Starting Seeds

Peat pots are the simplest solution: Just add water to expand the pellets and then add seed. You can buy biodegradable peat cell packs, seed-starting trays or you can reuse plastic cups, yogurt containers or milk jugs (be sure to add drainage holes).

Prepackaged seed-starting mix gives seeds the best conditions to take root.

Pro Tip: You can buy the mix or make your own with equal parts peat moss, vermiculite and perlite. Topsoil is too dense for starting seeds in containers.

Use fresh seeds whenever possible, as they have the best chance to germinate. Older seeds can be spread more thickly to offset their lower germination rate. Follow planting instructions on the seed packet. Some seeds, such as peas, should be soaked first. Others need to be covered lightly with soil mix. You can start most seed varieties six to eight weeks before transplanting outdoors.

• If you use peat pots/pellets, moisten them first. If you use a container, fill it with pre-moistened seed-starting mix and tamp gently to remove air pockets. Pro Tip: If you reuse a container, clean it with a solution of 10% bleach to kill pathogens before you add soil.
• Large seeds, such as beans and peas, can be placed by hand while medium-size seeds can be planted with tweezers. For tiny seeds, such as lettuce or basil, use a folded piece of paper and a toothpick to sow seeds more evenly. Press larger seeds into the soil, and lightly cover smaller seeds with seed-starting mix. Don't cover too deeply.
• Keep the soil damp, not wet. Water seeds using a spray bottle so you don’t wash the seeds out of the soil. Seeds need warmth to germinate. Place the seed tray on top of a refrigerator to capture ambient warmth, or cover it with a clear, plastic lid to recreate greenhouse conditions. Germination takes two to 10 days, depending on the seed.
• Once seedlings germinate, place them near a light source, such as a south-facing window. Rotate the trays every few days so seedlings grow upright. For optimum photosynthesis, place seedlings 8 to 10 inches beneath grow lights. Keep the lights on 14 to 16 hours a day; use a timer if necessary.
• Thin seedlings when they reach 2 to 3 inches tall and have developed a set of true leaves. Select the strongest seedling in each cell and carefully clip off competing stems.
• Feed weekly with a liquid soluble plant food diluted to quarter strength. Wait to transplant seedlings into the garden until the danger of frost has passed. Ease the transition from indoor to outdoor conditions by hardening off seedlings. Set the trays in the shade for a few days, then move them where they’ll gradually get a little more sunlight each day. They should be acclimated to the stronger light within a week.

Seeds can also be started indoors using a hydrogardening system and then transferred outdoors when the weather is optimal. Hydrogardening, also known as hydroponic gardening, is a method of growing plants in little or no soil, often in a blend, such as peat or coco coir, using a carefully balanced, nutrient-rich solution. Various kits are available to help simplify the process for beginners.