:strip_icc()/growing-cucumber-plants-indoors-a7ca7193-e9c0a217fe2f4b7c8007734067d6bc26.jpg?w=1920&resize=1920,2361&ssl=1 "9 Essential Steps for Starting Seeds Indoors Successfully")
Starting seeds indoors is a time-honored way to get a jump on the growing season. And with just a few dollars-worth of seeds, you can grow lots of plants very inexpensively. Starting your own seeds also allows you to try out unusual and interesting varieties that you can’t find at a local garden center. Here’s what you need to know to successfully start seeds indoors for planting in your garden once temperatures warm up in spring.
When to Start Seeds Indoors
Exactly when to start your seeds depends on your climate and the types of seeds you’re growing. Look on the seed package label to find the number of weeks suggested to start the seeds indoors before the average last frost date for your area. It usually takes about six to eight weeks to give your seedlings a good head start on spring, so count backward from your area’s frost date to figure out when you should start your seeds indoors.
Steps for Starting Seeds Indoors
Once you’ve figured out when to start your seeds, follow these steps to plant veggie, herb, and flower seeds indoors in pots.
1. Gather supplies.
Even though the planting instructions on the packet might vary, you’ll need the same supplies to start any seeds indoors. Here’s what you’ll need:
Plastic seed trays and seed-starter kits are super easy for growing seeds indoors. But you can dig through your recycling bin, too. Just remember to punch a drainage hole in each container before planting. Cardboard egg cartons work well, but you can also repurpose items such as clean, cut-down milk jugs and yogurt cups. Or, you can make your own seed starter pots from newspaper.
2. Fill pots.
Fill pots with fresh, moistened seed-starting mix. Don’t use garden soil, which is too heavy and may have insects or diseases in it. Leave about a quarter-inch of room at the top to make watering easier.
3. Sow seeds.
Follow the seed packet instructions for planting. Some will suggest making a shallow hole in the center of the potting mix to put the seeds in and others will say to add seed right on the surface. Add one seed to each pot or cell for large seeds, and 2-3 for smaller seeds. Use the crease of the seed packet or place seeds in a creased piece of paper to help direct the seeds where you want them to go.
Sometimes not every seed will germinate. Adding 2-3 seeds to each pot increases your chances of success. Once everything has sprouted, you can thin out the extra seedlings.
4. Add water.
Once you’ve sown the seeds, mist each container enough so that the potting mix is damp, but not drenched with water. The water will also help the potting mix settle around the seeds.
5. Label and cover seeds.
Label each of your pots so you know what’s growing in them. Loosely cover the pots with clear plastic wrap or zip-top bag, which helps maintain humidity and warmth around the seeds.
6. Keep pots warm and watered.
Place your seed pots in a location that’s warm and free of drafts, but not in direct sun. The ideal temperature is about 75°F but no hotter than 90°F. Once the tiny seedlings emerge, remove the cover and move them into a sunny window or under grow lights as necessary. They need about 12 hours of light a day to grow properly.
The top of a refrigerator works well for seed pots because it’s out of the way and it gives off just enough heat around it to help the seeds grow. Just make sure to check them every day or so to see if they need more water.
7. Thin out seedlings.
As the seedlings make their presence known, they need more space. Keep the ones that look healthy and strong, and snip the rest so there’s just a single plant per pot.
8. Repot seedlings.
After they’re about two inches tall and have a couple sets of leaves, your seedlings need an upgrade. Transplant them into larger containers, this time in regular potting mix instead of seed-starting mix.
9. Harden off seedlings.
Before moving your seedlings out into the garden (keeping your frost-free date in mind), you need to give them a few days to get used to life on the outside. That’s what’s known as hardening off your plants. To do this, place the seedlings outside for a short time in a protected spot (about an hour or two). Each day, increase the length of time you leave them outside until they can remain outdoors all day.
BHG / Madelyn Goodnight
Best Seeds to Start Indoors
If it’s your first time starting seeds indoors in winter, it’s best to go small. Pick just one or two types that are easy to grow from seed like these favorite flowering annuals:
Marigolds
Many of us have memories of these jaunty flowers in our grandma’s or mom’s garden. There are loads of colorful marigold varieties, including ones you might not find in garden centers so growing your own from seed is your best bet.
Cosmos
Cosmos are cheery annual flowers that come in delicate pastel shades as well as vibrant orange, yellow, and pink.
Morning Glories
These climbing vines look stunning growing on a fence where they will produce a profusion of blooms all summer. Flower colors come in shades of blue, purple, red, pink, white, and bi-colors.
Morning glories are considered invasive in certain parts of the country, so check before growing.
Sunflowers
There’s so much to love about big, cheery sunflowers. They come in lots of interesting varieties, ranging from compact to towering plants. Bonus: Birds and bees love them, too.
