HOW TO GROW SEEDS INDOORS

It can be very rewarding to grow seeds indoors and then to transplant into the garden. Following our guidelines will provide you with healthier plants and an increased harvest.

There are several reasons that you might want to grow your own vegetables or flowers from seeds:

• You are able to start them off early, when it’s still too cold outside, then transplant into the garden when the weather warms up

• The harvest season can be extended as many vegetables will produce weeks earlier if started indoors

• You can grow from seeds new or unusual specimens that are not available in most stores

• Planting seeds in the home garden gives you endless choice, you get to choose what variety you eat, and when you eat it

• Plants can be expensive so you can lower the cost per plant if you grow them from seeds; this is particularly useful if you have a large area to fill

• A controlled indoor environment will produce healthy plants and you will reap the benefit from these all season long

• You can grow seeds purely for pleasure and to experience the complete life cycle of a plant

Annuals and vegetables are easy and germinate quickly so you can start with these if you are a beginner. Most packets have a lot of information on the back which can help you, for example before you can grow certain seeds they need to be soaked. Make sure you read and follow these instructions.

Containers

Any shallow container which is about 3” deep can be used to grow seeds. Egg cartons, yogurt pots, Peat Pots or custom made Seed-Starting Trays are all suitable as long as they are clean; wash used containers with a mild bleach solution to disinfect them. They should have holes in the bottom for drainage so it’s a good idea to sit the containers in a tray.

Potting Mix

Use a soiless potting mix which will be predominantly sphagnum moss. This is light, drains well and is water retentive. Don’t use garden soil which could be infected with weed seeds, diseases or insects. It also tends to be heavy and you will find that it will compact after several waterings. Fertilizer is not required at the germination stage.

Planting

Fill the containers with potting mix, tap down and dampen. Plant the seeds that you wish to grow in the mix, check the instructions for the depth or any special preparation e.g. soaking. Cover with plastic to retain heat and moisture as 60-75 degrees F is the optimum temperature for germination. A Heat Mat can be used to provide bottom warmth to enable you to grow seeds successfully. Some people just put them by a fireplace or an oven or indeed any other warm position.

You should start to grow the seeds about 6-8 weeks before the last frost in your area. Try experimenting with dates as some plants require more time while other like lettuce and cabbage require less. Is also a good idea to stagger plantings to extend the harvest and avoid having too much at the same time, though you friends and family may be the winners here!

Germination

Germination time varies and will usually be found on the packet. The first leaves that appear are called cotyledons and are not true leaves but food storage cells. At this stage remove the plastic, give them light and keep them moist. When the true leaves appear its time to use fertilizer to encourage good roots and healthy growth.

Light

As the seeds you grow get bigger they need 12-18 hours light. The best way to achieve this is to use a florescent or high density light as there may not be enough sunlight especially in spring.

Th plants can be ‘potted up’ when a couple of inches tall into 3-4 inch pots to allow the roots more room to develop. If they are getting tall and lanky it probably means they are not getting enough light and they may also need thinning out. A useful tip to encourage strong plants is to lightly ruffle them with the palm of your hand once or twice a day.

Damping Off

One fungal disease that you may face when you grow seeds is called damping off and is usually caused by excessive moisture or poor air circulation. To avoid this use a sterile soil mix and don’t grow too many seeds in a small area. If you are unfortunate enough to encounter this try scraping the mould off the surface, covering the soil with finely crushed sphagnum moss or using a small fan to increase air circulation.

When you grow seeds indoors you need to harden them off, that is acclimatize them gradually to outdoor conditions, before you plant them outside in a prepared garden bed.