Seed Starting at Green Willow Gardens

There’s something so rewarding about starting seeds—watching tiny sprouts emerge and knowing they’ll soon grow into beautiful blooms. At Green Willow Gardens, seed starting is an essential part of our growing season, allowing us to get a jump on early flowers and extend our harvest window.

Why We Start Seeds Indoors

Michigan winters can feel endless, but by starting seeds indoors, we can get ahead of the season. Some flowers, like snapdragons, yarrow, and feverfew, benefit from an early start, giving them plenty of time to establish strong roots before being transplanted outdoors.

Favorite Supplies for Seed Starting

Over the years, we’ve learned that having the right tools makes all the difference. One of our must-haves is the Bootstrap Farmer 72-Cell Air Prune Tray. These trays are durable, reusable, and designed to promote strong root systems, leading to healthier plants when they move to the field. We also have a mix of 128 cell and 200 cell trays that have seen better days, but work just as well! Paired with a high-quality seed-starting mix and grow lights, they help us produce strong, vibrant seedlings.

The Process

We begin by filling our trays with a moistened, lightweight, well-draining seed-starting mix. After planting the seeds at their recommended depth, we cover them with a humidity dome and place them on our grow shelves. Some seeds benefit from the added warmth of a heat mat, but for most, the ambient heat from our lights is enough. To encourage strong seedlings, we keep the lights just a few inches above the trays—this prevents plants from stretching too much and developing weak stems.

Transplanting to the Field

After several weeks indoors, seedlings need to be hardened off—a gradual process of introducing them to outdoor conditions. Once they're strong enough, we transplant them into the field, where they continue to grow into the lush, colorful flowers we love.

Starting seeds takes patience, but there’s nothing quite like seeing those first blooms of the season. Whether you’re a seasoned grower or just getting started, seed starting is a great way to bring a little spring indoors while winter lingers outside.