Starting Seeds Indoors
Get a head start on the gardening season by starting your seeds indoors! Here are some seed starting basics to start you on your gardening journey.
Shopping List
You'll need the following items to start your seeds. All of these items can be ordered online and delivered to you from any garden supply store:
- Seed starting potting mix
- Spray bottle
- Plant labels
- Plastic wrap
- Pots or flats/trays, if using
Containers
No pots? No problem! Seeds can be started in all kinds of containers:
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Plastic cups
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Newspaper pots
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Egg cartons
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Egg shells
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Yogurt containers
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Cardboard milk cartons
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Metal cans
Clean out the container with soap and hot water, and punch or hammer a few drainage holes in the bottom.
Sowing Seeds
Fill your container with soil and lightly pack it in. Water the soil so that it is moist, but not soggy. It’s best to use a seed starting mix, which you can find at any garden supply store. Regular potting soil may not be fine enough for seedlings to push through.
Plant your seeds at the depth indicated on the seed packet. In general, seeds should be planted at a depth 2x the diameter of the seed. If they are planted too deep, they will not get enough oxygen to grow. For specific planting depths, see these gardening guides from the Cornell Cooperative.
Don't forget to label the seeds you planted as well!
Caring for Seedlings
Seeds need warmth to grow, along with water and oxygen. Cover your seeds with plastic wrap or a plastic dome, and place them in a warm spot near a window. Check your seeds once a day to make sure the soil is still moist, and water gently if needed. You may want to use a spray bottle to water, so the seed isn't washed away. Be sure not to overwater. Remove the plastic once seedlings start to appear.
Additional Resources
- Cornell Cooperative Seed Starting Factsheet
- Seed Savers
- Use your library card to check out these eBooks: