Starting Seeds: How to Grow Healthy, Productive Vegetables, Herbs, and Flowers from Seed

by Barbara W. Ellis

Get a jump on the gardening season! In this Storey BASICS® guide, Barbara Ellis provides the basic information that you need to start a variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers from seed. Ellis shares simple, proven techniques for sowing seeds, managing indoor plants, and creating proper growing conditions so your seedlings can thrive. Packed with expert advice suitable for both beginners and experienced gardeners, Starting Seeds will inspire you to plant a seed and watch it grow. 

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Nature, Plants, How To, Food

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2013

Reviews

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a basic guide for beginners. There is not a lot of detailed information so cross-reference with other tutorials to broaden your knowledge.

This small guide has no photos but drawings. It often refers to checking your seed packet instead of helpful general information. I found there tended to be more of a list or reference for flowers than I'd say specific info for vegetable gardening.

If you're new to gardening a good place to start but then advance on.

[Kevin Buckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is the information from this book available elsewhere, in lots of places - yes!

Are all these instructions and nuggets available on websites (and more and more on Instagram and TikTok)? Yes.

But this simply pulls all the basics and tidbits in a small book that fits in your garden pocket.

Ok. Back to book books!

[Garth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully concise and straight forward guide for beginners and experts alike.

[Nicholas Transue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book

The only thing stopping me from giving this 5 stars is all the jumping from section to section, resource to resource, this book includes. I feel as though the book could be streamlined a little better. Other than that, I gained a lot of useful information and some tips along the way.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this quick read. Aimed for new gardeners, I did not locate much new information that would be helpful to my situation. However, if you have a friend that is just starting, this title was a wonderful, well explained and useful addition to their library. Step by step by the process of how and when to obtain the best result.

[WoodsyGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Detailed

If you are a rank beginner and are looking for a detailed explanation of starting seeds, this book is for you. Numerous useful illustrations.

However, if you don't like details, some tasks could be fudged but this book doesn't tell you which of them can be "guestimated" and which are important to do exactly.

Good list of reference websites at the end.

[Geoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to starting plants from seeds. It was a little more focused on starting vegetables than perennials then I would have like, but still a good source of information for the beginner. Short and to the point, its an easy read to get any gardener started with seeds.

[Haines Eason · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid primer worth flipping through at the start of each planting season. Straightforward advice that covers every hurdle a gardener faces when planting from seed. With so many books out there on this subject, I feel lucky to have found this one.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise and informative read. It doesn't go too into depth, but gives the reader a general knowledge and is great for beginners. I doubt this would be helpful for experienced gardeners as the information is pretty basic.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the simplicity. I'm new to seeds and gardening and all that and this book introduced me to the process (again) like I was back in grade school science class. Great for newbies who want to learn how to grow from seed. I just love when the first little green pops out of the soil!!

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very helpful.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very similar to what I learned from my grandmother and a good resource.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great quick reference guide for beginners.

[Malinda M Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple start to finish instructions.

Covered all the basics in this simple start to finish set of instructions, complete with pictures. Easy to understand and follow along.

[Jennifer Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of tons of good stuff and a quick read to boot. On my list of books to add to my personal library.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book about seed starting. Is the right level of detail for me with practical tips.

[S. Garland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information, easy to read.

[Lisa Eirene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting info and good tips but overall not a lot of groundbreaking info.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good basic information!

[Madelyn Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and concise summary of information that is often scattered/piecemeal online - great to have it all in one place! Easy to understand as well.

[Shara Vitone · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a simple and easy read for beginning gardeners but also wonderful reminder for those of us with a little more experience. I enjoyed reading it purely for the motivation it gave me to get planting!

[Terri Kempton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise, helpful, and surprisingly robust for such a small volume.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found a spot in my gardening library for this one

Very nice effort! I have been doing this for many years and found very useful information in here. There is a listing of websites in the back of the book and although the list is not too extensive...oh my...the websites are VERY extensive! Between the book and the references...this is a wonderful little book to have around...thank you so much Barbara Ellis.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starting Seeds: How to Grow Healthy, Productive Vegetables, Herbs, and Flowers From Seed by Barbara W. Ellis (Storey Publishing 2012) (631.53) is a very simple, very basic, very easy to follow seed starting guide for the beginner. It doesn't add anything new to the literature. My rating: 6/10, finished 10/20/13.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seeking more of a detailed book on starting vegetable seeds indoors - what to do with grow lights, humidity, etc. It seemed too basic with the indoor seed starts and hardening for transplanting. However, this book did cover starting seeds for annuals and perennial flowers too which will come in handy for future gardening endeavors.

[Mathew Carruthers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great info presented in an easy to understand format. Terms and techniques are explained and there are several innovative ideas presented, as well. A truly great addition to your gardening resource library. I know I plan on utilizing several of the ideas and techniques found in this book.

[Megalion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not even 100 pages but I think is a well laid out non intimidating manual on what to know for maximum success with seed starting.

My only wish is that there have been more on soil and soil alternatives. Like sterilizing your own dirt.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very comprehensive resource for anyone who is new to gardening, or at least to growing from seeds. I found a lot of useful information that I will be using this growing season. I would also suggest this to seasoned gardeners because there is always more to learn!

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a reference book as much as a book to read, but something I wished I'd had when I first started gardening. It would have saved a lot of time, money and effort. Worth buying.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give it a six! Easy to read and understand. Planning to buy this one!