Gardening Features

Start Seeds Indoors!

March 15, 2001

Mini-greenhouse with moistened pellets ready for planting.

Gardeners will tell you about the hazards of starting seeds indoors, of leggy seedlings from insufficient light, of damping off, and problems with germination. They'll lead you to believe that there is some sort of magic, or at least, arcane science to getting plants to grow from seed on a windowsill. Well, I'm here to tell you it ain't true. Anyone, with a little love and attention, and a few simple items—some kind of light, planting tray or pellets, soil starter, and seeds—can grow great, healthy plants from seed.

Why would you want to do this? Well, there's the excitement of planting unusual varieties, fragrant varieties, heirlooms and herbs not usually carried at the garden store, the pleasure of nurturing plants and watching them develop the recognizable features of their species, and the assurance that, in all likelihood, your seed-grown plants will do as well or better than store-bought plants. All things considered, it's worth a try.

I use a moistened chopstick to grab tiny seeds for planting.

You will need a window and grow lights. Seedlings really do need a lot of light. You can use fluorescent lights, grow lights, or even large, shaded incandescent bulbs. One should be plenty for one tray. Use your judgement. Once mine sprout, I leave the lights on at least 12 hours a day, to supplement the sunshine.

You'll also need a container. You can use most any flat container, provided it has some drainage holes in the bottom. You can get mini-greenhouses filled with 12 peat pellets that you moisten to inflate. These work great, as do the larger 30 and 60 pellet varieties (reusable and affordable). These are great space savers too. Or you can go with flats, such as you see in the garden center. For these you'll need soilless seed starter mix, a fine, mostly peat mixture especially made for seed starting.

If you really want happy seedlings, you can also buy some seedling tea, or use a very weak fertilizer solution diluted. Since most soil mixes for seedlings are nutrient-free, your plants will need to be fed by the time they have their second leaves.

Just touch the chopstick to the seed, and then plant in the predrilled hole in the pellet (or on the surface).

Don't be afraid to try things. I've had no trouble with perennials, annuals, vegetables, vines, and herbs. I've successfully launched seeds requiring darkness to germinate (plant seeds in pots and put the pots in a cardboard box for a couple days). This year I grew begonias which require strict sterilization procedures and a couple weeks in a covered plastic shoebox to get the required warmth and humidity to germinate. Despite the many warnings, mine sprouted quickly and are growing well, despite their tiny size. In short, except for real tough cases like hellebores, clematis, and the like, you should be able to start most anything in the house. Just read and follow directions on the seed packet.

The key is attention, which shouldn't be too hard since watching seeds sprout is so exciting! Keep moist until germination then water as needed. Don't let plants overheat if they're in a greenhouse tray (uncover on sunny days). Feed every couple weeks after they have their second leaves. Make sure light is adequate. And transplant them when they get to the 4 leaf stage, either into 3" pots or out in the garden in a protected area or cold frame.

Try it and see. You'll be amazed how easy it is to grow healthy, hardy plants indoors for earlier blooms and a longer growing season. As one gardener put it, Seeds want to grow!

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