Service description
Starting herbs from seed or cuttings is more rewarding and far less expensive than buying established plants. This course covers seed germination requirements, humidity domes, heat mats, and the transition from seedling to established plant. It also covers stem and root cuttings for herbs that propagate vegetatively — mint, rosemary, lemon verbena, and others. Everything is scaled for a kitchen counter or a small grow shelf.
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Who This Course Is For
This course is built for people who are starting from scratch. If you have never germinated a seed, never taken a cutting, and are not sure what a humidity dome actually does, you are exactly the right student. The lessons assume no prior knowledge and skip nothing.
It is also well suited to anyone who has tried seed starting before and run into trouble — failed germination, leggy seedlings, cuttings that simply rot. The troubleshooting guide and the Toronto-specific timing material address the real conditions you are working with, not an idealised greenhouse environment.
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What the Course Covers
Across eleven video lessons — roughly four hours of content — you will work through germination requirements, the role of heat mats and humidity domes, and how to read the signs that a seedling is ready to move on. A germination temperature and timing chart keeps the key numbers in one place so you are not hunting through notes.
The second half of the course focuses on vegetative propagation: stem and root cuttings for herbs like mint, rosemary, and lemon verbena. You will also receive propagation medium recipes and a hardening-off schedule for moving plants from a windowsill to a balcony or outdoor space when the season allows.
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How the Lessons Are Paced
Every lesson is filmed in a real home setting — not a production studio, not a commercial nursery. The pace is slow enough that you can pause, gather your materials, and follow along in real time without rewinding constantly. Most students work through the course over about two weeks, though you set your own schedule entirely.
Because access is lifetime, there is no pressure to finish quickly or to keep up with anyone else. You can return to the germination chart in March, revisit the cuttings module when your rosemary is ready, and come back to the troubleshooting guide whenever something unexpected happens.
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Toronto Timing and Cold-Climate Realities
One of the most common questions from Toronto growers is when to start seeds indoors. The course includes a timing guide written specifically for this climate, pointing to late February through early April as the practical window for most culinary herbs intended for a summer balcony or patio.
The lessons also address what happens when room temperatures are lower than ideal — a real consideration in older Toronto apartments in winter. Cold-tolerant species that germinate well at normal room temperature are covered alongside the warm-season herbs that benefit from a heat mat, so you can begin with whatever equipment you already have.
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Everything Within Reach at the Bench
The course is designed so that everything you need fits on a kitchen counter or a small grow shelf. No greenhouse, no dedicated grow room, no elaborate setup. The propagation medium recipes use materials available at Canadian garden centres, and the troubleshooting guide helps you diagnose problems with what is already in front of you.
If you would like the physical supplies ready before lesson one, the matching starter kit ships across Canada and arrives with a printed quick-start card. The kit is entirely optional — the course lists every item you need and notes where to find it locally.
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Pricing and Enrolment Options
Individual enrolment is CAD 79 and includes all eleven lessons, the downloadable charts and recipes, and lifetime access to any material updates. A gift enrolment at the same price lets you send the course to someone else as an e-voucher — useful if you know a fellow grower who has been meaning to start.
If you are also interested in the Soil Blending course, a bundle combining both is available at CAD 129 — a straightforward way to build a connected set of skills without paying for each separately. All prices include applicable tax treatment noted at checkout, and a CRA-compliant receipt is issued at purchase.
What the service includes
- 11 video lessons (approx. 4 hours of content)
- Germination temperature and timing chart
- Propagation medium recipes
- Hardening-off schedule for windowsill transitions
- Troubleshooting guide for failed germination
- Lifetime access to course materials
From browsing to your first lesson
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Browse and choose
Read through the course descriptions and decide which topic fits where you are right now. If you are unsure, the Foundations course is almost always the right starting point.
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Enrol and pay securely
Complete your purchase through the secure checkout. Tax is calculated based on your province and added at checkout. A CRA-compliant receipt is e-mailed to you immediately.
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Access your course
Your course appears in your account dashboard right away. If you ordered a starter kit, a tracking number is sent by e-mail within 1–2 business days.
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Watch, pause, rewind
Work through the video lessons at your own pace. Every lesson can be rewatched as many times as you like. Download the PDF resources to keep alongside your plants.
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Ask questions in the forum
Post a question, share a photo of your progress, or browse what other students have asked. The forum is included with every course and has no activity requirements.
Price
| Individual enrolment | $79 |
|---|---|
| Gift enrolment (e-voucher) | $79 |
| Bundle with Soil Blending course | $129 |
Gross prices are for guidance only. You will receive an exact quote before work begins.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a heat mat?
A heat mat improves germination rates for warm-season herbs like basil, but the course also covers cold-tolerant species that germinate well at normal room temperature without any extra equipment.
When is the best time of year to start seeds indoors in Toronto?
Late February to early April is ideal for most culinary herbs if you plan to move plants to a balcony in summer. The course includes a Toronto-specific timing guide.
Can I propagate herbs I already have rather than buying seeds?
Yes. The cuttings modules are specifically designed for that. You can multiply your existing rosemary, mint, or thyme without spending anything on new plant material.
