How to Plant Seeds For Indoor Seed Starting | Video | joegardener® (2024)

FAQs

How to plant seeds in a seed starter kit? ›

Use a pencil or chopstick to break open the surface of the soil plugs and form a small indention for the seeds. About ¼ inches is deep enough. Drop two seeds into each indention. Place the included cover over the seed starter kit to keep the seeds warm and retain moisture while they germinate.

Seeds for Root Crops Should Not Be Started Indoors

For that reason, it's best to start root crops like carrots, beets, radishes, and even potatoes in the soil where they'll grow.

Mid-March is the best time to start many vegetables and annual flowers indoors for transplanting outside once the threat of frost has passed.

Commercial seed-starting mixes, usually composed of vermiculite and peat, without any true soil, are recommended for starting seeds. They're sterile, lightweight and free from weed seeds, with a texture and porosity especially suited to the needs of germinating seeds and tiny seedlings.

For the healthiest seedlings, use a grow light to start your seeds. Healthy seedlings need a lot of light, and even a south-facing window may not provide consistent, even, bright light needed for plants to get a good start.

Almost any clean container may be used for seed starting provided it allows for good drainage and is at least 2” deep. Save money by reusing cottage cheese and yogurt containers, milk cartons, aluminum pans, and clear clamshells from the produce department or deli.

Plastic pots are best for starting seeds. Good drainage is essential. Plastic pots or containers are preferable to clay pots when starting seeds, as they retain moisture more consistently. Wide, shallow containers prevent both overcrowding of seedlings and excessive moisture around fragile, young roots.

Moisture Matters – After planting, water seeds with a gentle mist or shower. Avoid using a strong splash or spray, which can dislodge seeds. It is vital to keep soil consistently moist.

If you're storing and sowing seeds inside, they won't go through a cold winter, which some need to signify it's time to wake up and grow. To ensure high germination rates, wake seeds up, and potentially speed up the process, soak seeds before sowing them to soften and loosen that outer protective layer.

The Short Answer. Most seedlings require water every day or every other day. First, check the soil moisture using your finger by checking the soil color near the drainage hole. If the soil feels or appears dry or brittle, irrigate thoroughly until water pours out of the bottom of the tray, then stop.

What seeds are best to start indoors? ›

Seeds that are typically started indoors include long season crops, like eggplants, okra, tomatoes, broccoli and kale. Some plants do not fare well as transplants or need to be transplanted at the right stage of growth so they aren't stunted by stressors.

Sow seeds early in the morning so the water has enough time to permeate the soil and get warm throughout the day. You can do it in the evening but make sure the seed flats stay warm overnight. Keep sown seeds away from direct sunlight and keep at a temperature of 75F-90F degrees—double check for specific seeds.

For instance, your packet may read “start seeds indoors 2-3 weeks before transplanting.” From your last frost date, April 21 for example, count back 14-21 days to arrive at your seed starting date, determining the best indoor starting dates are April 1 to April 8th.

Generally, vegetable seedlings require watering every 1-2 days. It's essential to check the soil moisture; it should be moist but not waterlogged. In hotter or drier climates, or under intense grow lights, you may need to water more frequently.

Some are quick to germinate, taking 1-2 weeks at most, such as chillies, beans, sunflowers and pumpkins. Some seeds take more like 2-4 weeks, such as mango and parsley. Others, depending on how warm/cold it is, take closer to 2 months, for example avocado.

Seeds require a certain temperature to germinate. Each plant has a specific optimum and a range within which germination will occur. The closer the temperature is to the optimum, the quicker germination will occur. Most seeds germinate when the soil temperature is between 68° and 86°F.