Starting Plants Indoors – A comprehensive guide
For many plants that you plan on relocating outdoors in the spring, the time for planting those seeds is soon. Plants that have longer growing seasons than local weather will allow, need to be started indoors well before warm weather appears. Starting plants indoors isn’t as difficult as you might imagine. Of course, preparation and proper planning are crucial.
Every good growing season starts with good seeds and potting soil
Every farmer knows a good harvest begins with good seeds. If you live in farm country you’ll see signs along the road where farmers advertise the brand of seeds they’ve planted. Seed manufacturers provide those signs as advertising hoping to induce neighboring farms to see a bountiful harvest and purchase the same seeds next season. Now you’re probably not planning on planting an acre of seeds but the idea is the same. A good harvest begins with good seeds. Talk with your local nurseries, farm supply stores and garden shops to find good recommendations if you don’t have much experience with seeds. Avoid discounted seeds found at dollar stores or cheap outlet stores.
The same applies to potting soil. Potting soil isn’t dirt. It’s especially made for starting and maintaining plants indoors. It’s mostly peat moss, vermiculite and other materials designed to be water retentive yet well-draining if over watered. It’s mostly sterile, without insects or disease, and loaded with nutrients. Again talk to your local garden stores for good potting soil recommendations.
When to plant your seeds
Figuring out the correct date to plant your seeds so your plants are ready to move outdoors when the weather warms is quite simple. First you’ll need to know the expected date of the last frost in your area. In my area it’s typically the last week of April or first week of May. Depending on where you live this date could be much different. Now view the pack of seeds and find the number of weeks or days growth is required before moving your plants outdoors. Count backwards from your expected last frost date and that is when you should be starting those plants indoors. Plants all vary in growing seasons and how many days growth is needed before moving outdoors so mark your calendar when to start each variety of plant you are starting.
Where to place your indoor plants for proper lighting
This is the most challenging element to starting plants indoors. Plants need the correct amount of sunlight daily. Too much and they’ll dry up and burn and too little and they’ll wilt and die. In the Northern Hemisphere most will move their plants to windows facing south. During winter months typically there are many days of clouds so you’ll need to plan on purchasing a full spectrum light to supplement natural sunlight. On cloudy days expect to operate your full spectrum light between 12 and 15 hours per day. While sunlight is the best light for starting plants indoors; a full spectrum light can fill in the gaps when the sun doesn’t shine.
Beware of pest and pets
Keep a close eye on your young plants and act quickly at the first sign of insects or disease. If you have pets in the house you also need to make arraignments or setup small fencing to keep them away from your plants. Starting plants indoors shouldn’t be a daunting task but rather a fun time celebrating the impending spring. Starting plants indoors means springtime accompanied with warm weather isn’t far away.
