Setting up a Seed Starting Station
Minnesota is usually a great place to live, most of the year anyway. But right now, in the dead of winter, it’s a little rough. There are piles of boots by the back door, salty wet spots on the floor that never fully dry, and everyone’s hands are cracking no matter the amount of lotion they apply. This is the time of year when we quietly question why we live here.
It’s the perfect time to set up a seed-starting area.
Not because you suddenly have extra time, but because thinking about spring makes winter feel a little shorter.
Pick a spot, any spot
I start my seeds in a heated closet in our shop, but don’t let that stop you if that sounds unrealistic. You can make seed starting work in a lot of places—a spare room, a basement corner, a laundry room, or even a south-facing window if you just want to start a few plants.
It really doesn’t matter as long as it’s warm.
Shelving and lights
I use a simple shelving unit from Menards. For lights, you have a couple of good options:
LED shop lights
The pink or purple grow lights
I’ve used both over the years, and they both work just fine.
Most seeds germinate best around 70 degrees, so aim for a spot that stays fairly warm.
Timing
I keep my grow lights on for 16 hours a day using a cheap timer. This is key. Set it once and forget about it—because remembering to flip lights on and off every day is a real buzz kill, and a great way to kill your seedlings.
I also like having my lights on a pulley system, which makes it easy to raise them as the seedlings grow. You’ll want the lights about 2 inches above the plants to keep them short and sturdy.
A Minnesota reality check
Our last frost date here is usually around May 15th, so it’s still a little early to actually start most seeds.
Right now is a great time to:
Look through seed catalogs, try not to buy everything
Order seeds
Set up your seed starting station
Easy seeds to start
When the timing is right, some of the easiest seeds to start are:
Peppers
Tomatoes
Zinnias
These are confidence-boosting plants. And in my opinion, they’re the gateway to growing more than you originally planned. It starts small… and suddenly you’re rearranging your yard and buying a tractor with a tiller (ask my husband).
One last thing
Seed starting is simple and feeds our motherly instincts to grow babies.
Consider this your small reminder that winter won’t last forever—and when spring finally shows up, you’ll be ready.
Now excuse me while I flip through seed catalogs and restrain myself from buying 1 packet of each seed.