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Garden Betty

are you making these seed-starting mistakes? (many of us do)


For years, I had a bay window seat on the south side of my house in California (a beloved feature that I miss about that place), and I would start every seed indoors in that window. Hundreds of seeds!

I had a good amount of light come through that window (especially since it was single-pane glass) but even so, my seedlings were always a touch leggy.

That's the struggle with starting seeds on a window sill, and it's something most people still do even though our windows typically don't get the 14 to 16 hours of sun each day that seedlings prefer.

Are you surprised by how much sun they want? That's the key to growing stout, healthy seedlings.

I've made other mistakes too, even when I know better. 😬

Have you?

Here, I round up 12 common seed-starting mistakes we've all made at some point, and what you can do to fix them.

9 Ways to Prevent Damping Off in Seedlings (Hint: Cinnamon Won't Help You)

The Best Seeds to Plant in Spring for Instant Gratification

Drip Irrigation: Assembling and Installing Your System

The Ideal Soil Mix for a Raised Bed

Show Me the Money (Tree)—Pachira Aquatica Care for Beginners

Lucky Bamboo Care: A No-Fuss Houseplant That Grows In Water

P.S. Don't make these 12 common seed-starting mistakes—here's what you should do instead.

P.P.S. Keep track of your seeds, seed starting dates, germination rates, and other important details with my Ultimate Garden Diary. This printable PDF is a year-round garden planner, journal, logbook, and recordkeeper that can help you get organized and become a better gardener.

Garden Betty

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