Starting Garden Seeds Indoors

Right now, is the perfect time to learn how to start seeds from scratch. 

I like to choose heirloom variety seeds from a local company, or one that knows the growing conditions where you live. My two favourite places to order seeds are Heritage Harvest Seeds and Sage Garden Herbs.

It’s amazing to look through the varieties and see just how much amazing flavour and nutrition we’re missing out on at the grocery store. I highly recommend choosing a few heritage seeds to start.

What You’ll Need

There are a few things you’ll need when starting seeds.  It can be very simple or you can make it as complex and Pinterest worthy as you’d like. I like simple best!

Starting with good potting soil. I either get mine from my dad who makes compost, or I buy the Black Gold from Sage Garden.

Next, pots or something to put your soil and seeds into. This can be anything from toilet paper rolls folded to have a bottom, plastic or carboard pots, or a seed tray. It can also be metal tins or buckets. Just some kind of vessel that isn’t too deep unless you plan on keeping the plant in that container and just moving it outside when the time comes.

After that a good watering can so you’re not pouring water and drowning your plants, or a simple spray bottle.

Starting Your Seeds Right

To start you need to soak your soil. That’s right, soak it before adding it to your pots. It’s amazing how much water it will hold. I use a big tubberware bin and get the kiddo to mix it up until it’s good and wet.  You don’t want it dripping wet (although that happens), just wet so when you squeeze it, it clumps together. You’ll know and if you make it super wet, no biggie. Either add more soil or just relax. It will dry out.

After you soil is sufficiently wet, add it to your pots.

Then add your seeds.

Now, you can make labels with tape, popsicle sticks, paper, whatever your fancy. Or you can go blind and just try and remember what was what. I’m like that for my tomatoes. I’ll know what they are once they start to grow and fruit!

You can choose to do transplanting and start with really small seed pots or trays, or you can plant directly into a more medium or bigger pot.  I like to start small and move up a size once or twice, especially for the tomatoes. 

Plant your seeds according to the packet directions. Keeping in mind the size of your pot.  You may be able to get more than one seed in there!  Maximize your space, you won’t hurt the plant. I generally plant 2-3 seeds per medium pot and will transplant them into their own medium pot when the time comes.

Once you’re done planting, place your plants in a sunny area.  If you have an open shelving unit, plunk it in front of a nice sunny window. If you have grow lights, go ahead and hang those up.  The warmer and sunnier you can make it for the little plants, the better success you’ll have.

Our Family Secret to Great Seedlings

There’s one thing that has made SUCH a difference in the success of our plants and that’s starting and ending their day with a positive attitude. I know, you’re probably thinking, “what the heck is she talking about?”

Well, each day we wake up the plants (turn on the grow lights) and encourage them to grow big and strong. “Good morning plants!  Today is a great day to grow big and strong. You are AMAZING!”

And we end their day with, “Good night plants.  You’ve done such an amazing job growing today.  You are wonderful!”

You wouldn’t believe how much bigger our plants get with this little bit of daily encouragement. My little guy loves celebrating their successes too. Counting how many leaves they have, who’s gotten taller, who’s sprouted. Works well with kids and people too!

Another tip is as they grow, put on a gentle fan for a few minutes a day over them, or run your hands gentle oven the stems. This helps the stems grow stronger as it stimulates the wind.

Seed Starting Schedule

Knowing which plants to start from seed, when is another thing.  You don’t want to start them all at once. It’s helpful to organize your seeds by Direct Sow, 10-12 weeks before frost, 6-8 weeks, etc. I package them all together and label them. Then I know which package to grab and start planting.

Here in Manitoba, the EARLIEST you may want to plant (and that’s just cold hardy plants) is May 24^th. Last year we had frost into June so unless you want to risk that, don’t risk it!  I go by the May long weekend as the first planting date. I may not plant everything then, but for seed starting that’s my window.

Here’s a handy cheat sheet:

10-12 weeks: March 8-March 22
8-10 weeks: March 22-April 5
6-8 weeks: April 5- April 12
5-6 weeks: April 12-19
3-4 weeks: April 26-May 3

If you haven’t read my post about The Foolproof Way to Grow a Garden, then check it out now before you choose your seeds!

Share in the comments what you’re planting this year, I’d love to know!

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