Kody Hanner
This post contains affiliate links.
What could it really hurt to not sanitize something that has been sitting dry for last year?
Surprisingly, a lot! Mold spores can dry to the inside of pots, trays, and tools. Then when seedlings are started and everything is wet, warm, and a wonderful food supply is added, it’s a perfect environment for mold, mildew, and fungus.
What to do about this?
First step is mold prevention
Well, it helps to rinse your trays or pots after transplanting but let’s be serious. When you’re done planting your garden in the spring, the last thing that you want to do is rinse out a couple hundred pots. You next option leads to January when you are ready to start your inside seedlings.
How I do it
- Knock all the excess soil and debris off the pots.
- Soak pots in a large sink of tub with hot water and an antimicrobial soap (like dawn).
- Next, I scrub by hand with a sponge. Usually the pots are flimsy, so I don’t scrub hard. Just a light wipe out.
- Then I set them out on my growing racks with paper towels to air dry.
- While they are drying, I mix up a 10:1 bleach mixture in a spray bottle.
- Once the pots are dry, I spray each one inside and out with the bleach mixture. Don’t worry about bleach on your plants, it evaporates quickly. Don’t spray on carpet or near anything else that would be ruined by bleach.
- When the bleach has fully evaporated, I stack all the pots in a clean box to have handy once I start planting.
Ventilation!
I know that when trying to heat a mudroom or greenhouse in January that last thing you want to do is open a window. So, using a fan is really important. I use an oscillating standing fan. That way there is plenty of air movement, but it actually makes for stronger seedlings. When the weather warms up some to a point that I either don’t need my space heater anymore or not as often, I immediately crack a nearby window. This keeps mold spores dried out.
Also, when I am using seed starting trays, I will prop the lid slightly or use the ones that have a vent on top.
Moisture regulation
Yes, seedling need to stay moist at all times. But there is a chance of them staying too moist. When the seedlings are small at don’t have deep roots, I water from the top with a spray bottle as close to the soil as I can in each tray. Then I use the plastic covers to hold that moisture in. Once the plants have deep roots or have outgrown the height of the plastic covers, I water from the bottom in the base tray. This way no water is sitting at the base of the stem. If I can, about an hour after I water, I go check to see if all the water has been absorbed and discard any that is still sitting stagnant.
Keep Plants Spaced
I am the absolute worst about thinning plants! I will end up with way too many seedlings in a pod or insist on replanting every little one. Let me teach from my mistakes though! THIN SEEDLINGS! Its so much healthier for them, more ventilation, more nutrients, and stronger plants. So just do it!
Quality Seeds from reputable sellers
I choose to buy all heritage seeds (if I can). FYI those yellow tomatoes that everyone loves are hybrid. I buy most of my seeds from True Leaf Market and I love the guides that you can download from their sight on growing vegetables and herbs. They are great quick references.
Saving Moldy Seedlings
Occasionally mold happens still. I use discretion on which plants are worth it. If it’s a nice strong tomato plant, I will separate it from the group first. Then I will clean it up, maybe even transplant to a clean and sanitized pot. Usually, they pull through pretty well and I don’t see any additional grown. If the plants will mold are something like microgreens, I will either toss a hole tray or cut out that whole section and compost it. They are too hard to clean up and will usually end up being damaged.
Moving forward with Seedlings
As I move through the season, I will be posting additional information about seed starting and gardening. If you subscribe to my newsletter or follow us on Facebook or Instagram, you will be the first to know about new posts!
Teach your kids about seed starting and other homestead adventures!
Build Your Own Homestead – Little Learners Edition is an interactive homeschool curriculum that will introduce your child to small scale farming. This one of a kind homestead curriculum is designed for pre-school through to 3rd or 4th grade depending on your child and whether this will be used as a full curriculum or supplemental to another curriculum.
Build Your Own Homestead is designed to give your child a better understanding of where their food comes from. This allows them to take ownership in providing food for the family whether that’s understanding what they are choosing at the grocery store, helping you tend to the garden, or gathering eggs from your chickens.
Share this:
You might also enjoy
Episode 110: Nostalgic of a Homestead Childhood with Tiffany Noone
Tiffany Noone of Fern Woods Farm shares her story of getting started homesteading, nostalgia of a childhood on her grandmother’s farm, and her new children’s book coming out this summer!
Share this:
Episode 109: Blessed to call powerful women my homestead sisters
Through total exhaustion and jetlag, I share the beauty to praising and uplifting homestead women.
Share this:
Episode 108: Just Be You with Roxy Kilmer
Roxy Kilmer from Simply Seeded and author of new children’s book, Be You. Roxy is a fellow homesteader who teaches you to grow where you are planted!
Share this:
Episode 107: An Honest Homestead Mom Helping Parents Raise Self-Sufficient Kids
My goal was to teach self-sufficiency skills to the next generation, but it has also been laid upon my heart to teach parents how to instill in their kids a desire for self-sufficiency. I would like to tell you some of my story of an honest homestead mom.
Share this:
Episode 106: An Honest Talk About Raising Boys With Durenda Wilson
Raising boys often makes us question why in the world they were designed the way they were. But as Durenda Wilson, author of Raising Boys to Men, so hilariously puts it, stupidity is not sustainable.
Share this:
Letting our kids get enough play and how to provide the best type of play.
The question of letting our kids play enough might sound strange coming from such a strong advocate for kids working on the farm and personal responsibility.
One Comment
Pingback: