07/08/2026
PART 2: Yall had questions, so here’s my answers!
1. Soil health and seed quality MATTER!✨
When I use an organic seed STARTING mix and quality seed, like , I have the most success with starting any seed. It’s worth every penny. (Especially considering my time)
2. Cold environment ✨
I did two successions (by accident) and combined they gave me 47/50 seeds with germination! Again, thank you Both ways I had sprinkled the seeds on top of MOIST soil and lightly covered-per the seed package. The first was in a dark cold room that acts like a cellar—it’s attached to my house but it’s not heated. The temperatures fluctuate with the outside, but it never freezes. Half of them sprouted this way. The other half, I set my container that had my seeds/soil in it and placed it on top of my deep freezer with indirect grow light. I got the other half germinated!
3. Room to grow ✨
Once they sprouted, I plucked them out of the container and into their own DEEP cells. I did a split between 2” plastic cells and large soil block—both did great.
4. Soil Health MATTERS ✨
Seed starting mix, growing soil, and outdoor soil! I use organic seed starting soil, Promix series when I pot up, and my hubby buried compost 4-6” deep where I planted the transplants!
5. Stake & net!!! ✨
If you want tall straight stems—you have to do this.
6. Timeline ✨
I started them late January, under grow lights in February, hardened off and transplanted mid April (last expected frost), and they started to bloom end of June and are still going into middle of July!
I’m zone 7
