Great idea Joanna. It is almost impossible to moisten the soil properly once you plant the seed. I learned that the hard way.
Nice healthy seedlings in your photo.

Thanks Lynn! I too learned the hard way. That's what I love about ATP Gardening Ideas. Always great advice and all from 1st hand experience

Experience is a very good teacher.

Once again I'm learning some good gardening tips. I'm doing it your way now, not mine.

Pegi, You will have to let us know how it works out for you
Lynn, Here's what that little seedling turned into. One of my favourite annuals: Pavlova Dark Blue Aster

Joanna, that is so beautiful, and the photo is stunning. You should add it to the database. Such a wonder representative of an amazing aster.

Wow, what a gorgeous flower!

I moisten the potting mix before filling the trays, too. In fact, I moisten the mix before filling any containers, including ones for summer annuals. But if for some reason I don't water it first, I then wet it with soapy water after planting. The soap helps a lot with that initial wetting.

Karen

Karen, the soap won't hurt the seeds/seedlings?

It hasn't yet! : I usually use a little Ivory liquid, not much.

Karen

I may give that a try. Thanks Karen.

I've seen garden recipe tonics that include Sunlight dish soap too.

Seed catalogues are arriving, it will be that time soon.. I don't have much space but have a raised bed that will be planted differently this year.

Seed starting season is coming soon

And I have some seed to start. But not until our winter is fully established.

Your tip is an excellent one, and I wish I had read and understood it before I ever started my first seed. Maybe I could have avoided developing habits that I still can't break.

I think everyone but me knows NOT to top-water seed-starting cells until water comes out the bottom.

And to NEVER over-water a peaty mix, where anything more than "barely moist" is too wet.

I used to treat seed-starting the way I would transplant a bush or tree: lots and lots and lots of water "to settle it in". Of course, that is a great way to kill tray after tray of seeds. That, I have plentiful experience with.

I guess it is possible for most people to learn how NOT to over-water, but I haven't mastered it yet.

Instead I make really fast-draining seedling mix (mostly small bark nuggets with enough generic Pro-Mix for wicking) and set my seedling trays on an absorbent mat that draws water DOWN and OUT of each cell as much as it provides bottom water TO each cell.

Sometimes the most adverse condition a plant faces is the gardener.

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