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.
To get your seeds off to a fast healthy start it is best to start your seeds in a soil-less growing medium. This will give you the best aeration for strong root growth and water retention with out water logging. These mixtures are usually a combination of vermiculite, perlite, and peat moss which really help in warding off damping off disease. Damping off is also spread by over watering, poor air circulation, high temperatures, and week light. You will notice a brown line circling the stem just above the soil level, causing the plants to shrivel and die. Fill the containers to 1/2 from the top and then level off the soil less mix. Moisten the seed flats before seeding this will help prevent the seeds from sloshing out. Be careful to avoid over planting the seed in each container. Make sure to give your plants plenty of room to grow. Over crowding will produce spindly, week seedling. If the leaves over lap when the seeds sprout you will need to thin them out right away. Read package instructions carefully.
Some seeds need light to germinate while others need complete darkness. Plant the seed at the specified depth and then mist the containers after sowing. You need keep the containers from drying out but you don’t want them to be sodden. Finish by labeling and dating each container so you know who is who. Most seeds germinate best between 70-75F. After seeds have germinated it is usually best to lower the temperatures. The plants will grow a bit slower but you will have nice vigorous healthy plants. Most seeds germinate in five-fourteen days and it is important to mist or give a light watering every day until the seeds emerge. Make sure you have adequate light for your seedlings to grow straight, and avoid getting leggy. As soon as seedlings have their first set of true leaves you will need to thin and transplant them to larger containers. Using a pencil or small potting tool loosen the soil and carefully remove the seedlings. Make a hole in the new container and carefully set the roots back to the same depth as before, firm the soil around the transplants and mist.
Hardening off is a very important step in allowing your plants to make a successful transition from indoors to outdoors. Temperature and sun tolerances are important but the most important and often over looked process in hardening plants off is getting them used to wind. You will need to gradually toughen their outside cell structure so the plants can tolerate drying winds and temperature fluctuations. You can help your seedlings make the transition by gently petting the seedlings daily. Just brush your hand across them daily, brushing the leaves and toughening them up. Having an oscillating fan running for several hours each day where you have your seedlings will make for mush hardier plants in a week’s time. When your plants are ready to set into the garden it is best to transplant them on an over cast day and make sure to keep them well watered for the first two weeks.
