There are several good reasons to start vegetable and herb plants from seed indoors but the main reason is you can gain 4 to 6 weeks over crops started by seed in the ground. During January spring seems like it will never arrive, but it is actually the best time to get ready and start sowing seeds for your cool season vegetable/herb garden.

Arugula, Broccoli, Beets, Cauliflower Endive & Escarole, Garden Cress, Lettuces, Spinich, Carrots & Parsnips, Peas, Snow Peas, Sugar Snap Peas, Collards, Swiss Chard, Raddichio, kohlrabi and kale, Turnips, Chives, Oregano, Parsley and Thyme can all be started from seed indoors and most should be started at least 6 to 8 weeks before the first day of Spring! (The first day of Spring is Officially March 20th so you do the math) You can always check the back of the seed packets they have specific instuctions ie.: when to start sowing and germination time.

Seed, container, starting mix and grow!
Your first step is to acquire seeds. You will need containers that have drainage holes, and a tray or something to catch excess water. (seed starting kits make sewing seeds indoors so easy) Once you have containers, you’ll need a starting mix. A starting mix should be a lightweight soil that will stay moist without compacting. (peat pots and peat pads also work very well)

Successful sprouting
Fill the container with 3 to 4 inches of starting mix. Moisten thoroughly with warm water; this eliminates the need for top watering immediately after sowing so the seeds won’t be displaced. Do not drown seeds or seedlings with water!

Once you have planted your seeds keep them moist and warm.
Place freshly planted containers in a warm spot in the house. Remember that warmth and sun will reduce moisture quickly, so check the soil regularly. Letting the potting mix dry out, overwatering or allowing the soil temperatures to fluctuate widely will reduce your germination rate. If you must water freshly planted seeds from the top, do so very gently; it’s preferable to water from the bottom if you can. Plants in a sunny window can grow leggy as they grow toward the sun, so be sure and rotate them to keep them straight.

Seedlings need room.
Even with the best efforts at careful spacing during planting make sure to not over seed or over crowd your seeds and seedlings. You may have to pinch out some seedlings. Pinch or use small scissors carefully and nip plants at the soil line; this makes for less root disturbance to remaining seedlings. (Seedlings can also be transplanted to a larger pot...be very gentle when transplanting however)

Harden off your seedlings.
The timetable for hardening off plants depends on outdoor temperatures. Your seedlings should be ready once they have two or three leaves beyond the seed leaves. Gradually introduce tender plants to the outdoor tempratures and to their new home in your garden garden. Place them in part shade and keep sheltered for five to seven days, and then move them into a sunnier location for another five to seven days before transplanting them. (If the weather forcast calls for any severe weather you are still able to bring them back inside for protection). When Transplanting hold the plant very gently by a leaf to prevent damaging the stems.

Label Seedlings.
You can use small plastic or wooden stakes specifically made for this purpose. Write the variety on one side and the date the seedlings were started on the other. When transplanting place the stakes with the seedlings. This is also a great way to keep track of how many days a plant takes from sowing to harvesting.

As with ALL GARDENING there are no absolutes! When seed starting always read the back of the packets for specific sowing instructions and as always we at Van Bourgondien Nursery are here to help you sow and grow your garden successfully. We carry a full line of seeds, seed starting kits, starter soils, peat pots and trays so you can successfully Grow Your Own.

Happy Gardening!