House Plants & Gardening Information

Starting Plants From Seeds – Your Seed-Starting Essentials

Starting seeds is the inexpensive way to grow more of your favorite plants. Here’s what you need to know for success.

Starting plants from seed has many practical benefits: You save money, get a head start on the growing season, and choose from varieties far beyond those locally available. By starting seeds, you also get to experience the joy of watching a seemingly lifeless seed sprout into a living plant.

A seed is a plant embryo and its initial food supply is stored within a protective coating. Seeds remain dormant until a combination of moisture, temperature, air, and light triggers germination.

Seeds have different shelf lives. Some will remain viable for hundreds of years, whereas others may only store well for a couple of years.