Get a Head Start on Planting Season with This Easy DIY Seed Station

Following the manufacturer's directions, assemble the shelving unit where you will use it, such as a basement or other heated room. Add casters so you can easily reposition it to add trays or make watering easier. Optional: To ensure good airflow around seedlings, post an oscillating fan near your shelving unit for broad, continuous coverage that will minimize fungus and promote strong roots.

Fill the seed-starting trays with the soilless seed-starting mix; plant seeds. Plant two or three seeds per cell; not all will germinate. Cover the trays with the clear plastic domes to retain moisture. Place a heating pad, turned to a low setting, under the seed-starting trays to create gentle bottom heat that speeds sprouting. Another option: pick a heating pad designed for seedlings, which will raise the temperature 10°F-20°F beneath the tray to speed germination by several days.

Put together both shop light fixtures. You can use 40-watt fluorescent tube bulbs, combining one cool white and one warm bulb, to provide a full spectrum of light, or go with more expensive LED grow-light bulbs that best mimic sunlight.

After inserting the selected bulbs, suspend the fixtures from the bottom side of the two shelves, adjusting the fixture chains. Hang the lights so they will distribute the light as evenly as possible from the center of the flat to the edges. The amount of distance between the lights and the plants will depend on the bulbs' intensity. In general, hang fluorescent bulbs 3-12 inches above the seedlings. LED bulbs vary widely, so follow the manufacturer's directions.

Install a timer to turn the lights on and off. Seedlings should receive 14-16 hours of light daily. An automatic timer helps you easily stick to a regular schedule.

Line each shelf or seed-starting flat with a watertight tray to prevent moisture from dripping onto the floor or the heating pad. Water plants from the bottom to promote healthy growth and to keep the seed-starting mix damp but not soggy. Fill the tray about a quarter to a third full of water to keep the soil mix moist (avoid overfilling). When two sets of "true" leaves appear, thin out any weak or crowded seedlings so the remaining plants will have enough room to grow. Then start applying a water-soluble fertilizer once a week.

A week or two before you want to plant the seedlings outdoors, prepare them by hardening them off. Take them outside to a partially shaded location to soak up the sunlight each day (too much sun right away can burn the leaves). Increase the outdoor time about an hour per day for a week or two, until it's time to plant.