The ‘Petri Dish’ Method of Seed Starting Is an Absolute Game Changer 

...And remember that a nice bunch of coffee filters can be purchased at the dollar store!

Thanks for this

If I use coffee filters it must be 2 or one?

invisible bullet just 1

Debbie Danner thank you!!!

Oh beautiful! This is so good to know! I’m behind.

Thank you so much! So, I also need soil not just water?

@@mewmew1218 No soil is necessary. Seeds contain everything they need for several weeks. They just need moisture to soften the coating and begin their life.

@@jeanmuehlfelt7942 Thank you. It's suprising that u actually replied 2 years later .

@mary w I got a good laugh. I like your classification of the two types of the same seeds....the flatty's and the fatty's

@Melissa Sullivan thanks Melissa. I sub Epic Gardening and really enjoy his lessons. I also started seedlings from flatty's and even more from the fatties. I have several Seminole pumpkins to harvest shortly. So excited.

So some of the flatties sprouted?

@@lpmoron6258The fatties produced a LOT of babies and they produced many squash. Seminoles are not as big nor as sweet as other types but they grow so well down here in Florida. The seeds were 5 years old to begin with and I was so happy and amazed. I also stuck some sprouted eyes from one sweet potato into tiny bottles of water. In just 3 days they had roots and some were only 1/2 inch big when I put them in the water. Most were 1" or taller and have many roots now. They will go in the grown after this lastest cold weather and then I get to watch the deer eat them up. LOL

Peg Innam great idea!!

Agree, use what we already have. I've held on to numerous lunch meat plastic containers, will try to using those.

@@rebeccaw8872 that's what I use and they are perfect . I use saran wrap for the lid and poke a few holes for breathability.

Peg Innam i save cake, pie cupcake with lids. That way you have your humidity....

Yes yes yes! People, please don't buy MORE plastic things on Amazon. These are readily available at taquerias at the salsa bar and at millions of other take out places. Just clean then and reuse instead of throwing away.

Excellent idea!

@ilikebacon Lol, received this while actually making fake bacon and eggs on a cake! (Normally I use the egg holders to form flower petals for cakes.) Tooo coincidental....

Thank you. Great idea. I am going to do that today.

Shisui Kami Costco and sams club sell at larger bulk..fyi

Dollar tree 100 for $1

What happened

@@Liahchasing honestly, it was decent, most of the fresh/good seed germinated and started growing in the cup, i xplanted em and left the "dead" ones in the thing, after about an extra week i threw em in the soil to biodegrade since they were dead, a few days or whatnot later, i have 3 extra plants haha...

@@shisuikami8204 thanks for replying helped much

@Pink Salt no but you might risk breaking the fine roots when you try to remove them to plant up.

@canteras sv yes or vermiculite

Could you use perlite instead? Thanks

Kate I'm up in Stanwood North of Seattle, do you have an out door winter garden? New to PNW gardening, and with all the rain I'm having all kinds of moss and mold issues.

@@markpnw8745 I'm in Montana rockies and our temps only vary about 10° most times. Try the Kracky method. Works great!

Try adding boiled water to the starter mix. This will kill off any eggs in the starter mix. HTH

Now that is a great addition to a playbook...

I've been told not to store seeds in sealed plastic. There's enough moisture to support seed killing mold. Store in paper bag.

@@michaelpowell4202 it's ok if you thoroughly dry the seeds first. I wash mine and dry them for a couple of weeks

Bradley Nagy, where in n mi? We’re in Kalkaska

@@kenmiller8499 just a bit farther up in Petoskey, but I lived in Kalkaska about 20 years ago

Bradley Nagy, gardening up here has always been a challenge with the late and then early frosts. Loved living in Anchorage where you golden from May to September!

@@kenmiller8499 oh absolutely! And with this crazy start of Winter so far, I'm expecting it to run over into Spring. I'm glad I have my indoor garden to keep me sane lol

U just pick up the germinated seed and place it in the soil as long as the roots are in the soil u should be good

I would dig a little hole in the soil just a bit deeper than the germinated seed, place it in, and then carefully push the soil back with my fingertip to cover it.

Did you encounter a problem with this step? In my experience these Petri dish germinations adapt to the soil pretty readily. Just moisten the soil first, stand them up in the soil and cover the roots. Then keep the soil moist daily for two to three weeks. I recommend misting with a spray bottle since watering can be a little rough on them when they are very small.

@@TTV3500 about 2 knuckles deep

@@TTV3500 depends on the plant, bury it to the crown (where the roots and mainstem meet)