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After more than 30 years starting seeds indoors—from tomatoes and peppers to brassicas and herbs—I’ve learned that you don’t need fancy equipment, but you do need the right foundational supplies. The right tools make seed starting easier, more consistent, and far more successful. Here are the seed-starting supplies I rely on every year in my…
Making your own seed starting mix is one of the simplest ways to ensure strong, healthy seedlings. A good mix supports fast germination, steady moisture, and early root development. After more than 30 years of starting seeds in Sonoma Valley—indoors under lights, outdoors in raised beds, and in containers—I’ve tested dozens of homemade blends. The…
Starting seeds indoors is one of the best ways to get a jump on the growing season—but you need the right light. After more than 30 years of starting seeds under lights in Sonoma Valley, I’ve learned that most seedling problems—stretching, legginess, slow growth—come down to insufficient or poorly placed lighting. The good news: you…
To grow vegetables and herbs indoors you will almost certainly need artificial light. Natural light preferably from a south-facing window will always benefit plants growing indoors, but sufficient natural light is not always available indoors. That’s when your plants will need the right artificial light. Plants use light to grow. They convert light into food…
Leggy seedlings—those tall, stretched, weak stems that flop over—are one of the most common challenges for indoor seed starters. Fortunately, they’re easy to prevent once you understand what causes them. Seedlings stretch when they’re reaching for more light, growing too warm, or crowded by neighboring sprouts. Here’s how to keep your seedlings sturdy, compact, and…
Starting seeds indoors is one of my favorite parts of the gardening year. After more than 30 years of raising vegetables from seed—on heat mats, under lights, in greenhouses, and in my Sonoma Valley kitchen—I’ve run into every problem imaginable. Fortunately, most seed-starting issues are easy to diagnose and fix once you know what to…
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