Guide to starting vegetable seeds indoors

Photo by jspatchwork

Do you know that in most climates many vegetables don't finish their fruiting cycle before autumn? You can give them even 2-months headstart by starting vegetable seeds indoors.

That will insure your plants will grow healthier, bigger, producing more fruits for a longer period of time.

Did you collect heirloom seeds from the strongest plants last year and want to continue cultivating that particular vegetable variety you like?

Starting vegetable seeds indoors is really simple. Keep reading and you will find out how to do it in a few easy steps. If you want to know when to start seeds, check out Skippy's Planting Calendar.

Preparing the soil and containers for vegetable seeds

Choose containers that are at last 2 - 3 inches deep, with small holes to allow proper drainage. You can use small pots, containers from yoghurt or cheese or special Growing Trays . You will need Seed Starter Potting and Planting Mix or a similar substrate. It's sterilized and loose structure of the mix will provide seedlings with moisture and oxygen much better than ordinary soil would.

Place the mix in a bucket, slowly add water and stir, till it's well moistened but not wet. Put prepared mix into your containers, gently push it down. Then add a bit more and level the surface.

Planting and germinating vegetable seeds

Write vegetable variety name and sowing date on the plastic marker and push it into the container. With a pencil make small holes spaced at about 1 inch (2.5 cm) and put 1 seed into each hole (if seeds are fresh) or 2 - 3 seeds (if seeds are older, many of them may not germinate).

Cover the container with plastic foil or Humidity Dome to keep moisture inside. Place the container in a warm place, preferably where bottom part of container is heated. If it's too cold or nights are chilly, consider buying a Seedling Heat Mat. Put it under the container to heat the soil and provide optimal germinating temperature.

Every day check if the soil is not drying. Sprinkle with a Spray Bottle if necessary. Your vegetable seeds should start germinating within 5 - 14 days.

Caring for the seedlings

As soon as the seeds start germinating, remove the plactic cover from the container. Place the container in a well lighted place, preferable a sunny windowstill. Check the soil frequently. If the surface is dry, gently water the vegetables. Every few days rotate the container to prevent seedlings from bending towards the sun. When the plants have developed a few sets of a true leaves, it's time to replant them into deeper container or individual pots.

Fill the new containers with soil and make holes for the plants. Remove the seedlings from container trying not to disturb the roots. Put them into planting holes, slightly deeper as they were growing before. Push down the soil around the plants and water them gently to let the soil settle down.

Do not worry if your vegetables look a bit off after transplanting. They will quickly regain their shape. Since the mix contains very little nutrients, it's time to start weekly fertilization. Dilute the Fertilizer twice as much as recommended on the bottle to avoid hurting sensitive roots.

Planting seedlings in the garden

When the soil in the garden has warmed up and night temperatures are at 50 degrees F (10 degrees C), seedlings can be transplanted into your garden. At first leave the containers in a shaded place outside for a few hours. Then you can leave them overnight. After a few days you may place them in direct sunlight, beginning at morning or afternoon. This procedure will allow the plants to gently get used to the conditions outside.

Choose a cloudy day or a late afternoon for planting your vegetables in the garden. If you have some compost, you can mix it into the soil to encourage growth. Push down the soil around transplanted seedlings and make sure they are well watered.

As you see, starting vegetable seeds indoors is easy. Try it and have a great harvest while paying less!