Seed Starting Simplified: The Essential Indoor Setup for Beginners — Gardening, Herbs, Plants, and Product Reviews (2024)

FAQs

What equipment do I need to start seeds indoors? ›

The most convenient type to use is one of the commercial soilless mixes (Jiffy-Mix, Pro-Mix, Redi-Earth, etc.) that contain peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, and usually some fertilizer (see Table 1 for a mix recipe). These are specially formulated for starting seeds indoors.

Seeds that are typically started indoors include long season crops, like eggplants, okra, tomatoes, broccoli and kale. Some plants do not fare well as transplants or need to be transplanted at the right stage of growth so they aren't stunted by stressors.

However, for seeds to flourish into vibrant plants, they require the nurturing care facilitated by the right tools and environment. This is where seed starting kits come into play, serving as indispensable companions for both novice and seasoned gardeners alike.

It's very possible to create an affordable seed starting setup without fancy equipment! You can successfully sprout seeds in things like egg cartons and yogurt cups. Soil for seed starting can be collected from your garden and baked so that it's sterile, and you can use inexpensive shop lights as grow lights.

As a general guide, after your seeds germinate they can grow in smaller (1.5″ cell trays) for about 2-3 weeks, in larger 2″ trays they can grow in them for about 3-4 weeks before needing to be transplanted.

While some gardeners do use potting soil for starting seeds, you might want to take into account what type of seed they're using. When you sow seeds large enough for a potting mix, you're sowing seeds that should be about the size of your pinkie fingernail.

Some seeds require light for germination and should be sprinkled on the soil surface. Other seeds may need to be buried under 1/8- 1 inch of soil. For insurance, you can plant two seeds per cell (or pot). If both seeds germinate, snip one and let the other grow (thin).

Seeds for Root Crops Should Not Be Started Indoors

For that reason, it's best to start root crops like carrots, beets, radishes, and even potatoes in the soil where they'll grow.

Basil, oregano, mint, chives, sage, rosemary, and thyme are the easiest herbs to grow indoors, whether you have them in the garden already or wish to plant them now.

What is the easiest herb to grow from seed? ›

Some of the easiest are chives, basil, cilantro, and parsley. Another thing to keep in mind when selecting your herbs is that within most common herb varieties (e.g., "Thai Basil") there are dozens of different cultivars or 'strains'. Some are short and compact, others are tall.

Planting seeds this way is called direct sowing, and it is an easy process that yields great results. Unlike indoor seed starting, direct sowing involves unpredictable elements: weather, wildlife and insects. Even so, many vegetables, annuals, herbs and perennials sprout easily from seed sown directly into garden soil.

Sage, rosemary, thyme, and lavender can all be planted together in the same garden bed as they have similar growing requirements and are known to be complementary to each other. These herbs prefer well-drained soil, full sun exposure, and infrequent watering, making them ideal companions.

Set the seed starting trays on a dish and add a thin layer of water to the bottom of the dish multiple times for 10 to 30 minutes. Use your finger to touch the top of the soil to ensure that moisture has reached the top of the container, then move the seed trays out of the water-filled dish and back under the light.

Answer: Most seeds germinate best when the medium temperature is consistently 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Placing containers in a warm location in the house, such as on top of a radiator or near a heat register, usually works fine.

Gardening can feel like a very expensive activity sometimes, but starting seeds for spring planting doesn't have to be. You can use egg cartons as a seed-starting tray! Depending on the type of carton you have, you can even cut apart the individual sections and plant them, as the carton will biodegrade.