Starting your vegetable seeds indoors in March or 10-6 weeks before your last frost date, can give you a head start on your garden! It can truly be a benefit especially if you live in zone 4 (like me). Here are some of the seeds I am starting this month, as well as some seed starting tips I am using to get a good start in my garden this year!
There are a few things I have found to be useful when starting seeds indoors.
The first thing I've found for a successful seed starting and one of the most important is to make sure to provide your seedlings with enough light. If you don't have access to a sunny spot, like a greenhouse; it is a good idea to invest in some grow lights! Typically the sun from a window sill may not be strong enough for the seedlings, they need direct light. If you are looking for grow lights Amazon has some great options, and you can find them at almost any box store during the spring. This will be a huge factor in the health of your seedlings!
Another thing to consider is using a seed-starting mix instead of regular potting soil. Seed starting mix is specifically designed to support germination and promote healthy root growth in seedlings. After the seedlings have sprouted their first true leaves, you can transplant them to a bigger pot. This is when I start using regular potting soil. This way the seedlings are being supported with the nutrients they need; as seed starting mix is specifically designed for seed starting and doesn't contain as many nutrients for growing plants. I also prefer using organic seed starting mix and potting soil. One last thing I have found with soil is to make sure I pre-mix the dirt with water before planting with it. This makes planting and the the first watering so much easier. If I don't pre-mix it I have found it can have a really hard time absorbing water at first.
In addition to good soil it is important to keep the soil moist. Germination requires moisture but it should not be waterlogged. As I've experienced overwatering can lead to mold and other issues.
I hope you have found these tips helpful and have a successful seed starting year! Happy planting!
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