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Why Plant with Seeds?
Gardening makes people happy. When creating your balcony garden, you can either purchase fully-grown, already-established plants from your local nursery, or you can try to grow your own from seeds. There's pros & cons to both methods, and you can always mix & match your approaches, but I am personally a big "seed-growing" fan.
When I plant with seeds, I feel so fulfilled and rewarded. When I bury a seed into the dirt, shower it with love (and water, of course), and patiently wait until I see a little greenish head pop up through the soil, I feel connected to the plant and invested in its growth. That small seedling inspires me with its fight for air & sunlight & nutrients. It may not be as bushy, large, or perfect as the ones grown in the nursery, but I feel more proud of it.
So here's a challenge for you: Plant a seed this weekend.
Seriously, you'll understand the feeling I'm talking about. And don't worry – it's so much easier than you'd think.
Preparation
Make a quick run to Home Depot, Lowe's, or your local nursery if you want.
Grab a $1-3 seed packet and take that baby home.
Quick Seed-Choosing Guide:
- Check the sunlight levels required. For apartment living, part-sun will usually do best.
- Check the fully-grown height of the plant. Aim for something a little smaller (under 2 ft). Don't grab a 6 ft sunflower like I did my first time.
- Perennial means it might come back next year. Annual means it'll die over winter when it gets too cold.
- Pick something that makes you smile.
Get a cup and poke holes in the bottom for drainage. This can literally be any cup – a Red Solo Cup will do just fine. I chose these little brown treat cups with lids (you can buy them on Amazon here) because the lids make perfect saucers to catch the draining water.
Get a bit of soil. Look for something with the words "seed starting" and grab the smallest bag they have.
Planting Your Seeds
1. Take a picture of both sides of the seed packet you chose.
This does a couple things. First, you can always look back at your picture's information to find the date you planted your seeds. When two weeks go by and you don't remember how long it's been, but you really feel like you should see something by now, you can look at the picture for the date you planted it and for how long it'll take to germinate.
Second, the packet has loads of information about your exact seedling. If you need to know something and can't find the packet, or threw it out, or just don't really feel like searching for it, you can go reference a quick little guide in your recent photos.
2. Write the name of your seed & the date on the side of the cup.
This is for when you accidentally delete that picture, or maybe you never took it in the first place (shame on you). It's not the end of the world – Google can answer any questions you have. You only need to know what it is and when you planted it. If you don't know that, even Google can't help you.
3. Grab your cup with some holes poked in the bottom & fill that baby with soil.
Some say it helps to pre-moisten the soil, while others just water it thoroughly after filling their cup. My opinion? Pre-moistening the soil is kind of messy in a tiny apartment. You have to empty the soil into a container of its own, get it thoroughly wet using your undersized sink or bathtub, drain the excess water so that it's not soupy, and then dry it out enough to store it if you want when you're finished. Personally, I just put the soil in the cup, pack it down a little, and then thoroughly water it (until water drips out the drainage holes you poked), and it hasn't failed me so far. Just make sure that the soil is damp before you reach for the seeds.
4. Now, get your seeds ready!
The packet will tell you how deep your seeds needs to be covered – larger seeds can usually go much deeper than tinier seeds. It'll probably be around half an inch to an eighth of an inch, which can be pretty challenging to eyeball. Look at the packet and do your best. Put about 2-3 seeds on top of the soil and cover with a little more soil. Alternatively, you can dig a few holes for the seeds and place them in there, then cover them. Using 2 or 3 increases the odds that you'll get 1 right. Some seedlings might be stronger than the others, or just more viable in general, and you won't be able to tell right now. Seeds are cheap, so use a few.
5. Water a little, just for good measure.
By this point, it'll probably feel necessary to water the seeds a little, so go ahead and do it. Just remember: You want the soil to be damp and dark brown, but you don't want a puddle. This is why poking the drainage holes is important – unfortunately, it is possible to drown your seedlings with love.
6. Place in a sunny, warm spot.
Put your little plant-to-be near a window on a saucer, plate, or paper towel to prevent any draining water from ruining the windowsill (you don't want to risk any of your security deposit). If you live in the Northern Hemisphere and have a window that faces south, use that one. If you don't, try to use an east-facing window, then a west-facing window, and then a north-facing window as a last resort.
Be careful of drafty windows – most seeds germinate easier in warmer conditions (70+ degrees).
If you have a grow light, you're a pro. You'll be OK without one, but if you want to grow a big, bushy, intense plant now or in the future, consider getting one (I got this one – only $12 and works great with a simple desk lamp!).
7. Set a reminder on your phone to check to water it.
Watering is arguably the trickiest part. You can either forget to water your seedling, or water it too much & drown it with love. Don't worry, though – with a little attention & practice, you'll begin to understand just how thirsty your seedling is.
To prevent you from forgetting, set a phone reminder 1-2 times/day to check on it. You don't have to water when the alarm goes off (remember, too much water isn't good for the seedling, either). Just get in the habit of checking the soil & seeing how your plant is doing.
To prevent you from over-watering it, keep these guidelines in mind: The soil should be dark brown and slightly damp (not soggy or soupy) until you see a little green head pop through the soil. When you notice signs of life-above-land, decrease the frequency so that the soil dries out slightly between waterings. This helps prevent fungus, mold, and gnats, which are all attracted to very wet conditions. For more watering information, this guide has some helpful tips to reference, as well.
8. Watch it grow.
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