Organic Gardening – Guide To Starting Seeds Indoors

Starting plants from seed is the most strategic and economical way to grow a vegetable garden. By starting seeds indoors, you give your plants a head start that produces an earlier, and longer, harvest than waiting to plant until the ground is warm. This technique is particularly helpful for tender crops like tomatoes, squash, and peppers. This video provides a roadmap to help you successfully raise healthy plants from seed. In addition to guiding you through the top tips of planting from seed, we also illustrate how our online Garden Planner can help you determine a timeline for starting seeds in your local area.

 
Seeds require certain conditions in order to grow. Use good quality, fine, moisture retentive soil. It is crucial that seeds not dry out or become waterlogged. You must also provide sufficient warmth for germination. Once your seeds have germinated, it is time to transfer them to somewhere with good, strong light. A common mistake is to place them on a windowsill, which makes for leggy seedlings that struggle to recover. Instead, try full spectrum grow lights to supplement light.

Go to page 2 for the best tips for starting your seeds indoors.