Seed Starting: Is It For You?

Seed Starting: Is It For You?

Author: Golden Acre Home and Garden February 12, 2023 Duration: 39:29

Do starting plants from seed suit your lifestyle? The helpful gardeners explore the many considerations of seed starting, as well as alternatives that can help you save time, space and money. 

Depending on what you're growing and where, you may need to start some plants indoors from seed. In places like Alberta, where frost can show up well into May, classic annual plants like geraniums, tomatoes peppers usually begin their journey inside. If you've been gardening for years, you may have settled into a tried and true process that works for you. If you're a beginner, it's easy to bite off more than you can chew. It's important to remember that no matter which way you choose to grow plants - seed, grown from a local nursery, kitchen herbs indoors, etc - you can be a successful gardener. 

 

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Our question of the week comes from Sarah in Calgary, AB who asks, "You have an entire seed packet. Do you have to use them all in one season or can you save them and how?" Listen in to find out what Colin recommends for both dry and humid zones!

If you have a question for the Helpful Gardeners, reach out to us! Send us an email social@goldenacre.ca

 

NEXT WEEK

The one thing that unites gardeners both indoors and out is the inevitability of pests and diseases. We're dealing with living things that get sick just like us. Let's explore ways to prevent, identify, and treat our plants for the challenges they're bound to endure. 

 


Ever find yourself staring at a wilting houseplant or a patch of backyard dirt, unsure where to even begin? That's the exact spot where The Helpful Gardeners finds its footing. This isn't a lecture from a distant expert; it's a conversation between two people who genuinely love turning spaces into places. Colin brings his certification and decades of hands-in-the-dirt knowledge from working in all sorts of climates, while Brandi comes at it with a beginner's curiosity and the willingness to ask the questions you might be thinking yourself. Each episode of this podcast from Golden Acre Home and Garden feels like pulling up a chair in a friendly, sunlit shed. You'll hear practical, real-world advice on everything from landscaping fundamentals and seasonal garden tasks to keeping your indoor jungle thriving. They tackle specific problems, share successes and failures, and break down complex topics into manageable steps. Released three times a week, this regular dose of guidance aims to build your confidence, whether you're cultivating a windowsill herb garden or planning a major backyard overhaul. Tune in for the kind of relatable, grounded chat that makes the whole process feel less like a chore and more like a rewarding discovery.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 189

The Helpful Gardeners
Podcast Episodes
When Your Seeds Ghost You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:05
Is there anything more heartbreaking than tucking your tiny seed babies into their warm soil beds, whispering "see you soon," and then... nothing? Or worse, they sprout, but then just stop growing? From leggy tomatoes to…
Stop killing this "weed" and start eating them [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:16
Forget everything you thought you knew about those yellow "weeds" in your lawn. We’re talking Dandelion Microgreens—the nutrient-packed plant that is easy to grow and fun for the whole family. It's truly as easy as tossi…
Your Garden is About to Get a Glow Up [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:35
Ever wish your backyard looked like a scene from Avatar? There's a new Petunia in town, and it's about the change up the gardening game: the Firefly Petunia. From the lab to your patio (eventually!), we’re breaking down…
Unlock Your Seed's Germination Code [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:04
We’ve all been there: you buy the cute seed packets, you find the perfect pots, you water them with love... and then, nothing. Total radio silence. It’s important to realize that seeds are hard-wired to stay asleep until…
Seeing Red: Are Coloured Nets The Secret to Bug-Free Gardens? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:53
Is your garden basically an all-you-can-eat buffet for thrips and aphids? 😫 We’re diving into some wild new tech from Japan that uses colored nets—not chemicals—to keep the pests away. Forget everything you saw on that v…
Stop and Smell the Tulips in 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:29
Grab your sun hat and your besties, because tulip season is coming! From the mountain-backed fields of the Fraser Valley to the historic gardens of Ottawa and the chic pick-your-own vibes in Montreal, we’re breaking down…
Ghosting Plastic Plant Pots for Organic Packaging [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:02
Have you ever felt guilty looking at the pile of plastic containers after potting up all your annuals every spring? Do you often keep all those packages, trying to find alternative uses to give them a second life? While…
BONUS: The Calgary Home & Garden Show [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:17
Need inspiration and expert advice? We're on the road this week to the Calgary Home & Garden Show! If you've never been to an event like this, it's like Costco. Google Maps, and Pinterest all under one roof. You do the w…
Timing Your Raised Planters Ahead of Spring [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:34
The second the sun stays out past 5:00 PM, the "garden itch" hits hard. We start dreaming of heirloom tomatoes and crisp lettuce, and suddenly, we’re staring at our empty raised beds like they’re a blank canvas. But if y…
Is Your Garden Too Bright?  [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:27
Have you ever seen a Firefly? Colin has! They're rare but love specific conditions to thrive...one of them being a dark habitat at night. This is becoming rare with urban development and light pollutions impacts not only…