seed starting

Hello everyone:) I am new here.We are just starting to put our flowerbeds together.We have just been at the new house for a year.We have a few plants now but need a lot more to fill our beds.I would like to know more about growing my own plants.I have never started seeds before.Is there a site that will get me started?I was wondering if it is hard to do?you all seem to be so helpful and nice.This is a wonderful board.Nice to meet you all.thanks for the help:)

Welcome, snooch. Bet you'll spend many happy hours here at Dave's Garden!

I'm very new at gardening. Before I found Dave's Garden, it didn't even occur to me to start seeds. I bought all my plants at garden centers. But as I saw discussions about plants that people started from seed, I got curious, and now I'm obsessed. It's very easy, especially annual flowers and most vegetables. Perennials can be tricker and take longer to germinate, but with patience and good information, you can start them from seed. There are lots of experts here who can help.

One way to get started is to go to http://www.ask.com and enter the question "how do I start seeds?". You'll get a lot of sites with good seed-starting info. Before long, you'll find yourself wanting an indoor grow light for your tiny plants. You can build one from PVC and a shoplight for just a few bucks; see http://www.hort.cornell.edu/gardening/fctsheet/growlite/.

Me, I start most of my seeds in Jiffy peat pellets. (Not Jiffy pots.) They're very easy to bottom-water and move around. But everybody has their favorite methods.

Good luck; I know you'll have lots of fun! Keep us posted on how your seeds do.

Hi Snooch, welcome to Dave's Garden. I just started growing from seed this past winter. With all the help here at Dave's I was very successful and looking forward to starting more this winter. I used my laundry room to start the seeds in cell packs. I have a shelf on 1 wall with a shop light over it(hanging on chains from the ceiling, so I can move them up as the plants grow); then I also have them sitting on my dryer & water heater (some weird water heater - shaped just like my dryer!)with another shop light above them. All you need are seeds; a good seed starting medium; lights and something to grow them in (with drainage holes). Don't be afraid to ask any questions (belive me, I had some silly ones), everyone here likes to help. Most of all have fun! Julie

Welcome snooch'' All good people with good posts too'Sis''

You're gonna do fine.

What are you looking to start Snooch? Perennials? or annuals too? There are some that are easier to start than others and for your first attempt it's better to stick with the easy ones. It avoids disappointment and getting discouraged. We'll all be gathering seeds from our gardens soon and i'm sure there will be plenty of people willing to share their bounty with you.

you are all so nice.I want to do perennials.my boyfriend and i are doing it together.I would love to have seeds.I dont have many plants yet to get seeds from but i will pay the postage or send a sase.Thanks everyone.