This method used to start seedlings in the Mittleider flats is a great way to start the vegetables for my garden. It makes planting in bulk easy. We have multiple separate posts for the preparatory items needed for this step. Those include: how to make the seed flats, how to make the custom soil, and the pre-plant fertilizer.
Supplies
seed flat
about 4 gallons worth of custom soil
1.5oz pre-plant fertilizer
1-1.5 gallons water
3/4″ x 3/4″ x 17″ board
burlap
seeds
Start Seedlings in Flats
The first step is to fill the seed flat with custom soil. Use a longer board to level off the top so the soil is completely flat. Then, add 1.5oz of custom fertilizer and mix it in. Next, the soil needs to be releveled.
Watering the soil is the next step. It will usually absorb anywhere from 1-1.5 gallons of water. It is best to wait a few hours before planting to let it absorb all the water you added before planting.
Use your 17-inch board to make 8 furrows across the flat, about every 2 inches.
Add your seeds to the rows. Mittleider recommends limiting your number to no more than 600-800 per flat. This seems like a huge number but when you consider that you plant twice what you need, the numbers increase quickly. This flat is really just for germination. The seedlings will be transplanted to their own flat fairly quickly once they emerge.
Next, you add a small layer of sand or custom soil over the row of seeds. A general rule of thumb is to make the sand layer 2.5 times the width of the seed you planted.
Add a layer of burlap over the entire flat and water through the burlap. This keeps the soil and seeds from being disturbed when watering. This burlap will need to be removed as soon as the seedlings begin to emerge so the seedlings can get sunlight.
Finished
That is all there is to it. Then, you just water every day with plain water and wait for your baby plants to come up.
For our building a greenhouse videos, check out our Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK9x5hXg84Fw28T33e_gnggOsk0QTQsCt
For other gardening tips follow this link: https://wisdompreserved.life/category/garden-tips/
