There’s a lot that goes into raising a happy seedling, so we’ve put together this complete guide to starting seeds indoors. Follow along to learn about what all you need, and how to get started. We will also discuss transplanting the seeds outdoors, and when the best time is to start the germination process.
Table of Contents
Get A Head Start On Your Veggie Garden
If there is one thing we know for sure, it’s that Colorado is a place with extreme weather fluctuations. With its sometimes unpredictable weather patterns, the decision of when to plant your gardens outside can add a lot of distress to even the most skilled gardeners. That’s why starting your seedlings indoors can be a great way to get a jump on your garden while you try to wait out Mother Nature and her finicky weather!
Generally, March is an ideal time to start planning and sowing your seeds for your summer garden. Think of it this way: the goal is to start your seeds in March so that your plants are full and thriving by the first of June! With a shorter growing season here in Colorado Springs, giving your veggies a 4-6 week head start will help ensure you have a plentiful harvest and a thriving garden during the summer months!
Supplies:
There are probably some empty containers lying around your house that would be perfect to start off some seeds with. If not, the supplies are generally fairly inexpensive online or at your local superstore. You’ll want to gather up:
- Potting Soil
- For the best results when starting seeds, it’s important to choose a starter potting soil made specifically for starting seeds. This will help ensure germination and provide a strong foundation for your seedlings! Check with your local garden center to help you choose the correct one.
- Containers
- It’s important to remember that seedlings don’t need a lot of space to grow. Ideally, seed trays that have cells that are 2-3 inches wide and deep are best for starting seeds.
- The most common containers are trays of cells that have anywhere from 4 to 12 cells per tray. You can also use biodegradable seed cups that can be directly planted into the ground or items you may have lying around your home (like Dixie cups or egg cartons). Just make sure that whatever you use has holes to allow for drainage and isn’t wax-coated. No drainage holes? No problem, simply poke some holes in the bottom!
- Variety of Seeds
- You are the captain of your own ship! Choose veggies and flowers for your garden that you and/or your family will enjoy eating the most! Just be mindful of their sun and water needs.
- See our guide below on which veggies transplant best.
- Seed Covers
- Having something to cover your seedlings when you first start them can be extremely helpful in terms of holding moisture and heat which helps facilitate germination (seed sprouting).
- You can often find seed starting tray kits that include plastic domes/lids that can be put on top of trays. If you don’t have access to a kit, try using plastic wrap!
- Water! Water! Water!
- Seedlings are sensitive and needy little plants! Make sure you are checking soil moisture daily and watering as needed. Take care not to flood your seed cells, as you will risk having the seeds rot before they have time to germinate.
Don’t worry about fertilizer just yet. Our experts recommend waiting to use any fertilizers until way later in the game. Chemicals are a lot to handle for little seedlings so it’s best to hold off for now. Organic compost on the other hand can provide a boost of nutrients for the soil. The soil itself needs to be lightweight – heavy soil makes it harder for the sprouts to push out their happy faces. More importantly, remember this:
There are a few key things to focus on when starting seeds: airflow, light, and moisture. You’ll want to make sure you have complete control of all the above. Equipment can help greatly with this, like these all-in-one planter kits available on Amazon. They come with everything you need – even gloves. As we said earlier though, you can get creative with household items such as egg cartons and washed pasta sauce containers.
How To Start & Care For Seedlings
We made it easy to keep all the info you need about your seeds organized in one place. Plus, we included plant labels you can glue to popsicle sticks so you always know who is who! Download our free seed starting kit below for an easy and stress free approach to starting your seeds indoors.
1. Plant your seeds!
- Before you do anything, make sure to consult the back of your seed packets, they are the best cheat sheets for starting seeds! This will tell you the right depth to plant your seeds and take all the guesswork out of it. Always make sure you moisten the soil before seeding as this will help with germination.
- Let’s get started! Start by moistening up your seed starting mix until it’s evenly damp. Don’t be afraid to get your hands in there! You’ll need to add just a little bit of water at a time as some seed-starting mix is slow to absorb the moisture.
- Place at least 2 seeds in each cell. This will help increase the probability of germination, and you can always thin them out to one plant per cell once they are larger. Once planted, make sure to water your seeds! Keep track of what you’ve planted by labeling your cells and containers.
2. Position your seed trays in a warm, sunny spot, or under a grow light!
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Sunlight is one of the most important factors, next to water, for starting your seeds successfully. If you can get your hands on some grow lights, set them on a 12-hour cycle so that your plants can get strong, consistent light. If not, place your seed trays/containers in a spot that gets consistent/semi-consistent sun throughout the day.
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Window sills are best, just make sure there are no chilly drafts, as maintaining warm temperatures for your seed babies is very important! If you need additional soil heat, grab a warming mat from your local garden center to warm the potting soil to the ideal range for starting seeds.
- If you have a humidity dome, attach that now. Keep the little air vents open though as we do want some circulation during this process. If you don’t have a dome, get creative with plastic wrap.
3. Provide consistent moisture!
- As previously stated, make sure you are checking your soil moisture daily. No need for a fancy moisture meter, just use your finger! Germination is dependent on moisture. You will most likely be watering your seedlings daily if you don’t have a cover. There are a variety of methods you can use, just be sure that the force of water on your seedlings isn’t too strong, especially in the beginning. We don’t want you washing those seeds out to sea!
4. Thin out your seedlings as needed.
- Once your seedlings begin to germinate, (start to sprout), you will want to thin them out if you originally put more than one seed in each cell. Having more than one plant in each cell will become too crowded, the plants will start to compete and overall growth will be stunted. To do this, carefully pull out one (most commonly the smaller) of the plants, being careful not to disrupt the root system of the other seedling.
Moving Your Seedlings Outdoors:
To set up your little seedlings for success, you’ll want to “harden” them off before letting them loose outside. Baby steps are better for baby plants as you’ll slowly be introducing them to the cold and wind. Not too much at a time though, or you could shock them.
Not hardening off your plants first means the first time the temperature dips below average, your plants may die. It’s about slowly increasing the light while slowly exposing the plant to lower temperatures and wind. You can do this by leaving them outdoors for a few hours a day to become accustomed to the elements. Expose the plants to more direct sunlight and wind each day for about two weeks.
Once your plants are big and hardened off enough, and once temperatures outside have risen and remain consistent, it is time to transport your seedlings to their final destination, THE GREAT OUTDOORS! Some plants take longer to mature before they are ready to move outdoors, ranging anywhere from 3-10 weeks. Our infographic below provides some good ranges using our average last frost date in Colorado Springs of May 16th.
Seed Suggestions
Vegetables That Are Favorable To Start Inside
Easy
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Eggplant
Hot Peppers
Pepper
Tomato
Cucumber
Squash
Difficult
Beans
Corn
Onion
Peas
When To Start
Weeks before the average last frost
3-4 Weeks
- Corn
- Cucumber
- Melon
- Peas
- Pumpkin
- Squash
4-6 Weeks
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Kale
- Okra
8-10 Weeks
- Eggplant
- Onion
- Pepper
- Tomato
Go Start Your Seeds!
Now you’re an expert on starting seeds indoors! This can be one of the most fun (and tricky) parts of gardening. Investing in some lights or seed starting kits can have a big payoff when you see all the new happy faces sprouting.
Following the above step-by-step guide will get you headed in the right direction but be sure to notice the details on the seed packets as different plants have different needs. Give them what they want, and they will grow big and tall for you! Now who is down for a planting party?!
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