Even though there is snow on the ground, I have started my vegetable garden seeds indoors! I still have more seeds to start, but had to make due with the supplies I had on hand since we were snowed in. I used a few peat pellets I had leftover from last year and some organic seed starter mix I had.
Most seeds need four to eight weeks of indoor time before transplanting. Of course the weather needs to warm up considerably before transplanting seedlings. Also keep in mind that you will need to harden off seedlings before transplanting.
When starting seedlings, keep in mind these tips:
- Make sure the peat pellets or seed starter mix is wet before you plant the seeds. If you place the seeds in dry medium and then apply water, the seeds will float to the top. Peat pellets need to soak up water for several minutes before the seeds can be added.
- Plant more seeds than you think are necessary. Some seeds will not germinate and some seedlings will be weak. It is better to start more seeds and then thin out the weak plants before planting in the garden.
- Place seeds in a warm, sunny spot. Ours sit in a bay window. It helps to start with a plastic cover over the seeds to create a greenhouse effect. Most seeds germinate at about 70 degrees.
- Watch for first signs of seedlings. Once the seedling emerges, remove the plastic cover.
- Make sure to keep the growing medium damp. Not wet but damp.
If you need help starting your seedlings, consider using a seed starter kit. Remember to request free seed catalogs too!
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Renae is a married working mom of two handsome boys. She works as a registered dental hygienist by day and blogs here at How to Have it All by night. She enjoys cooking from scratch, working in her vegetable garden and functional training.
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