Growing Your own seedlings is fun, rewarding and economical. While many crops can be sown directly in the garden, others will be more productive if started indoors.

Some that will benefit greatly from started in indoors.

Peppers

Eggplant

Tomatoes

Brussels sprouts

Kale

Artichokes

Onions

Leeks

Chives

Celery

You can refer to the back of the seed packet for variety-specific planting information-bethere are some general guideline to help you get started.

The first thing to find out is your last frost date to determine when you should start your seeds. Next make a list of all the crops you plan to grow in your garden.  Seed packages will tell you when to start seeds indoors. Mark you calendar dates to start and plant out different crops so you don't forget. 

Nest gather you soil and containers. Fox Farm Ocean Forest is one of our favorites for seed starting. Fill pots to pithing 1/2" of the top of the container, lightly packing it down. Using trays will make it easier to move. Use a pencil to mark plant markers with the variety name and date of planting, then sow seeds in each cell or pot according to packet directions, covering with a thing layer of soil.  Water in lightly, then cover the tray with a germination dome and place on a seedling mat or other warm location that is consistently 70-85 degrees F. Never let the soil surface dry out while seeds are germinating. Once the seeds have germinated, remove from the heat mat and place under full spectrum fluorescent lights (such as shop lights), making sure the plants are within 3" of the bulbs at all times. Raise the lights as the plants grow, keeping them on for 10-16 hours per day to provide adequate light. Sunny windows do not provide enough light and result in seedlings that are weak and "leggy". Start hardening off seedlings a week before planting by placing outdoors for 1 hour the first day, then increasing by an hour each day until they're always outside.