Search
Popular Departments
Join Mailing List
ECO-Packets
All seeds are packaged in recycled catalogs!Our Guarantee
All garden seeds online have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Learn More
How to Start Seeds Indoor - Urban Farmer's Guide
Home > Gardener's Guide > Seed Starting Indoors
 |
Something to remember: Some vegetables don’t like to be transplanted. These vegetables include many root crops, such as carrots, beets, turnips, corn, bean and peas. Usually these seeds can be planted after first frost and will be ready to harvest before first frost.
Lighting
One of the hardest elements to provide indoors is light. There are two ways to provide efficient light to your indoor seedlings. Put them next to a window that receives eight hours of bright, direct light. Most gardeners will need to supplement their seedling lighting with special plant or grow lights that simulate the full spectrum of the sun. Even then, the lights will need to be left on for 12-15 hours per day, for your seedlings to grow as strong and healthy as they would in sunlight.
Potting Soil
Having good soil can be one of the most important aspects of growing health plants. Make sure to find a potting soil that is a proven winner and will give your plants all the nutrients they need to flourish into transplant quality plants. Try using potting soil which has a mix of peat, vermiculite and other fluffy matter that has the wonderful properties of being both water retentive and well-draining. This soil is great because it doesn't pack down like garden soil. Always make sure your soil is free of diseases and insects that may come from outside soil.
Timing, Timing, Timing
Knowing when to start your seedlings can be a bit of guess work but you can usually nail it to within a week or so. The two hardest seedlings to guess right is tomato and pepper plants. These usually need 4-8 weeks of indoor growth to be ready for transplant. So in many states you can start these in late January to February; giving you perfect size plants to transplant in your garden. Always decide when to start your seed by your garden zones first frost date and to some research on your vegetables. Count back that many weeks from your last expected frost date, to get an approximate date for starting those seeds. Different plants will require different timing, so use a calendar to mark down when to start what.
Starting Your Seeds
Planting your seeds is the easiest and most fun part of planting seeds indoors. There is no difference to planting indoors and outdoors. Find out the depth at which your seeds need to be planted and cover them with soil. Using a seed starter is easy because you have your plants really close and will be easy to water them. Remember to regularly water your plants and give them the light they need to survive. Also feed them nutrients at the appropriate times to keep healthy and growing.
Taking Outdoors
Now you are ready to reap your rewards of starting indoors. You have a huge head start on others and will be harvesting way before your neighbors. Always remember to harden off your vegetables before bringing them out into the garden. Try placing a fan directly on the plants for 5 minutes, twice a day; for about a week so they will be ready for the outdoor wind. Also bring them outdoors and place directly in the sun for about a week starting with small increments and gradually leaving outside all day. Now all that’s left is to transplant into your garden and watch them take off!
Tell a friend how to start seeds indoor!
 |
