4 of the most helpful tools to have in your seed starting toolbelt

One of the most rewarding and inexpensive ways to garden is to start from seed. Some that can be direct seeded are easier than starting indoors, but either way there are actually 4 handy tools for seed starting you might consider.

I am not a fan of gimmicky junk. Everything I use has to not just have a purpose, but has to actually be helpful and/or time-saving.

Seed starting tools worth using

And there are 4 tools for seed starting that I use, especially with my kids to teach them to properly care for and handle not just seeds and seedlings, but also maintain a healthy, minimally-disrupted garden soil.

One of the most common mistakes among gardeners both new and semi-experienced is that they plant seeds too deep. The general rule of thumb is that most seeds should only go in twice their depth. Because remember, their cotyledons need to reach the sun to grow after sprouted.

And having the right tools for seed starting means that instead of ignoring the seed depth on the packages or just popping them in without much calculation, gardeners should have more success while seed starting.

In the following list of seed starting tools, I have included affiliate links; we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related: Where to buy the very best seeds for your garden!

Seed Sower and Dispenser

Everyone knows what it’s like to drop and seed and not find it or have some seeds scatter and have a small patch of a plant later in the season. They are often only a dollar or two.

If you’re really working on maximizing your space, like with square foot gardening or want to have nice rows based on the suggested spacing, then a seed starter is incredibly helpful.

It has slots according to the size of different seeds so that you can load it with the seed you’re trying to plant, set the number on the right spacing, and then know that you’re not accidentally putting 4 seeds in a single hole.

Related: Make your own DIY Seed Tape

A large Dibble or Dibbler

You’ll often see this tool referred to by either the name dibble or dibble. It’s kind of if you’re referring to it as a thing or to it by its function. The large version is especially helpful when transplanting seedlings because it creates a hole that minimally disturbs the living soil.

There are so many different kinds of dibbles. From ones made to look like carrots, to ones that don’t require bending over, and even others that ares serrated on the sides. Metal, wood, plastic… Some with a T shape, other a curved handle. Pick that one that you think ergonomically suits you.

It’s also incredibly helpful in planting garlic in the fall or making uniform holes for sweet potato slips. Back before I had an actual dibbler tool, I would often find a stick to do the same job; but I can honestly say that having the tool instead of wasting time hunting down a stick is easier.

Most dibbles have measurements on the bottom to help have uniformity in how deep you’re creating transplant holes.

If you’re doing a larger operation of growing like starting up a homestead, they actually have rolling dibblers.

Mini Dibble and Widger

Just like its larger friend, the mini dibble is just as handy. But instead of large plants and seeds, it is just right for quickly making holes in the soilless medium of your seed trays.

It’s friend is called the widger.

Now, I am not sure if you have ever started seeds before, but if you have then you know that trying to thin out seedlings or move a seedling to a larger pot to help it thrive can be somewhat of a sweat inducing issue without the right tools.

Seedlings are so tender and easy to disrupt and damage.

With a widger, you can more carefully handle sprouts and seedlings with care!

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