Starting seeds indoors is a fun and rewarding activity for gardeners of all levels. With a little bit of planning and care, you can grow healthy, strong seedlings that will thrive in your garden. It’s a great way to get a jumpstart on your garden and extend your growing season. It's also a fun and rewarding activity for gardeners of all levels.

A beginner's guide!

In this beginner's guide, we'll cover the basics of starting seeds indoors, from choosing the right seeds to caring for your seedlings.

Choosing your seeds

The first step in starting seeds indoors is to choose the right seeds. Not all seeds are suitable for indoor starting, so it's important to do your research and choose seeds that are appropriate for your growing conditions. Some popular seeds for indoor starting include tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and flowers.

You can purchase seeds from a variety of sources, including local nurseries, online seed retailers, and seed exchanges. Look for seeds that are fresh and of high quality, and choose varieties that are well-suited to your climate and growing conditions.

Getting started

Once you've chosen your seeds, it's time to get started. Here are the basic steps for starting seeds indoors:

Gather your supplies: You'll need a few basic supplies to start your seeds indoors, including seed trays or containers, potting soil, seeds, and a light source.

Fill your seed trays: Fill your seed trays or containers with potting soil, leaving about a quarter inch of space at the top. Gently tamp down the soil to remove any air pockets.

Plant your seeds: Plant your seeds according to the instructions on the seed packet, generally 2-3 seeds per cell or container. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil and water gently.

Provide light: Most seeds need at least 12-14 hours of light per day to germinate and grow properly. You can use a grow light or place your seed trays in a sunny window.

Water regularly: Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, watering your seedlings regularly with a spray bottle or watering can.

Caring for your seedlings

Once your seeds have germinated and started to grow, it's important to care for them properly. Here are a few tips for caring for your seedlings:

Thin your seedlings: Once your seedlings have grown a few inches tall, thin them out by removing the weakest seedlings in each container.

Fertilize regularly: As your seedlings grow, they'll need regular fertilization to stay healthy and strong. Choose a balanced fertilizer and apply it according to the instructions on the package.

Transplant into larger containers: As your seedlings grow, they'll outgrow their original containers and need to be transplanted into larger containers. Choose containers that are slightly larger than their current containers and fill them with fresh potting soil.

Harden off before transplanting: Before transplanting your seedlings outdoors, it's important to harden them off by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over the course of a week or two.

Happy planting!

Above blog post was based on the article and video from IL Ag Extension
Seed Starting Starting a Garden
Ken Johnson, March 23, 2020
IL Ag Extension
Article and recording of the video are in “New Posts 2023“ folder > sub-folder “Seed Starting”
Chris Enroth's seed-starting video!

Email Chris your gardening questions at cenroth[at]illinois.edu
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