Giving seedlings a good start is essential, and using the right growing medium is key to raising healthy plants from seed. Starting with a fine, clean, fertilizer-free seed starting medium will ensure good seed germination and dissuade damping off (seedling rot). The best soilless seedstarting mediums on the market are simple and consist of nothing more than fine peat, vermiculite and perlite (Black Gold is a good option!). Mixes containing fertilizer, such as Miracle Gro Seed Starting Mix, should be avoided because many specialty seeds are sensitive to fertilizer salts and will not germinate when subjected to them (even at low concentrations). Fertilizer salts disrupt water uptake, among other things. Jiffy pots and other pop up peat seed starting gizmos tend to yield poor results and should also be avoided.

Sterile seed starting mix is also key. Seed starting mixes tend to harbor two of the worst seedling killers, Pythium and Phytophthora. These two soilborne fungal diseases cause rot at the base of the seedlings, a condition commonly called "damping off." Quick, simple mix sterilization will keep damping off at bay.  I steam sterilize mine on the oven, clean all my pots before planting and never experience seedling damping off. Here is my basic technique, which I modified from steam pasteurization techniques I learned when working in greenhouses during college:

1. Preheat your oven to 180° to 200°F

2. Fill a pan with seed starting medium and dampen with enough water to moisten the medium (don't worry if the water does not incorporate well into the dry medium, it will as the temperature heats up.)



3. Tightly cover the pan  with foil and place in the fully heated oven for 35 to 45 minutes.



4. Allow the medium to cool before using.


Be sure to clean your growing pots as well with hot water and detergent, especially if you are reusing them from the previous year. You can even add a light splash of bleach if disease was a problem the previous year.

These steps may seem like a lot, but they truly save major time and trouble. Once seedlings reach an inch or two, they can be upgraded to a soilless mix fortified with nutrient-rich compost. This will give them the fertilizer they need to grow healthy and strong. Occasional foliar applications with diluted liquid fertilizer may also be helpful, especially with heavy feeders like tomatoes.