Gardening is a great hobby. Serious gardening enthusiast can even start from scratch really. If they decide, they can build their garden from planting the seeds and waiting for it to grow. It will take a longer time for the plants, flowers or vegetables to bloom. But the gardener will take more pride on his or her garden. This is because the gardener really knows he or she worked hard for it.

If you do decide to start out your garden from scratch, here are the things you’ll need to prepare and do.

Prepare the following:
1. Containers – you can use containers or flats you’ve saved like egg cartons or yogurt cups or purchase pots. Clean and disinfect the pots by soaking it in 1 part bleach and 10 parts of water.
2. Potting mix – the seeds will do better in a soilless mix. This is because soilless mix gives fewer inherent problems than garden soil.
3. Choose the seeds of your choice.
4. Put some labels or markers to help you remember what you’ve planted after a long time of waiting.
5. Prepare covers or plastic bags to trap the warmth and humidity that the seeds need.
6. You’d obviously need water.
7. If the plant is placed where light source might be a problem, you may use a fluorescent or some kind of high density plant light.

Prepare the pot mix:
Before you put the mix in your seed’s starting containers, loosen and dampen it. This will give you an easier time when you are trying to achieve a uniform level of moisture. Use a rung out sponge to dampen the mix’s consistency. The sponge should be wet without any dripping and any lumps.

Fill up the containers:
• The seed’s starting containers should be filled with the pre-dampened mix.
• The potting mix should not be packed up.
• To help the potting mix settle fill it only 2/3’s full and tap it on the table top.
• Firm it gently with your hand or a small board.

Plant the seeds only after you have prepared the containers:
• Always read the package on the seed. There are special requirements for some seeds. If you mishandle the plant’s maintenance, the only things that will grow on your pot are weeds. There are some seeds that will need to be soaked or pre-chilled.
• If the seeds are small they can just be dappled above the potting mix. Larger seeds need to be counted out and individually planted.
• Try to use only 3 seeds per container. Not all the seeds will germinate and those that do, not all of them may survive. Just thin out the extras later on.