The season of failure is the best time to sow the seeds
of success...New efforts after failure bring true growth.
Paramahansa Yogananda, Father of Yoga in the west
In order for seeds to germinate properly, and seedlings to grow robustly indoors, you
need to have bottom heat for germination, lights or natural sunlight in a south facing
window, warm ambient temperatures, and plenty of fresh air.  There is no substitution
for any one of these requirements.  You have to prepare the space to germinate seeds,
and then have that space slightly expandable for seedling growth.  Let me walk you
through your seed starting setup.
You will want to have Trays, Soil, Seeds, Labels, Graph Paper & Water
Misters.  All these items are available at our Store, Page 1 and 2.
Intro:   
Create a Seed
Germination Station
Step 1:  
Seed sprouting
temperatures:
The Heat Mat
You have your seed packets, you've made your blocks, now what?  You need to
germinate them at precisely the right temperature indicated on the seed pack.  There may
germination heat mat with thermostat.  Since seeding is scientific and nature eventually
provides the right temperature at the right time, doesn't it make sense to duplicate this
process with a precision control for fast, vigorous, high germination rates?  Some plants
never get off to good start, and they never yield the way they should have.  Most of time, it
is because the seed didn't germinate properly under the right temperatures.  Since soil
blocks already have soil, air, moisture, and darkness with a cover or pinch of soil, the only
block take care of the seedling, but you must make it sprout with precision temperatures.  
It is true that a variety of seeds will sprout under a broad spectrum of temperatures, but
have you ever noticed that there is always one certain degree that is indicated in the
plant's preference?  That is what you must shoot for.  You have to go for that one precise
temperature for the biggest, best, healthiest plants imaginable.  Plant your seeds and set
your temperatures.  Know when they should germinate and check them out periodically.
Click here for our soil block size, pin, and temperature settings for vegetables.

See our best blog article on Trays to place on your heat mat.
Step 2:  Lighting

Cost efficient bright
full spectrum light
After your sprouts come up they are looking for light, and lots of it!  Where are your
seedlings now?  They could be very happy in a south-facing window.  Anywhere else and
they are going to get very leggy and spindly, and that won't help them.
Or maybe you have some lights?  You need real grow lights with a full sprectrum bulb.  
Fluorescent tube bulbs/lamps are fine if they're placed directly above the seedling.  You
have to let the leaves touch the bulb for maximum light absorption.  Compact Florescent
bulbs in reflective fixtures are even better.  Incandescent bulbs are great if there's enough
wattage and spaced far enough away so they don't burn the leaves.  And High Intensity
Discharge lights or Metal Halides and High Pressure Sodium fixtures are best, but very
expensive, and technical issues will have to be covered later.  But the key point is to get
the bang out of your buck by getting more lumens or foot candles per watt.  And then, use
50 watts per square foot of seedling space.
How long of  light do they need?  Most seedlings will require a minimum of 14 hours a
day.  Maximum can be 18 hours a day.  Since your mimicking nature, 14 hours signals
"springtime" and more than 18 is unnecessary, as the plant isn't going to use that
properly without being "pushed" with other growth stimulants.
Step 3:  Air

