Introduction
I’m the type of person who likes to grow her own food. I’m also not very good at waiting for things, so I like to start my own seeds indoors in early spring and transplant them outside once they’re ready. Starting seeds indoors isn’t difficult, but there are some important steps you should follow or else your seedlings might not make it through their first few weeks. Here are six steps to get you started:
Step 1: Prepare your seeds.
Before you can start your seeds, you’ll need to prepare them. Be sure to label them and choose the right size for your containers. You can find out what seed is best for your climate and soil by reading our Reference Guide to Seed Germination.
If you’re using a low-tech method of starting seeds, such as paper towels or newspaper, be sure that you have enough space between each layer so that the plants don’t get too crowded.
Step 2: Choose a container and plant your seeds.
- Choose a container that is at least twice as big as the seed. This will allow plenty of room for the roots to grow and spread out.
- A plastic container with drainage holes is best so that you don’t have to water too often, but if you’re going for an all-natural look, use an old clay pot instead.
- Use a lid on top of your container; this will keep moisture from escaping and help prevent accidental spills when you move your seeds around or take them out to plant them in dirt later on! You can also make your own labels using cardboard or paper, or buy some pre-made ones online at sites like Amazon or Etsy!
Step 3: Keep them warm.
Keeping your seeds warm is important, but you have to make sure they aren’t too warm. It’s best not to use a heating mat unless you really know what you are doing. The best way to keep them warm is by using a seedling heat mat or pad with an automatic thermostat and humidity control.
You can buy these at most garden stores, but we recommend ordering them online because they often cost less money when purchased online than at the garden store.
Step 4: Place the containers by a sunny window.
- Place the containers by a sunny window.
Plants need light to grow, and this is especially true when they’re seedlings like those you have just started indoors. As the days get longer in springtime and summer approaches, your plants will need more light than they do during winter months in order to grow properly. So now that you have some seeds sprouted, it’s time to find a sunny spot where they can stay for 12 hours or more each day!
Step 5: Water regularly, give them some fertilizer, and keep them cool at night.
Watering. It’s important to water regularly and thoroughly. Watering in the morning or evening is best, as it can be done earlier than during the day while you’re busy with work or other things. Watering should be done with a watering can (for accuracy), not a sprayer, to avoid overwatering—and don’t forget that plants need more water when they’re growing quickly!
Fertilizer. Use fertilizer at least once per week during the growing phase of your plant’s life cycle—the first month or so after seeds have been planted is when they’ll most benefit from fertilizer, but applying some again once seedlings emerge will help encourage healthy growth as well. If you’re using an organic or biological product like fish emulsion as your choice of fertilizer, dilute it by half before applying; if not diluted at all, this kind of product can burn young plants’ roots!
Step 6: Once they are big enough to handle, transplant into individual pots.
It’s time to transplant your seedlings into individual pots. This is an important step in the life of a seedling because it gives them a chance to grow and develop properly, as well as prepare them for transplanting into the garden.
- Transplanting into individual pots allows you to water each plant separately and make sure they are getting enough water without drowning out other plants in the same pot.
- Transplanting into individual pots makes it easier for you to fertilize each plant separately without over-fertilizing other plants in the same pot.
- Transplanting into individual pots makes it much easier for you to transplant each plant once it becomes big enough (and your weather conditions allow).
These steps will help you get started with starting your own garden.
Before you start planting your seeds, it’s important to know the best time of year to begin.
The best time of year to start seeds indoors is in the fall. This gives them plenty of time to grow before winter and get ready for spring planting.
If you live in a mild climate, you can plant your seeds earlier in the season. This will allow them more sunlight and warmth during colder months so they have a better chance at survival when planted outside later on in spring or summertime!
Conclusion
We hope that these steps have helped you get started with your seeds. There’s nothing more satisfying than growing your own food, and now you know how to do it! It’s easy to forget just how much work goes into making something as simple as a seed grow into an adult plant, but if you follow our advice… well then we think it’ll be pretty clear why they’re so important – they make everything else possible!