Gardening can be an expensive hobby if you buy all your plants as potted specimens from nurseries. Luckily, starting from seeds is a more affordable way to get your garden going. Different plants have unique requirements for indoor seed starting, including seed depth, type of growing medium, and water and light needs. However, the overall process for growing seedlings indoors remains similar across various species.
A few basic steps can help most seeds turn into healthy seedlings ready for transplanting outdoors:
- Use the appropriate container for starting seeds.
- Choose a well-lit spot for germination, and consider adding grow lights or a heat mat if needed.
- Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
- Harden off seedlings before transferring them to your garden.
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Now that you're familiar with the basics, let's delve into the exact steps for starting seeds indoors, complete with pro tips to ensure your success. Soon, you'll be enjoying home-grown fruits, vegetables, and flowers!
When to Start Seeds Indoors
A seed packet usually indicates if a plant should be started indoors with instructions like "start indoors eight weeks before the last expected frost date." You can find the frost date for your area with a quick online search. From there, count back eight weeks to determine when to start your seeds.
Not all plants should be started indoors. Root vegetables like radishes and beets, and crops such as beans and corn, are better off being sown directly in the garden. Some fast-germinating plants like cucumbers, zucchini, zinnias, and sunflowers may not benefit from an early start. Follow the instructions on the seed packet for the best results based on your USDA hardiness zone and recommended soil temperatures.
Reading a Seed Packet
The back of a seed package provides crucial information on how to start the seeds. Key elements to look for include:
- **Planting time**: Some seeds must be started indoors, especially in colder climates.
- **Days to maturity**: This indicates how long until the plant produces fruit or flowers.
- **Light and water needs**: Some seeds require lots of light and might need grow lights indoors.
- **Soil needs**: Some seeds only thrive in specific soil mixes with optimal temperatures.
The seed packet also includes data such as days to germination, fertilizing needs, planting depth, and transplanting techniques.
Before Getting Started
Many commercial potting mixes are suitable for seed starting, although they technically contain no garden soil. They are usually composed of materials like peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, and compost. This type of mix works well for many seeds.
For smaller seeds, a special seed-starting mix can be more effective. It’s more porous and fine-grained, lacking the organic materials found in regular potting soil, which can cause fungal problems. Avoid using outdoor garden soil for starting seeds as it tends to compact easily and may contain weed seeds and pathogens.
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