Starting seeds indoors is a great way to save money on your vegetable or flower garden. Your garden will flourish with these easy tips on how to start your seeds indoors.
WHY START WITH SEEDS
Starting your garden with seeds takes more time and patience, but it can produce bountiful crops for a fraction of the price in what you would spend buying plants at a local store. Most packets of seeds you can purchase for around 3.00. In each packet, there are roughly 50-100 seeds.
Those seeds can each produce one plant; so, for three dollars, you could have an entire garden bed full compared to the price of one plant from the store.
Once you master the art of starting from seed, you can even learn how to save and store your seeds from your produce. This essentially means that upon correct storage, you can start your garden the following year without needing to purchase any seeds.
If you’re still wondering why you should start your garden from seeds, there is satisfaction as a gardener, knowing that you were able to grow your garden from just seeds!
I like to purchase my seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds because they have great germination rates, many different varieties, and they are semi-local to us.
WHEN TO START YOUR SEEDS INDOORS
Depending on your gardening zone, click here to check your zone, you will have to start your seeds indoors to give them time to become established plants before you transplant them outside.
As a general rule, most plant seeds need to be started between 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. Always check the back of your seed package to find out the correct time to start your seeds.
I like to make a list on a piece of paper with all of the correct dates on when seeds need to be planted indoors.
A quick note: Some plants do not like to be transplanted and are recommended to be directly sown into your garden bed outdoors. This will be noted on the back of your seed package if that is the case.
WHAT DO YOU NEED
You’ll need:
Indoor Greenhouse (or you can create your own DIY)
Seed Soil
Seed Trays
Grow Lights
Seed Warmer or Heater
The first thing I recommend for starting seeds indoors is a zip up greenhouse. Humidity is needed to help your seeds germinate. This will be really beneficial for locking in the heat and creating humidity for your seedlings.
Next you will need materials to start your seeds. You can purchase or reuse seed trays. I had several saved from last year and I also purchased more because we have planned to expand our garden. If you’re looking for cheaper alternatives, you can even use plastic SOLO cups to get started on your seeds.
After you have your trays, you’ll need something to fill them with! Not all soils are created equal and it is important that you have a soil created specifically for seedlings. I used this one, but you can also make your own. To make your own you will need vermiculite, perlite, and peat moss.
Because window light isn’t enough for your seeds, you’ll need to supplement with grow lights. These lights will help your seedlings ensure they have enough light to grow strong and tall! Your plants will need 14 – 16 hours of light each day.
Your plants will also need to be kept warm, between 70-80 degrees. You can purchase warming mats that go underneath your seed trays. These will help to keep your seeds warm and increase your germination rates. Many plants like tomatoes and peppers need to be kept warm in order to germinate.
If you can’t get your hands on a warming tray, you can use a heater near your plants. This is also a successful way to ensure your seeds will germinate and begin to grow.
HOW TO START YOUR SEEDS INDOORS
Well, now that we have the basics of seed growing, we can finally get down to business!
Here are several steps on how to grow your seeds indoors:
- Fill all of your seed trays with seed starting soil.
- Water your soil before planting your seeds. You want it damp, not soggy.
- Plant 1-2 seeds in each tray. You can use a popsicle stick to mark what you’ve planted. *a rule of thumb is to plant the seed twice as deep as it is wide. If it is a very small seed, just lay the seed on the top of the soil and sprinkle more soil on top! Each seed only has enough energy to make it to the top of the soil, before it needs more energy (light). If you bury your seeds too deep, they will not have enough energy to surface.
- Gently pack your seeds down to make sure they stay in place.
- Add a small amount of water to the top of all your seeds.
- Continue to water the soil to keep it damp. Remember, do not overwater your soil. I like to use a squirt bottle that has a mist setting on it to ensure I am not drenching the seeds with water.
Make sure to keep your grow lights on for most of the day and monitor the heat in your greenhouse.
You are well on your way to creating viable seedlings that you will be able to transplant in your garden!
MOVING YOUR SEEDS TO YOUR GARDEN
Once your last frost has hit your area, you are then able to plant your seedlings. I’m sure this is a well anticipated day, I know it is in my greenhouse!
There are a few things you need to do before you can transplant your plants to your garden.
The first thing that you need to do is harden your plants. They have been used to being kept warm, so if you immediately transplanted them outside, they would likely get shocked and not survive. So, you’ll need to set them outside on warm spring days in order for them to harden.
Make sure you bring them inside at night and turn off their heater or warming trays inside the house. You’ll need to do this for a few weeks in order to make sure they are hardened from the cold outside.
Now you are able to transplant them. Make sure to read the back of the package for details on how to plant them in the garden. You’ll need to get the appropriate amount of spacing between each plant and monitor how much water they will need.
With these easy tips, your beginner gardener will transition into a master gardener! Wow your friends with your abundant crops that all started from seeds indoors. There aren’t that many people who have taken the time to master the art of seed starting indoors.
Pat yourself on the back beginner gardener, you’ve got this! Comment below with what seeds you are starting indoors this year.
Read about how I take care of my perennial flower garden at the end of the season, here.
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