The biggest mistake gardeners make is starting their seeds too early. Winter has been long and the temptation to get growing is often hard to resist. But you should. By knowing the last spring frost date in your area you will be sure to start your seeds at the proper time. Eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, and cole crops are all good candidates for starting indoors. Slow maturing flowers like fibrous begonias, impatiens, geraniums, vinca, petunias, and snapdragons all take a long time to bloom from seed and will require the head start indoors. Varieties with tiny seeds are also best sown indoors because they have a tendency to get washed away in heavy spring rains. Some seeds resent having their roots disturbed and prefer being sown where they will grow. Peas, corn, beans, root crops, sweetpeas, and nasturtiums are some that fall into this group. Make sure your containers are clean and free of any pests. You can make sure containers you are reusing are clean by soaking them in a one part bleach and five part water solution for a few minutes before planting. Space is usually at a premium so it is best to use the commercial plastic seed starting flats. They fit easily into carrying trays and because their size is uniform you will be able to fit more in a small space.
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