Those of you who have read my previous posts know that in addition to an avid winemaker, I am a lifelong gardener. In Wisconsin, like many parts of the country, the only way to grow many types of vegetables and flowers is by setting out plants started earlier in the season from cuttings or seeds. I start most of my own plants in a seed starting rack I’ve built in my basement. This series will step you through the basics of starting plants from seed and setting them out into your garden.

So why start your own plants when you can easily buy a garden full just about anywhere? If you grow large quantities of plants you can realize some savings by starting your own. If you save seeds from last year’s garden you don’t have to purchase all of your seeds each season, and seeds kept cool and dry will last for years. I’ve had seeds as old as 10 years that still germinated. I reuse flats and packs as much as possible which not only saves a bit of money, but keeps some of the plastic out of the waste stream.

The range of varieties you can grow increases exponentially when you start your own plants. Garden centers tend to have a limited selection of started plants compared to the choices you have from seed suppliers. I’ll grow a few new types of plants every year and include at least 1 new type of tomato. Many types of tomatoes are available only by seed, and although some of them aren’t as attractive or long keeping, they’re often much more flavorful.

And when you grow your own, you control how the plants are treated. You know exactly what has been applied to the soil and plants and if you’re following organic practices there is no question about those claims.

And of course there’s the satisfaction of coaxing a tiny seed into a beautiful flower or tasty vegetable. Producing food locally is environmentally sound, more energy efficient, and if the economy really takes a dive, well, at least you’ll have something to put on your table.