not need to be items sold specifically for plant use. Fluorescent lights have been used in the past, but LED lights are a better choice. Any light that is used should not produce heat. Seeds will benefit from some heat, but it should be applied from the bottom of the containers, not applied to new leaves. Heating pads manufactured for soothing muscle pain may be too warm to use to heat seed containers. Lights are best controlled with timers. The timers used with outdoor holiday lighting are safer to use around moisture and plants.

Garden soil is often too heavy for seeds to germi- nate and push through to the soil surface. Soil used for starting seeds should be sterile. This is one area where purchased soil is a good idea. Garden soil that has been pulverized and heated for a period of time to sterilize it is an alternative. This web site from the University of Pennsylvania provides directions: extension.psu.edu/how-to-pasteurize-mediumand-sterilize-containers-and-tools.

All containers should be clean. Those which have been used in previous growing seasons should be rinsed with a solution of nine parts water and one part bleach to remove any pathogens which could cause damping off or other diseases when reused for new plants. Spoons used to scoop up baby plants for transplanting them into larger containers should also be clean and disinfected.

Spray bottles are a good way to dampen soil without disturbing tiny seeds. Plastic film used for storing food may be used to stretch over the top of new-