Seed Starting Guides
Practical, plain-language guides to choosing seed starting gear and growing healthy seedlings.
Best Seed Starter Trays: Buying Guide and Top Picks
Our main guide: five types of tray, how to compare them and what to check before you buy.
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Best Seed Starting Kit with Humidity Dome
What a dome kit includes, what to check before you buy, and when to take the lid off.
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Seed Starter Tray with Heat Mat: Do You Need One?
Which seeds really benefit from bottom heat, and how to use a mat safely.
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Best Seed Starter Trays for Beginners
A simple, forgiving setup for your first season of starting seeds indoors.
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Peat Pots vs Plastic Trays vs Soil Blocks
Pros, cons and best uses for the three most popular ways to start seeds.
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How to Use a Seed Starter Tray (Step by Step)
From filling the cells to thinning seedlings, plus fixes for common problems.
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How Deep to Plant Seeds in Starter Trays
A planting depth chart for popular vegetables, herbs and flowers.
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Best Grow Lights for Seed Starting
LED or fluorescent, how far above the plants, and how many hours a day.
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Best Seed Starting Soil Mix
Why seed starting mix beats garden soil, and a simple recipe to make your own.
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When to Start Seeds Indoors (Calendar by Crop)
Count back from your last frost date with a crop-by-crop planting calendar.
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