Getting a future organic garden started indoors will pay big dividends when the summer rolls around. There are several benefits to starting plants indoors from seed. Doing so is much cheaper than purchasing transplants; an individual can buy seeds for many more varieties than he/she will find for sale as plants; and choosing seeds allows an individual to experiment with flavors, shapes and colors and also allows plants to have different maturing dates, which extends an individual’s harvest. By starting plants indoors, they can spend more time in the person’s garden flowering instead of getting mature enough to flower.
Some Tips to Get Started
- Start the seeds off in a sterile seed starting mix (preferably organic) that is light and fluffy to hold just enough moisture.
- Moisten the growing medium before placing in seeds; seedlings are very delicate and can drown or become diseased easily.
- The container used can vary but seedling kits with heat mats or 3- to 4-inch deep trays are most commonly used.
- Cover the seeds with a plastic top or saran wrap to lock in humidity until the seeds start to germinate. Then remove plastic to allow airflow and place under light.
- Seedlings need a lot of light or they will grow stalky and weak. Sunny, South-facing windowsills will do for most applications. Most serious gardeners use artificial lights. It’s imperative that bulbs used are fluorescent and not incandescent, as florescent bulbs give more light and stay cool. Lights should be kept 3 to 4 inches above the plants as they grow.
- Monitor plants daily, and water when the medium is dry.
- If growing in a window, be sure to turn trays daily to strengthen stems, as they switch sides to grow toward light.
- When temps are consistently warmer, begin placing plants outdoors for short periods of time in protected areas. Once a few days pass, pick a warm, calm morning and plant them in their new garden home.
Source: Next Door Gardens.
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