Although it's still cold and snowy outside, spring is just around the corner and will be here before we know it. The days are starting to get noticeably longer and temperatures have moderated this past week, taking us from that sub arctic chill to slightly above average temps. And even though it's not “get out in the yard and start gardening weather” quite yet, there is one thing you can be doing indoors right now to get a jump start on the spring season and to scratch your gardening itch.

 

We're talking about starting seeds indoors. This is not as challenging or difficult as you may think and offers many benefits. So, this week we'd like to share some of the many reasons you should be starting seeds indoors.  We’ll also discuss some of the more common mistakes folks make when starting seeds indoors.

 

 

You can start as many or as few as you like. You do not need a greenhouse or a lot of specialized equipment. Oftentimes a windowsill will do.

 

Your selection of varieties available as seeds are almost always more extensive than what's available as started plants later in the spring. This is especially true with veggies like tomatoes and peppers. If you have your heart set on growing specific heirloom tomatoes or crazy hot peppers, seeds are the way to go.

 

You can grow a whole bunch of plants for the same amount it may cost you to buy a single plant later. This is an important consideration if you use a lot of plants or would like to have more.

 

There is nothing quite like watching a tomato seed germinate in your home and then slicing up tomatoes that that very plant produces for a sandwich or salad later in the summer. This is something we believe everyone should experience at least once. And if you have kids or grandkids at home, even more reason to start some seeds. This is a wonderful experience for them and a great learning opportunity.

 

 

Some seeds germinate and grow very quickly and others take quite a long time to do their thing. Starting quick growing varieties too early will leave you with plants that are ready to be planted outdoors well before it's warm enough for them to be planted safely, resulting in overgrown lanky plants. Conversely, starting slow growing types too late can result in lack of blooms or decreased or non-existent yields. This is especially true with perennials and tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. Seed packets will tell you how many weeks before our last frost to start your seeds indoors. Our average last frost on the Connecticut shoreline is May 15th, so always use that date to guide you with your seed starting.

 

Most seed packets can contain between 25 and 100 seeds depending on the variety. If you're planting lots of flowering plants in your landscape and containers 100+ may be realistic. However, unless you're planning on opening a farm stand, 25 cherry tomatoes may be a bit unrealistic. Growing too many plants can be overwhelming and discouraging. Unused seeds can be kept from year to year in a dry space, so no pressure to use all of them.

 

Seedlings require a lot of light to germinate and grow well. This can be accomplished in a sunny window or windowsill, just remember to rotate your seed trays daily once germination occurs. Plants will grow and stretch towards the light source, turning them daily will keep them straight and stocky. Alternatively, seeds germinate and grow well under artificial light, so if you're lacking in the sunny windows department, this is a great option.

 

Most people tend to overwater their seedlings. Keep in mind that seeds need to be just moist enough to germinate, not soggy. And even after germination the idea is to maintain just enough moisture. As the roots are developing it's critical not to over water. After a few weeks as the root mass develops watering can be increased.

 

Seeds require fairly warm temperatures to germinate and grow, with 75 to 80 degrees generally being the sweet spot for most. If you keep your house on the cooler side or would like your seeds to germinate and grow more quickly, consider using a heat mat. This is an easy and economical way to maintain a consistent temperature.