How To Start Seedlings Inside
Continue to adjust the lights to keep them 15 above the top off your plants as they grow.
How to start seedlings inside. This will take several minutes as peat-based seed starting mixes are slow to absorb You want the mix to be uniformly damp like wet sand. When selecting vegetable varieties check packets for the number of days until harvest to be sure your choices will ripen before frost. As young seedlings develop proper light and watering are the two biggest keys to success.
Set out the heat mats on each shelf and set out the thermometer on the shelving unit or close to it. Many annual flowers need an indoor start if they are to bloom during the summer. Starting indoors in a container of well moistened sterile seed-starting mix make shallow furrows with a pencil or chopstick about 14 in.
To start seeds indoors moisten seed starting soil mix in a large bucket and fill seeds trays or recycled cartons with 3-4 inches of the damp soil. Consider a grow light if you start in late winter. It will give your last frost date for the season.
The hardest part of starting seeds indoors is providing the optimal temperature light and humidity levels for them to germinate and sprout into seedlings. Most veggies need between 6 to 8 hours of direct sun minimum so its important to have a grow light if you are sowing your vegetable seeds indoors in late winter. As the seed starting mix starts to absorb the moisture add more water as needed.
Start with an hour or two gradually working up to several hours. Many long-season vegetables must be started indoors in early spring. Prick out seedlings planted in community pots and transplant them to individual pots or cell packs filled with moist soilless mix.
Choose a container with drainage holes. Set up a lighted seed starting area. Watering Lighting As Seedlings Grow Starting Seeds Indoors.