Starting seeds indoors

Starting seeds indoors gives you a lot of control over your results. If done well, you can control how well your seeds start, how many and how strong the plant is. You can get a jump start on your growing season by starting your seeds so they are already thriving when outdoor planting season begins and you’ll have established plants that just need time and fresh sunshine and water and nurturing to be feeding you long before the cool temperatures of fall come.

To start your seeds indoors you need 4 things. Seeds, a growing medium, containers and light. The seeds are the easy part. One of my favorite sources for seeds is MI Gardener. I am not affiliated with them in any way, I just love their seeds and prices. I have excellent germination rates with all the seeds I have received from them so far. I also like using Johnny’s Seeds too.

Once you have your seeds, you need to choose your growing medium. Many Gardeners prefer different things but I prefer good ole Miracle Grow. It, along with a few of the other things I’ll mention, can be found on my amazon list in my Gardening section here. NEVER use soil directly from your garden. It can bring diseases and pest from your garden into your home and this is not something you want. Use soil specifically for starting plants.

I like filling containers with soil and haven’t made the switch to soil blocking yet although I do have plans to make the switch if not this spring than next year for sure. Whichever you do, be sure to thoroughly soak your potting soil with water before you use it and let it rest. This allows it to absorb water and then it won’t just run off the first time you water your seeds. If you’d like to try soil blocking, there is one on my Amazon list. When I use small containers, I like to use the compostable ones to that they disintegrate into the garden. No waste or as little as possible is always the goal. If you do use the plastic 6 pack containers, try to purchase one that can be reused over and over again.

Light is important. A sunny window is nice but with todays technology widows are made to keep UV rays outside. Plants need true light and if you don’t have a greenhouse, grow lights are a good investment. Once your seedling have emerged from the soil, putting an oscillating fan blowing onto them is also a great idea. This helps them grow strong stems. Once moved outside your stems will be subjected to wind and rain- all the elements- and building a strong stem inside before your plant moves outside is the key to a successful outdoor plant.

I also like to use a heat mat just until some of my seeds emerge. I specifically use it for my peppers, tomatoes and eggplants. They are warmer weather crops that like warmer soil to grow in. If you don’t want to buy a heat mat, that’s ok! Try to start these seeds in a warmer area of your home, near a radiator, on top of a freezer, in a sun room or in the sunniest spot. I keep these seedlings on heat until they are about an inch tall.

I am, by no means, an expert gardener. I’m forever learning, just like everyone else. I can only tell you how I do things and what works for me. I do the best research I can, learn from trial and error and keep extensive notes year to year as to what works and what doesn’t. The more you do, the more you learn. We are all beginners until we do something, then we are learners. Hopefully, we are always learners, keeping our minds open to new ways, new possibilities and new ideas.

*DISCLAIMER: please remember that if you purchase anything by clicking thru to our Amazon affiliate page, we may earn a small commission. We are NOT affiliated with MI Gardener or Johnny’s Seeds in any way*