Image via WikipediaStarting your seeds indoors will lessen the amount of time you have to wait to see results in your garden, and many people prefer to grow their plants indoors first to ready them for the growing season. It can also be motivational and satisfying to see those little sprouts all bright and green in your window, after a long cold winter!If space is available near a sunny window, start seeds four to eight weeks before the plant-out date in your area (average date of last killing frost). I know it's tempting, but starting too early can result in spindly plants due to crowding and lack of sufficient light.
Planting Containers:
Almost any container with drainage holes in the bottom will work for planting. You can recycle and use paper milk cartons cut in half, Styrofoam cups, small baskets, tin cans, or reusable plastic trays or pots. For convenience, however, you may wish to start plants in the plastic trays and pots available at garden supply centers. Peat pellets can also work well.
Image via WikipediaPotting Soil:Use a rich, well-drained soil. Potting soils made for African violets and other house plants usually are suitable and do not have weed seeds. They are, however, more expensive than soil mixes you can make at home. If you use soil from the yard, it should be top soil that is well drained and not high in clay.
The best soils are often found around established shrubs and trees. Add sphagnum peat and sharp sand to the soil in a ratio of about one-half volume of each, and mixed thoroughly.
To kill weed seeds and some damaging soil fungi present in your commercial soil, place the soil mix in shallow trays or baking pans in an oven for 45 minutes at 250 degrees. For best results, the soil should be moist.
Be sure to check back Thursday, when we'll cover tips for planting and germinating your seeds for best results, and transitioning them to your outdoors garden!
Seed Starting Supplies:
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