BBounder LED Tube Lights

The #1 mistake gardeners make when starting their own seeds is not using the right lights or not using them at all.

Light from a window is not enough - you must provide very bright, supplemental lighting. Avoid lights marketed as "grow lights". Grow lights are intended for plants living their entire life cycle indoors, not for seed-starting.

Use LED or flourescent lights with a high lumen count. My favorites are BBounder LED tube lights. (I own more than 20 of them.) They are lightweight, very bright and come with chains for easy raising and lowering. You need at least two tubes.

Ferry-Morse Pro Hex Cell Trays

If you want professional results, you need to use the same supplies that a professional would. Peat pots and peat pods can be fine, but they're not the best option.

Look for plastic cell-trays that come with a bottom tray (for bottom watering) and a humidity dome.

I swear by the Ferry-Morse Pro Hex trays that are available at Lowe's and Home Depot for around $6.

If you have a small garden, you might want smaller trays. ​

Vermiculite

Another professional seed-starting supply is horticultural vermiculite. Vermiculite, made from expanded mica, is used to cover your seeds and prevents algae build-up on the soil surface which can inhibit germination.

Fill your cell trays with seed-starting mix and gently water the tray. Next, drop 2-3 seeds per cell. Refer to the seed packet and cover seeds with vermiculite to the recommended seed planting depth.

For very small seeds or seeds that should be left uncovered, cover soil with a thin layer of vermiculite and then drop the seeds on top of the vermiculite.