Tips and Tricks for Starting Seeds Indoors

Producing your own food can be a healthier, more affordable alternative to supermarket vegetables and is incredibly satisfying. This year, get an early start with your garden by planting seeds indoors with our expert advice.

Best Seeds to Start Indoors

Pick your veggies based on what the family members will consume, and then purchase top-quality organic seeds for optimal results. For those who live in areas with colder temperatures, it might be advantageous to plant a larger range of indoor plants because of the shorter growing season. Choose from the following options:

• Basil
• Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Cilantro
• Dill
• Eggplant
• Kale
• Parsley
• Peppers
• Tomatillo
• Tomatoes

When to Start Seeds Indoors?

In general, it is recommended to plant your garden seeds inside between six and eight weeks after the typical date of the last frost in your region. Check the instructions on each seed packet to find the suggested dates for planting.

How to Start Seeds Indoors?

Start by making your tools and other materials to ensure that all the tools and materials you will require are in your reach:

• Top-quality seeds
• Seed tray to plant seeds
• A top-quality seeding mix for potting
• A pencil that has an eraser
• Fertilizer (optional)
• Heat mat for seedlings (optional)
• The Grow lights (optional)

1. Follow the directions on the packaging to determine whether you'll require chilling, scratching, or soaking the seeds prior to planting.

2. Place your potting mix in the container of your choice and then moisten it by mixing it thoroughly.

3. Fill the containers with the mix to just below the border.

4. Check the label for each type of seed, and follow the planting instructions. Select the largest seeds and then use the eraser at the pencil's end to gently push the seeds into the soil.

5. Put a layer of plastic wrap on sides of the tray. Make use of a skewer to poke many holes that allow air circulation.

6. Take care when you water because too much force could cause the seeds to fall away.

7. The ideal temperature for your seeds to germinate is between 65 and 75 degrees, and the bottom heat is the ideal. A top-of-the-line refrigerator could be ideal as well, or you can choose to make use of a heating mat.

8. Be sure that the potting mix stays moist, and when the seedlings begin poking through the soil, remove the wrap of plastic.

9. Transfer the tray(s) to an east-facing window or set them under the light of a grow lamp. From 14-16 hours, sunlight is needed for maximum growth, which is why grow lights are the most preferred option.

10. Once the seedlings have grown their second set of leaves, it's time to transfer them into individual pots filled with the potting soil. Place the pots in bright indirect sunlight and give them a few weeks for them to get adjusted. The first set is not real leaves but cotyledons that form an element of seed. The majority of vegetables will be able to see two cotyledons appear and then the first true leaves.

11. Plant the seedlings in a hard, sturdier place prior to transplanting them outdoors by watering them less often during their last week indoors. A week before transplanting, start placing the pots outside in a protected place for a period of several hours and keep the soil damp.