When to Start Seeds Indoors
The good news is that, even in the dead of winter, this is the perfect time to begin planning and starting seeds for your spring and summer gardens.
SUPPLIES
You will need some hardware for this project. Hardware will include some seed trays, shelving and possibly a light if you don’t have an appropriately placed window to devote to your seedlings. A great way to get started is with a trip to your local garden center, where you can pick the experts’ brains about what plants do best in your area, growing mediums and more.
For software, you’ll need a growing medium, plenty of water and a way to gently apply it (spray bottles are great for this) and your seeds, of course.
LIGHTING
Since lighting will be a factor for most people in the U.S., consider using LED grow lights for maximum efficiency. Fluorescent lights can lose brightness as they age and may take a bite out of your electric bill. Set up your seedlings so the lights can be a few inches from the tops of the plants and can be adjusted to keep them there as the plants grow. Seedlings generally like 1216 hours of light per day; a timer can make giving them the right amount of light a snap.
WHAT TO PLANT WHEN
Talk to the experts at your local garden center and know your growing zone to determine exactly what you should plant when. You should also be aware that some plants like to go outside as seedlings, while others should be planted directly into your outside garden as seeds because they dislike being transplanted.
CARING FOR YOUR SEEDLINGS
Once you decide what to plant and get your seeds in your soil, check on them a couple of times a day, making sure the surface of the soil remains slightly damp. Too dry and the seeds won’t germinate; too wet, and they’ll rot. When at least half of the seeds are sprouted, you can remove the cover from your seed tray. Keep the seedlings moist, but not soggy, and, as they grow, start to thin them out when the first sets of true leaves emerge. Once you have two sets of leaves, you can start fertilizing with a water-soluble fertilizer.
Depending on your area, you may need to harden your seedlings by getting them used to the great outdoors. Place your seedlings outside in a protected area in the shade for an hour on the first day, extending the outdoor time by an hour each day for three days, when you can allow them a little morning sun as well. Gradually let them stay out longer and get more sun for about a week, when they’re ready to go in the ground.