Prepare for Spring Outdoor Planting by Starting Seeds Indoors

Spring is just around the corner. It’s not too early to think about your garden, no matter where you live. Long winters can make spring plantings difficult, particularly for certain vegetables and flowers that require longer growing seasons. Be ready to populate your garden sooner by starting seeds indoors.

As you plan your indoor seeding project, remember that timing is critical. If you start seeds too soon, they may grow out of their container(s) before spring arrives. But start them too late and they will not be ready in time. Research different seed varieties. Take your area's climate into consideration as well.

Your local True Value store has everything you need to start planning early for a healthy spring garden.

Step 1. Prepare Container(s)
The most important thing to consider when choosing a starter container is whether it has proper drainage. When selecting containers, feel free to get creative. Seed flats, peat pots or plastic cups with holes poked in the bottom work well. Even egg cartons or takeout boxes can make suitable containers.

Step 2. Soil Selection
The best type of soil for starting seed is commercial potting soil or germination mix. These are sterile, free of weed seeds and have the right amount of nutrients needed for newly emerging plants. Your soil should be full of air and very light. ''Soil-less'' mixes that contain peat or peat moss have excellent moisture retention rates and will keep moist longer. Perlite and vermiculite have the same effect.

Helpful Tip:

Beware: certain types of fungi can make indoor gardening go awry. Make sure whatever soil you choose has been sterilized.

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Step 3. Plant Seed
Use a tray to hold your starter containers. Place paper towels along the bottom to keep soil in while allowing water to drain through. Fill the container(s) with potting mix, then spread seeds evenly. Use a pencil to make holes for each seed two to three times the size of the seed. Cover with a thin layer of soil and mist the top with water.

Step 4. Lights, Water, Action
Check the packet instructions to determine how much light your seeds need to germinate. Some seeds need little or no light to sprout while others crave light. To help your seeds germinate, place them in a warm area, but avoid excessive heat, which may kill emerging seedlings. Covering the container(s) with plastic wrap will keep them warm and moist, also promoting germination, but be sure to remove it when plants sprout. Once the seeds germinate and shoots emerge, move them to an area that stays at room temperature. Water daily but don't over-water; even a light mist would do.

Step 5. Keep Seedlings Healthy After Germination
After they germinate, all varieties of seedlings need lots of light to survive. Place them in a naturally sunny window and purchase fluorescent grow lights to supplement the amount of light your seedlings receive. If you're not using the sun, keep your container(s) three to four inches away from an active light source at least 14 hours a day. Water daily but don't overwater.

Helpful Tip:

To keep seedlings from drying out, place your container(s) on a raised bed of gravel spread across the bottom of a large pan and add water. Be sure to keep the water level below the plant container(s).

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Step 6. Fertilize
Monitor your seedlings' growth carefully to know when to start fertilizing. The first leaves that appear will be food storage cells called cotyledons. Wait until the first true leaves sprout, then use a quality liquid fertilizer to keep your seedlings healthy. Use a weak solution once each week.

Step 7. Harden Off
Unless you're planning on transferring your indoor seedlings to a larger pot and keeping them indoors, you'll eventually have to plant them in the ground. Hardening off means getting the plants used to an outdoor environment. When temperatures rise a bit, place them outside for the day and bring them in at night. Take care not to put them out too early or late winter frosts may kill them.

Step 8. Transplant
Generally, seedlings will be ready to be planted four to six weeks after seeding. If outdoor frosts linger, or the seedlings outgrow their original container(s) earlier than anticipated, transport them to a larger pot until they're ready to be planted. Before you transplant, water the ground outside and the seedlings thoroughly. Use a small shovel to dig a hole about twice the size of the root ball and set the transplant in gently. Cover with 1/4 inch of soil pressed firmly around the roots. Leave a small depression around the plant stem to help trap moisture. Water daily or according to seed packet instructions.

Congratulations! You raised successful seedlings indoors and have a head start on the spring planting season!

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