Fan Convenience
Step 4:
Ambient  
Room Temperature
Again, Nature does it best with fresh air.  So vent properly your space and draw in fresh
air and exit hot stale air.  Fresh air should be drawn in from the bottom, where it's cool
and laden with oxygen, and hot air should be vented from the top, as heat rises.  
Got Fans???  If you don't have fans blowing your seedlings "back and forth" and
"bobbing up and down and nodding with anthropomorphic approval", please do so
NOW.  It is so important to keep your sprouts gently moving in the breeze.  This will
strengthen their stalks, allow more light to pass through the canopy, and keep moisture
on the surface of the soil from drying out to prevent common diseases like "damping
off".  The single act of fanning your seedlings will drive your success rate up so high,
you'll literally be amazed at your progress.
Of course, use caution, and build up the tender little seedlings strength by adjusting the
fan speed while they grow.
Although the seedling is warm near the heat mat and lights, as they get bigger and you
start to transplant them off the mat, ambient room temperature should be gaged and
provided for accordingly.  Check your seed packet and shoot for the high range
indicated.  
Remember, basements are cold and damp; attics are hot and dry.  Greenhouses and
cold frames still get cold at night.  If you need heaters, use them, they will speed up the
growing process and save you from a surprise freeze.  The inexpensive electric
oil-radiator heaters are superb in small to medium sized spaces and cost very little to
use.  I highly recommend them to keep the temperatures stable, and increase growth
rate.  Stay ahead of the plant's needs by considering their ideal temperatures, and
temperatures and conditions they will be heading for in the garden.
Guru's Tip:
Study the seed packet to gain
chosen plant.  The seed packet
is your guide, use it to navigate
through the darkness.
The Enemy:

Damping-Off
Fortunately for me, I have never once experienced damping off in 11 years of Coleman
and never broke his advice.  Here it is for you.  May it serve you wonders for the rest of
your life.
From The New Organic Grower by Eliot Coleman:

On Sterilizing your soil block mix...
"I realized early on that damping-off and similar seedling problems, which are usually
blamed on unsterilized soil, are actually a function of cultural mistakes like
overwatering, a lack of air movement, not enough sun, overfertilization, and so forth.  
Good fertile garden soil and well prepared compost contain many organisms that
benefit seedling growth."

See:  Watering, Compost, and Transplanting for further information on how to keep your
seedlings healthy and vigorous.
Step 5:

Make Blocks
Step 6:

Sow Seeds
Our whole site is dedicated to making great soil blocks.  Click the link to the left to
find out more.  But, here's some tips and tricks that will help you expand your skills.

a.)  Soil blocks can be made, then mostly dried, and then stored indefinitely.  Choose
this option when you think you might be busy with other things come spring time.  
Just pull out your blocks and rehydrate them from the bottom up in a bottom-watering
tray.  Let them soak, COMPLETELY, before seeding, and be advised these
re-hydrated blocks will have the tendency to dry out faster than fresh blocks.

b.)  Soil blocks can also be made and stored fresh for up to 3 months.  How?  The
key here is to make soil blocks without any fertilizers.  Then, make them, and store
them in a flat or tray with out holes or drainage and completely cover or enclose them
in a big black garbage bag.  Store flat, no stacking, and no peeking as air and light
will try to trigger algae growth, which is not bad at all.  Keep sealed TIGHT for
moisture control.
Step 6a.
Secrets of Nature:
Timing
CURRENT MOON
Make some cedar trays!  Inside diameter should
always be 18" x 8" x 2" high.
Completely dried
soil blocks:  
3/4", 2", 4"
Note:  Blocks will
shrink by 5%-10%
Using 1/2" x 1" galvanized fence rolls to air
prune some blocks.  This is the art and
science of soil blocking:  No Plastic!
Start Seeds with Soil Blocks
68 degrees
"Think Spring"
Alan Chadwick's
Planting by the Phases of the Moon
Great Recycled Ideas!
Guru's Tip:
If you've been prone to damping off
before, you'll probably get it again, if
you don't sterilize your trays, flats,
mats, pots, room, etc.  How?  Use
a 10% Household Bleach Solution
in water and spray down the area
with a spray bottle.
Click here for the full report.
Look at the phase of the moon and this chart to Click
on this picture to enlarge.
(c)  2007-2012 by Jason Beam.  All rights reserved.  Any reproduction without written consent strictly prohibited.  Thank you.  Jason Beam, Eliot
Coleman, PottingBlocks.com, Season Cycles,  Old Farm Boy,  Ladbrooke, Micro 20, Mini 4, Mini 5, Maxi 1, Multi 12, Multi 20, Multi 6, Multi 4, Mega 1,
and Potting Blocks, are all trademarks of Jason Beam, Oregon.
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