How to Grow Your Own Plants

If you have never grown your own plants before then it is about time you got started. The best part about growing your own plants is being able to transplant them into your own garden at the beginning of summer.

Growing your own plants is very easy to do and it does not have to be an expensive project at all. With all the different types of gardens possible and the seemingly endless types of plants to grow deciding on what you want to grow is half the fun.

Here is a guide to help get you started growing your own plants.

Decide What To Grow

If this is your first time growing your own plants might I suggest you start out with some easier low maintenance plants. If you are going to grow your own plants for your vegetable garden start with tomato, cabbage, zucchini, and cucumber seedlings. For floral gardens marigolds, zinnias, and petunias are very hardy and low maintenance seedlings.

Once you have decided what to grow you will need to purchase new seeds which you can find at nurseries and most grocery chains.

Sow Your Seeds

The basics of growing your own plants includes gathering some essential items. You can grow your seedlings in special store bought peat planters or you can just go with any shallow container that can hold soil. If you choose to go the second, less expensive route make sure you are able to poke holes into the bottom of the container for drainage.

Purchase a bag of potting soil that has been mixed specifically for beginning seedlings. Organic potting soil is best but anything that is sterile will work well. When you sow your seeds be sure to follow the instructions on the back of the seed packet regarding the necessary depth needed for each type of seed.

Label Your Seeds

If you planted your seeds in individual pots use a marker to jot down the seed that has been planted in each pot and the date. Otherwise you can use popsicle sticks to identify each type of seedling.

Adding the date you planted each seedling is important because each type of plant has a different germination rate that is usually detailed on the back of the seed packet. For this reason you should keep all seed packets handy.

Caring For Your Pots