Starting Seeds Indoors

Right about this time of year, I get antsy and really miss gardening. It’s been a weirdly warm winter where I live (except for that week cold snap that rolled through) and it almost feels like spring. I’m still hesitant to start some seeds outside because our last frost date where I live isn’t until early April. This year, I’ll be starting seeds indoors and I’m pretty excited about the flowers I’ll already have when spring is barely here.

Supplies

• Soil – preferably seed starting soil but anything that holds moisture well and has some nutrients will do. I mixed some composted steer manure with a seed starting mix for mine.
• Container – I purchased one this year (HERE is the one I got) but have also been saving up egg cartons and plastic strawberry containers. The plastic ones were really well as tiny greenhouses. They already have drainage holes along the bottom and work well at keeping moisture locked in.
• Light – this can be from the sun or a growlight. I have some bulbs I love (THIS one is my most very favorite) but a good sunny window will also work. The plants do need plenty of sun so if it’s cloudy a lot where you live still, a good growlight is a must.
• Seeds – technically you can start any seeds indoors but it’s best to find some that will adjust well once it’s warm enough outside for them to move. I suggest Zinnias, Coleus, Poppies, Snapdragons and Herbs. This year I also started some Salvia seeds I saved from last year.

How to

Starting seeds indoors isn’t rocket science but it does require following directions per the seed packet. Each plant will have a different depth requirement for how deep to plant the seed. You’ll also want to pay attention to the germination date on the packet because then you’ll know when to look for seedlings coming through the soil.

When starting, you’ll want to make sure the dirt is loosely packed into the trays or containers. You don’t want it too heavily packed but also not too loose either. The soil should be moist throughout but not soaking wet. I mixed all my dirt together in a 5 gallon bucket with water until I got the right consistency before putting in into the containers. Then I used a squirt bottle to make sure the top layer was wet enough.

Then you will sow your seeds following the directions. Cover loosely with more soil and then give it another good misting with water. To create a greenhouse effect which keeps the seedlings warm and moist, use a plastic lid or wrap on top. Make sure there is some airflow however. Then place the trays under your growlight or in the sun. Now we wait!

Tips

It’s important the seedlings stay moist. They need water to grow and it’s critical they stay moist but not sopping wet. This is where the spray bottle comes in handy. Make sure when spraying that you’re giving them enough water and not just misting the top.

Watch for burning. If you’ve put the seeds in front of a window, you’ll want to make sure they don’t get too hot, especially when those little seedings poke through. This is another reason I like the grow lights.

Make sure the seeds stay warm. We want to mimic spring so a little warmth is good. A lot of people use warming mats (like THIS one) to create an even temperature. Right now I have my seeds in my laundry room and it stays plenty warm in there.

Give them some air once in a while. Once those seedlings grow a bit, they’ll need some air and room to stretch. After they get to a certain size, you’ll want to acclimate them to living outside. This means easing them into it slowly by setting them out of the direct sun for a few hours on a nice warm day. It’s easy to forget about them, so I like to set a timer. At this point you’ll want to refer back to the seed packet to see when a good time to transplant them based on your zone and the weather outside. Some seedlings like snapdragons and sweet peas like the cold and will be able to go outside sooner than others.

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