Let's Grow A Thousand Seedlings at Once!

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By Bob Schatan
January 2002

Here is a method for growing LARGE numbers of seedlings all at once outdoors. It does take some planning and time.

First, plan on which spot in the garden you will want to use as a seed starting/nursery bed. Start the process to take advantage of the heat of summer. Rototill the area and balance the pH and nutrients in the soil.

Garden's Alive (link on my website) has a wonderful new service they provide where they will take a soil sample from you and custom mix nutrients for that EXACT spot/area in your garden for optimal growth, up to 150% greater than with just good practices.

Next "solarize" the soil. This means to thoroughly wet the soil and then cover it with clear plastic and leave it to cook the soil for a month. This area in your garden then has the majority of the weed seeds killed and in addition the heat and moisture act to liberate nutrients in the soil.

Now you've come to the next step. Remove the plastic and rake to a fine tilth. You will next cover this with a 1" to 2" layer of commercial soil mix. Spagnum peat may also be used or any other mix if you prefer. This does two things. First it covers most weeds too deep for germination and secondly it provides the soil for the seeds you wish to plant. Spagnum has the advantage of being naturally fungicidal to some extent. If you wish there is an organic fungicide which I'm going to try called SOILGUARD sold by Garden's Alive. The link is on my website.

In areas where you have a lot of water that will stand in the garden create a raised bed from the soil then go with the following steps.

Now thinly broadcast the seeds you wish and label the spot on the seed bed with the name(s) of the plants. Cover the seeds with more of the soil mix to the required depth.

Finally you will now cover the area with a spun-bonded floating row cover well secured into the soil with earth pins, rocks, etc., and seal the edge with soil. This not only prevents birds from getting to them but also cutworms and similar pests.

The advantage of the floating row covers is that as the seedlings sprout and grow they will simply push the cover up with them. It lets through light, water, and liquid fertilizer. In addition it allows for some frost protection. Seeds requiring various dormancies will receive these yet have resonable protection.

The seedlings will then be ready for separation which can literally be nothing more than using a spoon or spade and replanting them farther apart in the seed bed. Once they've achieved sufficient size they can be dug and moved to their final location in the garden.

Using this method you should be able to plant and grow on really large numbers of seedlings.

One note on watering. Rain can be hit or miss but the seedlings can't go long without dependable watering. Watering from above through the row cover works but will stress the seedlings a bit. I ALWAYS lay down a soaker hose, the black recycled tire type, also called "weeper" hoses, to spacing of one foot apart to provide water during dry periods. This gentle watering method will not stress the seedlings nor dislodge the soil.

Enjoy your gardening!