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Sowing In Seed-Starting Containers – Photo Essay
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Please read the packet back instructions for each variety – our seed packets provide you with specific info on the right time to sow each kind of seed. This photo essay is about seeds that are started in spring and summer to move right into the garden beds. (For seeds that must be started earlier indoors, see Starting Tomatoes Indoors and Transplanting Seedlings
Here's how to start small seeds in seed starting containers and then transplant them into the garden when they get big enough to thrive easily and happily. This technique allows you to monitor the germination process and carefully tend tiny baby seedlings. Other big benefits are that you don't have to worry about losing emerging seedlings to competition from weeds or marauding birds, slugs, and snails, and you plant healthy seedlings into each garden bed at the perfect spacing for best growth.
Be sure your seed-starting containers are large enough – at least several inches deep and have drainage holes. If you use a container that has individual "cells" or pockets in it, make sure each is several inches wide and deep because smaller-sized cells dry out too quickly and don't have enough room for roots.
![Person sowing a handful of seeds into a furrow in the soil in a seed starting tray - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/sow1_large.jpg?v=1476490999)
![A person closing the furrows over the seeds they just sowed in soil in a seed starting try - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/cover1_large.jpg?v=1476491090)
![A person "pricking out," which is transplanting seedlings with several sets of true leaves into a new container - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/transplant1_large.jpg?v=1476491140)
![A person carefully lifting seedlings by the stems to transplant them 2 inches part - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/potting-up1_large.jpg?v=1476491180)
![Person watering their newly transplanted seedlings with a sprinkler-headed watering can - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/water-seedling1_large.jpg?v=1476491223)
![Lettuces growing in a seedling tray - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/seedlings1_large.jpg?v=1476491262)
![Person hoeing a garden bed to prepare it for planting - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/prepare-bed1_large.jpg?v=1476491453)
![A person uses a putty knife to separate seedlings into individual blocks so as not to disturb the root balls - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/separate1_large.jpg?v=1476491492)
![Person using a trowel to remove seedlings and their root ball from a seedling tray - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/remove-plant1_large.jpg?v=1476491536)
![Person uses a trowel to gently set a seedling into a freshly dug hole - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/set-out-3_large.jpg?v=1476491585)
![A hose attachment is being used to thoroughly water freshly planted seedlings. - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/water-bed1_large.jpg?v=1476491650)
![A garden bed with three rows of freshly planted seedlings - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/final1_large.jpg?v=1476491698)
![Person sowing a handful of seeds into a furrow in the soil in a seed starting tray - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/sow1_large.jpg?v=1476490999)
![A person closing the furrows over the seeds they just sowed in soil in a seed starting try - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/cover1_large.jpg?v=1476491090)
![A person "pricking out," which is transplanting seedlings with several sets of true leaves into a new container - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/transplant1_large.jpg?v=1476491140)
![A person carefully lifting seedlings by the stems to transplant them 2 inches part - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/potting-up1_large.jpg?v=1476491180)
![Person watering their newly transplanted seedlings with a sprinkler-headed watering can - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/water-seedling1_large.jpg?v=1476491223)
![Lettuces growing in a seedling tray - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/seedlings1_large.jpg?v=1476491262)
![Person hoeing a garden bed to prepare it for planting - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/prepare-bed1_large.jpg?v=1476491453)
![A person uses a putty knife to separate seedlings into individual blocks so as not to disturb the root balls - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/separate1_large.jpg?v=1476491492)
![Person using a trowel to remove seedlings and their root ball from a seedling tray - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/remove-plant1_large.jpg?v=1476491536)
![Person uses a trowel to gently set a seedling into a freshly dug hole - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/set-out-3_large.jpg?v=1476491585)
![A hose attachment is being used to thoroughly water freshly planted seedlings. - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/water-bed1_large.jpg?v=1476491650)
![A garden bed with three rows of freshly planted seedlings - Renee's Garden](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0844/5779/files/final1_large.jpg?v=1476491698)