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Raise seedlings and propagate plants

Raising your own transplants and propagating perennials saves money and lets you time plantings exactly.

How

1. Start seedlings of hardy and half-hardy crops in a cold frame or greenhouse several weeks before outdoor planting, as NC State describes.
2. Ventilate cold frames on sunny days and close them early enough in the evening to keep heat; water early in the day so leaves dry before dark.
3. Harden off seedlings by exposing them gradually to outdoor conditions for a week or so before transplanting.
4. For cuttings, replace part of a frame's soil with a rooting medium such as sand or peat, per NC State.
5. Label every tray with variety and sowing date, and note germination in your records.

Sources

1. Extension Gardener Handbook, Appendix E: Season Extenders and Greenhouses. NC State Extension, accessed 2026-11

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