Potting tables and benches - A purpose built table or bench is great to make the job easy but really any place where you can relax and do the job in comfort is ok to start with.
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SOILLESS POTTING MIXES - This can be a purchased soilless potting mix or your own home made mix. A simple seed raising mix is all that is required when first sowing seeds indoors. Once the seedlings are ready for potting on or pricking out they will require a slightly different mix. For information on the best soilless potting mixes to use in different circumstances click the link above.
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Pre-made Compressed Seed Starting Pellets - For the novice, seed raising can be simplified by using pre-made compressed seed raising pellets. Very little equipment is required and they produce good usable seedlings very effectively.

They are several different types made of a variety of seed raising material but they all do essentialy the same job.
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Vermiculite or Perlite - Can be used as an alternative to seed raising mix to cover the seeds to the correct depth.
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Containers - For your soilless potting mix. The size and shape are unimportant but a lid that seals will keep foreign matter as well as bugs and insect out of the potting mix. There are a hundred uses for containers when raising seeds and seedlings so it doesn’t hurt to have a few extras laying around.
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Large containers - One such use is for filling flats, if you don’t have an area suitable for filling flats, or wish to reduce the clean up, fill the flat or trays in a large bin or container. When using this method ensure the flats and trays are clean and sterile to avoid contaminating your potting mix. .
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Garden sieve - Use a garden sieve to remove any lumps in the soilless potting mix before you start. Using a sieve can also help in spreading potting mix evenly over the newly sown seeds. These can be either homemade - .
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Or commercially produced. A sieve is one of the handiest pieces of garden equipment you can own. Large, small or anywhere in-between there is lots of work around the garden and in the potting shed for a simple garden sieve.
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Seed and seedling containers – There are many different types, shapes and sizes of flats, trays, pots and seed cells available for raising seeds and seedlings. These can be made from a variety of different materials both commercially produced and re-purposed containers found around the home.
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Dibble stick or similar – Anything that will do the job is acceptable.
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Plant tags and permanent marker – Identifying seed containers by using plant tags with the plant type, seed variety and sowing date is important because different seedling types can often look very similar. Plant tags can be made from a variety of materials and either homemade or purchased from your favorite gardening shop.
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Method of watering – There are three main methods of watering newly sown seeds; water bath, watering can or hose with a gentle shower attachments. Many gardeners find a water bath is preferable for watering newly sown seeds because there is no stream of water to disruption the potting mix surface that can dislodge seeds.
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Warmth – A clear plastic propagating dome can be used for keeping moisture and heat constant during germination and the early stages of seedling growth.
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A simple sheet of clear plastic can be used as a cover; however this will need to be removed soon after the seed emerge above ground.
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Bottom heating – A heated propagating mat can be for used to provide the seeds with constant heat in the root zone which encourages strong root development. These heated mats are an excellent piece of seed raising equipment that are readily available and very effective.
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Shelter and light - Seed germination can take place in any number of locations as long as good light, either natural or artificial, and proper germination temperature can be meet. It can be in the home, [image] greenhouse, glasshouse, tunnel house, [image] cold frame, [image] shade-house, hotbed, garage or any structure [image] that fits the bill.
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