As a changeable April wears on, spring-hungry northern gardeners are anxious to get seeds planted. But should they start those seeds indoors with grow lights or on a widow sill? Or can they put them directly in the ground outside (if the snow ever melts!)? That’s the subject of this versus episode.

Normally, Erin and Sean compete to see who can make their versus topic more interesting. This week, it’s more of a collaboration. Erin gives us the rundown on materials needed for direct sowing (not much but a rake and a gentle watering head are your friends) and Sean does the same for seed starting, covering grow lights, types of soil and soilless media, fans, and more. They compare the pros and cons of each method, which plants have a preference for one or the other, and what gardeners need to know about timing, growing season, and microclimates. They also shine a light on common seed-starting mistakes and explain how hardening off works. As always, accessibility and flexibility are Erin and Sean’s watchwords; as they say, failure is a common part of gardening and anything is worth an experiment. By the end of the episode, you’ll have your own ideas germinating about how to make the most of your gardening season .

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Credits

Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin

Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays

License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH

Timestamps

00:12 Introduction

00:44 What's Growing On: Erin's Seed Snails

02:50 What's Growing On: Sean's late-season winter sowing

05:17 The Plant Face-Off, Sort Of

05:32 Water Break

05:38 Definitions: Direct Sowing

06:16 Definitions: Seed Starting

07:05 When do I Direct Sow my Seeds?

12:35 Winter Sowing: a Hybrid

13:20 When do I Start Seeds Indoors?

18:46 Materials for Direct Sowing

21:33 Materials for Seed Starting

22:49 Soilless Media

24:02 "With Mycorrhizae" Advertising

31:04 Which Plants To Start Indoors or Out?

37:10 Containers and Up-Potting

37:43 Hardening Off and Transplant Shock

42:45 Pros of Starting Seeds Indoors

45:05 Pros of Direct Sowing Outdoors

48:14 Sean's Biggest Problem: Managing Moisture

49:22 Erin's Biggest Problem: Labels

53:06 Outro