How To Start Seeds Inside
Starting seeds at home is a fun and affordable way to kickstart your garden. Seed packages come in a variety of options from flowers to vegetables.
Get our tips on how to plant seeds at home and get growing in time for planting outside.
Understand The Climate You’re In
For colder climates, it’s not a good idea to start seeds outside. You don’t want to move seeds outdoors until AFTER the last frost of the season. This is typically around Mother’s Day. For indoor seed starting, you can use seed starting trays or peat pots. The seed starting peat pots are simple and easy to use. Fill the pot up with starter soil about halfway, put a couple of seeds into the soil, the add a little more soil on top. Water the pot and then put somewhere it will get 6 hours of light a day. Grow lights are great if your windows cannot do this. Once you’re ready to transplant them, you can place the whole pot in the ground. Seed starter trays are great if you have multiple different kinds of plants, or want to start more seeds.
Know What The Plant Needs
Check the seed package and know what the plant needs in order to thrive in the right environment. From the spacing of the seeds to the amount of sunlight it needs, make sure you read the package before you plant the seeds. When planting outside, make sure that the soil is above 50 degrees and there is no threat of frost in the future.
Use The Right Soil
If you plan to use peat pots vs. a seed starting kit, consider using soil that helps give it a jump start. A special seed starting soil is formulated to help with fast root development. Seed starting soils have fertilizers mixed in, supporting growth and giving it the nutrients it needs.
Lighting At Home
If you do not have a sunny and warm spot in your home, use a plant lamp. These lamps are specially designed to nurture and warm your plants when the sun cannot reach it. You might want to consider getting a timer for the lamp too, so that you can control how much light it gets, not too much or too little. 6 hours is about right for new seedlings.
Always follow manufacturer's instructions before using any product.
For more helpful tips and advice, visit a neighborhood Ace or visit us online at acehardware.com
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