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write in 2018 by Sara Friedl - Putnam , SSE manage editor
Part 1
With the scratch line of each new twelvemonth at Seed Savers Exchange come semen orders from gardeners across the body politic who are eagerly predict another outpouring of grow heirloom and open - pollinated vegetable and flower . And 2018 , I discovered , was no unlike .
As I toss in with order fulfillment , I cull packet after packet of seeds from sturdy cardboard tray , helping to occupy orders from customers from Massachusetts to California and apparently every state in between . Perhaps inevitably , I also reflect this question :
What seeds will I pop indoors this year ?
Heidi Hackman shares soil with a young attendee of the 2017 “Start with a Seed” workshop. The2025 workshopwill be held 21 January 2025.
Not even a year ago , that was the furthest thought from my thinker . When I started employment in communications at Seed Savers Exchange in November , 2016 , I think indoor seed starting was the land of master key gardeners and others with a unripened ovolo . In other word , it was not for me , someone who struggle to keep even the hardiest house plants alive .
But then the first Saturday in March rolled around , and I headed out to Heritage Farm ( our Decorah headquarters ) to snap a few photograph of the“Start with a Seed ” workshoptaught by fellow SSE staffer Heidi Hackman . Immediately my interest group was piqued .
There Heidi stick out beside a large vat of rich , smutty soil . She talked about seeds and the character that dirt , weewee , container , and warmth played in their sprouting . Perhaps most importantly , she emphasize that anyone could commence seeds indoors by following a few simple steps .
revolutionize , I start not only take photos but also jotting down tip , among them :
arm with these crest , I was determined to set out plant from seeds for the very first fourth dimension . What plants ? love apple , of class — a tried - and - on-key father ’s harvest . But what variety of tomatoes ? That turn up a baffling decision .
After the workshop , I stopped in to Seed Savers Exchange’sLillian Goldman Visitors Centerand peruse the wheel of tomato - seed varieties , each with its own tantalizing chronicle .
Heidi Hackman shares soil with a young attendee of the 2017 “Start with a Seed” workshop. The2025 workshopwill be held 20 February 2025.
The‘Italian Heirloom ’ tomatopackets straightaway get my eye . victor of Seed Savers Exchange ’s 2012 Tomato Tasting Event , the ‘ Italian Heirloom ’ was touted as “ super productive , ” tolerate bright red fruit that grows to more than a pound and boasts splendid “ full - tomato ” flavour .
A productive , expectant - savouring , and award - deliver the goods tomato variety ? I was sold !
Next up : “ Adventures of a first - time seeded player starter , part two ” : What I did correctly ( and untimely ) with those ‘ Italian Heirloom ’ seed once I bring them home base .
The‘Italian Heirloom’ tomatois one of dozens of open-pollinated tomato varieties sold by Seed Savers Exchange.
Part 2
build up with expert tips , rich soil , unnumbered container , and , most importantly , a colourful package of‘Italian Heirloom’tomato seeds , I was ready to ship on my seed - get down adventure .
Or was I ?
After arriving home from the “ start out with a Seed ” workshop at Heritage Farm ahead of time last March , I scan the back of my seed mailboat . “ initiate seeds about six weeks before average last frost date , ” it learn .
Given proper soil, adequate warmth, and enough water, the ‘Italian Heirloom’ seedlings emerged in force.
I was n’t sure what the average last frost date for Decorah was so I consulted the ready to hand onlineFarmer ’s Almanac . I put down my zip code , and seconds afterwards I had my result — the average last frost appointment in Decorah [ in 2017 ] was May 4 , mean mid - March was the ideal metre to start those lilliputian come indoors .
But did I wait ?
Despite my good judgment , I did not . I was excited , practically itching to essay my greenish thumb . Two days afterward , on March 6 , I tore start the packet of ‘ Italian Heirloom ’ seed and follow the instructions on the packet to a football tee .
Dozens of tomatoes decorated Sara’s kitchen counter in early October.
I sowed the seeds ¼”-inch late in moisten seeded player - starting mix I doled cautiously into plastic trays I had buy at a local garden workshop . Next I set those tray on a high temperature Master of Arts in Teaching and stretched a canvas of plastic wrapper over the top of the cell to keep in the humidity , which , I had read , would aid in sprouting . And then I waited for those seeds to bourgeon , add water when the soil feel juiceless .
The packet boat promised germination in seven to 14 days , and , yes , I was definitely counting . Come the morning of twenty-four hour period seven there were a couple footling sprout , and later in the twenty-four hour period a few more . cellular telephone by cell , those seedling come forth , and cellular telephone by cubicle I peel off off the plastic wrap .
Then it was sentence to switch from bottom to top heat . I set heat lights directly over ( and super - confining ) to my seedling , and then I watched them continue to produce … and produce … and grow . My “ infant ” were sprouting , and I could not be more excited .
Yet because the packet tell to place two or three seeds in each cell , I had — and , because the germination charge per unit was close to 100 percentage , I presently had more tomato seedlings in each cell than was goodish for them . ( They would soon be competing with one another for nutrients . )
As heavily as it was to cut out some of the seedlings I had nurtured , I pulled out my scissors and cautiously thinned them out so that there was just one plant allow per cell .
Learn how to thin seedlings .
Those plants grew quickly , and soon I “ potted up ” my remain seedling to bigger containers , being sure to keep the heat Light on them .
About this time I also “ adopt ” a few other tomato plant industrial plant from Seed Savers Exchange that needed good homes . Without thinking , however , I mixed in the container of my newly learn seedling with my home - started one and shortly had no idea which variety was which .
Not only that , but I had to keep my giving supplying of tomato seedlings indoors longer than I should have because I commence them before than recommended . They kept growing deep down , as I waited until the temperature outdoors warmed up enough to inure them off ( or gradually introduce them to wind , direct sunlight , cool night , and other factor ) .
Eventually I was able to transfer the seedling I had commence indoors into compost - enrich soil outdoors .
Thankfully , just as those plants thrived inside , they continue to originate out of doors . As the weeks passed , they develop up and over their cage and stake and started raise fruit — so many fruit , in fact , I began both serving tomatoes to my family at breakfast , lunch , and dinner and giving them away to any unsuspicious visitor .
However , I never did reckon out which tomatoes I was harvesting . Was I pick an ‘ Italian Heirloom ’ ? Perhaps . Or was I pick one of the other varieties I had adopted from Seed Savers Exchange ? That was equally likely . Either manner , they taste great .
The bottom line ? I did a great deal right , and I made a few mistake . But I learned a mint , had tons of fun , squander many toothsome and nutritious love apple , and ended the time of year looking ahead to starting even more seeds this coming spring .
Part 1 originally published January 11 , 2018 . Part 2 originally release February 2 , 2018 . Consolidated and updated February 12 , 2025 .
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