You might have heard that gardeners tend to live longer than non-gardeners. While much of the evidence is anecdotal, it makes sense to me! Gardening encourages spending time outdoors and eating more vegetables, which is great for our health.
If you’re thinking about starting your own garden for fresh produce, you might consider beginning with seeds indoors instead of buying plants from a local greenhouse. It’s a cost-effective way and offers a great learning experience for both kids and adults.
I’ve had successes and failures with my own seedlings, but one thing I’ve learned is that there’s no better teacher than just jumping in and getting your hands dirty!
When you start seeds indoors, the timing will vary based on your location. You’ll need to check the last frost date in your area to determine when to start your seeds. Depending on where you live, you can start many seeds inside to enjoy a longer growing season. Some seeds, however, do better when sown directly into the ground.
If you’re new to gardening, seed packets are a great resource. They include planting instructions and will tell you whether to plant seeds directly outside or start them indoors first. As a general guideline, some seeds do well started indoors, while others should be planted directly in the ground.
Most seed packets will indicate whether to start your seeds inside or sow them directly, which helps remove some of the guesswork. If you’re beginning, choose seed packets with detailed instructions. Knowing how much to grow is personal, and many gardeners don’t get it right even after years of experience. To get a rough idea, you can use a calculator to figure out how many seeds to plant per person for each type of plant.
Since most seeds are inexpensive, you don’t need to stress too much about quantity. If you end up with too many seedlings for your garden, you can share them with friends and family! I’ve even sold or given away extra seedlings on local swap websites. It’s a fun way to connect with other gardeners.
Starting seeds indoors is relatively easy. You’ll need a good growing medium, water, and sunlight (or artificial light). To speed up the process, you can pre-germinate seeds in unbleached coffee filters or paper towels inside unzipped plastic bags.
Some plants prefer warmer temperatures (around 60–80 degrees) for germinating, like tomatoes, peppers, and squash. Keep these warm in the early days with a heat mat if needed. Cooler temperature plants (around 50 degrees) include lettuces, greens, and peas, which often do well in a room temperature environment. A good rule of thumb is to look at when they can be moved outside; those that can be transplanted near the last frost usually need lower germination temperatures.
If you’re starting out, it’s wise to begin slow with just a few plants. Your choice will depend on where you live and your preferences. Also, pick plants that are easy to grow. Here are some of the easiest ones to start with:
I suggest sticking with a maximum of 10 different plants. This helps you become familiar with those specific plants before taking on more. Remember, you’ll not only be responsible for starting seeds and nurturing seedlings but also for transplanting, garden care, harvesting, and preserving your plants.
About a week before planting them outside (which you’ve calculated based on the last frost date and seed type), gradually reduce watering and start hardening off by exposing heat-loving plants like tomatoes to the sunlight outside in small doses, in a wind-protected area.
Follow these tips for transplanting and watch your plants thrive! Starting seeds indoors is an enjoyable way to jump-start the gardening season. It requires extra time and effort—plus some persistence when things don’t grow as planned—but you’ll enjoy a diverse variety of heirloom and non-GMO veggies and flowers for your garden!
Have you started planting any seeds yet? What are your tips and tricks?
