So you want to start vegetable seeds indoors and get a head start on the growing season? If you have tried starting seeds before, then you know that there is a lot more to it then simply sprouting a few seeds and putting your young plants on your window sill and hoping they'll be hardy enough to be transplanted when the weather is ready.
Let me give you 3 important things to consider when starting any plant from seeds indoors, to insure you get not only the best plants but also a wonderful crop.
Germination: The key to remember when it comes to germinating seeds is temperature and moisture. Consistency is the name of the game here, let your seeds get too wet or dry and this will affect germination. I have found the cheapest and best solution is to use a damp paper towel when starting my vegetable seeds. Simply dampen your paper towel, place in your seeds, gently fold it up and place it inside a zip lock baggie. This is will help keep the moisture even and avoid your seeds from drying out.
Timing: Let me tell you about an important lesson I once learned about the timing and starting seeds. One year I decided to start extra early in sprouting and starting my heirloom tomato plants. They started off wonderful and everything was working in my favor, until the weather decided it was going to be a very wet and cool spring. But if my young plants are indoors, what's the big deal you ask. Well my timing was off because I had counted on these plants being ready to go outside. Now the weather was too cool and wet, and my indoor tomato plants had outgrown the space I was using indoors and I was basically stuck between two worlds. The weather outside wasn't quite ready to start the hardening off process and in the end my plants become weak.
Proper Lighting: I'll be honest a window sill just doesn't cut it if you really want to start vegetable seeds indoors. The winter sun is weak and your plants just won't be able to get enough sunlight to make them healthy and strong. If you are really serious about starting your vegetable garden indoors invest in a decent grow light system. Many are affordable and as soon as you do you'll notice a huge different in your plants.
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