How to Start Your Plants Indoors: Advice for the Anxious Gardener to Get Through the Winter

As the long, cold winter drags on, many gardeners are anxious to dirty their hands and watch things grow. Treat these cabin fever symptoms by starting your garden plants indoors.

Starting transplants doesn't have to be an expensive hobby, although there are many gadgets and fancy seed starting kits on the market. The only materials and equipment you need are containers, potting soil or seed starter mix, good light, fertilizer and water. Containers for starting seeds must be clean and sturdy and provide adequate drainage. For example, sow seeds in plastic or wooden flats and flower pots. Then transfer seedlings to individual containers such as cell packs, used paper or Styrofoam cups, peat pellets or peat pots.

Some gardeners grow seedlings in peat pots, which are formed from compressed peat and available in various sizes. The plant and its pot are placed in the planting hole, and the plant's roots will grow through the peat pot. Because the seedling isn't removed from its container, root injury and transplant shock is minimized. Other possible containers are peat pellets. After absorbing water the pellets are almost two inches tall and 1/4 inches wide. A thick mesh holds their shape, and seeds are sown on top of the peat pellets. Like peat pots, peat pellets also can be placed directly into the soil. A fairly recent container used by home gardeners is the pot made from strips of newspaper. Newspaper is wrapped around a circular, wooden frame and twisted to form a small 2-by- 2-inch pot. These pots are filled with potting soil and handled like peat pots. The newspaper disintegrates after six weeks, so the pot and plant can be set directly into the garden.

Soil cube makers also are fairly new in the home garden market. They are metal forms that are pressed into a specially prepared, moist soil mix consisting of peat, compost, sand and soil. Soil cubes are formed, and seeds can be sown into each cube. The cubes hold together fairly well until the seedlings can be planted outdoors. Soil cubes makers, as well as paper pot forms, can be purchased from many seed companies.

No matter what container you choose, always start seedlings in fresh potting soil. Never reuse soil from other plants or use straight garden soil. If you're mixing your own potting soil, use equal parts of garden soil, peat and perlite. After it's mixed, pasteurize it to kill any disease-causing organisms in the soil. To do this, place the soil mix in a baking pan. Moisten it lightly, and bake it at 180 degrees for 30 minutes. After the soil cools, store it in a plastic bag.

Although seed starter mixes can be used and are most convenient, they don't contain any plant nutrients. Therefore, seedlings must be transferred into potting soil once the first true leaves appear. In addition, don't sow seed directly into dry seed starter mix. Moisten it with warm water before planting.

Not all garden plants need to be started at the same time. Check seed packages to determine how much time crops need to reach a good transplant size. Tomatoes, for example, only need five to seven weeks. However, peppers and eggplant need eight to 10 weeks. Geraniums require 12 to 16 weeks. To determine when to start the seeds, count back the weeks from the desired planting date.

Another helpful tip is to sow seeds at the recommended depth. Moisten the soil lightly and place flats or flower pots in plastic bags. Seal them, and place them in a warm location to help retain moisture and humidity. Once the seedlings germinate, remove the plastic. Then place flats or pots in direct light. If that's not possible, fluorescent lighting can be used. Keep plants about four to six inches below the lights, and leave the lights on 12 to 16 hours per day.

Keep the soil moist so seedlings won't wilt. Fertilize with a soluble plant food about every two or three weeks. However, don't fertilize seedlings two weeks prior to planting. By following a few simple steps, you can beat winter boredom and have transplants ready when planting season finally arrives.

Sources:

Bust, Alyssa F., and George F. Van Patten Gardening Indoors with Cuttings 1997

Van Patten, George F. Gardening Indoors, New Revised (Gardening Indoors) 1995