Starting seeds indoors can be a bit intimidating.
Years ago, I gave it a try and it was a complete flop. Looking back, I see my errors. Since that time, I’ve been over-paying for sub-standard plants from the big-name nurseries. I am now motivated to give it another try.
The first thing you will need is good seeds. Heirlooms are my seed of choice this year for the most part, however, you might decide otherwise. Hybrids are another popular choice as well as organic. Here’s a little info on the difference. Being a seed-saver, I am not nearly as interested in hybrids this year, due to the fact that most of the seeds will be sterile. Seeds produced from heirlooms won’t be. Annie’s Heirlooms, Johnny’s Seeds, Territorial Seeds and Burpee all got a little of my money.
How to save a seed? Read this, but don’t worry about it right now.
Buy a good starter mix along with these plastic growing cells. I am using Johnny’s Mix this year, but there are lots of good ones out there. Just choose a germination mix and get started. Also, if you’re careful with them, these plastic cells will last for a couple of years.
After you decide what to plant indoors, go ahead and plant! Some of these seeds are so tiny, I had to use a pair of tweezers to get them in my little soil holes. It slowed me down, but in a good way.
I enjoyed feeling each seed as I placed it in the soil! I made little holes with a pencil tip.
Once planted, your seeds will need warm soil, which is provided by a heat pad. I’ve checked a number of places and the prices were pretty consistent. I got mine from Burpee.
Also, don’t forget to water them and keep them moist, but not saturated, at all times.
Finally, you will need a grow light of some kind. I got mine at Home Depot, along with two plant bulbs at about $10 each. Not a bad investment at all, considering that it should last for years to come. Your seedlings will not need the light until they germinate, but don’t wait too long. My seeds popped up on only 4 days and I didn’t have my light up yet!
You will want to keep your light as close as you can without burning them. If the light is too high, the plants will reach for it and become spindly and without enough leaves.
Once your seeds germinate and get about 3″ tall, put the light on them 24/7. Be sure to keep them well watered and enjoy the thrill of growing your seeds indoors!
Here is a Martha Stewart video with a representative from Johnny’s, for you visual types. Enjoy!
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About kmorris
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Melissa,
I plan to start seeds indoors – I need to get started soon actually. But I use the cardboard egg containers – then just break them off and plant them as they are compostable. Also, I am not going to bother with the heatpad or lights as I don’t know if I will do this again and the whole point is to save money so I don’t want to spend much. I will set up a table in our front living room where there will get tons of light from the big windows there and it will be set over the heat vent which should be sufficient as we don’t keep it too warm in the house either. I hope I too, get good results
Kim,
You are blessed to have a sunny window with heat nearby! Let us know how your seeds do, ok?
For the early spring veggies such as broccoli, cabbage, lettuce and so on, I use a method known as Winter Sowing. Basically you put the seeds into containers with soil and put them outside….yes and let the freeze. Mother nature will let them germinate at the correct time. They will also be hardened off naturally as well. Check out this website for more information. http://www.wintersown.org