How to start seeds indoors

Mar 28

If you’ve never started seeds inside for a garden (and even if you have!) it can be intimidating! There are lots of little things that can go wrong or be missed, so it’s always great to brush up on techniques even if you’ve been gardening for years.

Last year was really what I would call my first official year of a ‘real’ garden. I made a ton of mistakes and still haven’t even figured them all out completely, but I’ve also learned a lot.

This year, I’ve planned a Free Seed + Plant Swap in Irwin (coming up April 9th!) to share extra seeds, ideas, cuttings and the like. If you’re local to my area or in garden zone 6b, there’s still plenty of time to collect seeds, make a plan and start certain seeds inside or outside.

Here are a few of my main tips that made the indoor seed-starting part of my garden a huge success!

Test seed viability: for larger seed varieties, soak a few in water for a couple hours. Living seeds will sink, dead seeds float. This gives you a good idea of what to expect for your germination rate and soaking large seeds also helps to soften their hard shell, making them easier to sprout.

Mix tiny seeds with sand: Tiny seeds such as carrots are very tricky to sow evenly. Make the task easier by mixing the seeds with fine, dry sand. Thoroughly mix together a pinch of seeds with a couple of teaspoons of sand, then sprinkle evenly over your soil.
Moisten seed starting mix prior to sowing: This helps to eliminate air pockets near the roots and helps your seeds stay put. Soil mixture should be damp, but not sopping wet.
Prevent pathogens or mold: A sprinkling of sphagnum moss and chicken grit (finely ground stone) on top of new seedlings will help prevent the surface from getting overly moist or moldy. Good airflow or a small fan is also helpful once your seedlings sprout.
Water your plants from the bottom when possible: This helps to avoid overwatering or washing away seeds to the corners of the pot. Watch how much water is drawn up and don’t let the plants sit in a wet tray.
Keep grow lights no more than 3” above plants: Adjust your grow lights accordingly as plants grow so that they don’t get leggy. You may also need to rotate plants regularly if they are reaching toward your light source.
Touch seedlings daily: Lightly brushing your hand over your little baby plants helps them to grow strong, straight stems and helps to grow your bond!
Always harden off seedlings before transplanting outside: I know it’s exciting, but your little plants need at least a few days outside in a sheltered area (like a porch) to get used to wind, temperatures and real sunlight. Take your time and keep a close eye on the forecast before taking the leap.
Talk to your plants: Music, love and kind words will help you and your plants grow.