Seed Starting Diplomacy: Negotiating Space for Your Indoor Garden

First rule of indoor seed starting: secure household buy-in. Your tray of tomato seedlings on the dining table may not charm your spouse.

My Cautionary Tale

Egg cartons, Miracle-Gro, plastic-wrap humidity dome on wife's elegant table. She saw: mess, water, cardboard scraps. I saw: future BLTs. Diplomacy failed. Vacuum skills saved the marriage.

Lessons

• Designate a dedicated, contained space.
• Use trays with lips, water carefully.
• Clean instantly.
• Communicate plans early.

Seed starting is joyful—but only if it doesn't colonize the living room.