Gardening enthusiasts know that the best way to ensure a thriving garden is to start early—especially if you’re aiming for a wide variety of plants. Starting your seeds indoors is a great way to get a head start on the growing season. But how do you do it effectively? And how can you transition your seedlings to the garden without stressing them out? Here are some tips and tricks to help you succeed at starting seeds indoors and transferring them outside for a flourishing garden.
Jump Ahead
- Choosing the Right Seeds for Indoor Starting
- Gather Your Supplies
- Planting Your Seeds Indoors
- Maintain Ideal Conditions for Germination
- Hardening Off Your Seedlings
- Choosing the Right Time to Transplant Outside
- Transplanting Your Seedlings
- Post-Transplant Care
Choosing the Right Seeds for Indoor Starting
Not all seeds are suitable for indoor starting, the process of growing seeds indoors to get a jump on the growing season. Starting seeds indoors offers numerous advantages, such as extending the growing season by getting an early start, providing better control over growing conditions for healthier seedlings, and allowing access to a broader range of plant varieties. Some plants, like leafy greens and peas, can be direct-seeded outdoors, while others—like tomatoes, peppers, and melons—benefit from a longer growing season indoors.
When selecting seeds for indoor starting, be sure to check the seed packet for recommended indoor sowing times. Typically, you’ll want to start seeds about 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost date for your area.
Some of the best plants to start indoors include onions, tomatoes, chives, cauliflower, marigolds, and calendula. These plants will take to transplanting well, and usually grow well indoors.
Gather Your Supplies
Starting seeds indoors doesn’t require a lot of fancy tools, but a few essentials will help ensure your seeds have the best chance at success:
- Seed trays or pots: You can use small pots, biodegradable seed trays, or even DIY containers (like egg cartons or yogurt cups). Just be sure they have drainage holes to avoid waterlogging.
- Seed-starting mix: Unlike regular potting soil, seed-starting mix is light and well-draining. This helps your tiny seeds root and grow without being weighed down by heavy soil.
- Grow lights: While windowsills can work in a pinch, most seeds need about 12-16 hours of light per day. Investing in affordable grow lights can help ensure your plants get the necessary light to thrive indoors.
- Watering tools: A gentle spray bottle or watering can with a fine nozzle is perfect for keeping the soil moist without disturbing the tiny seeds.
Planting Your Seeds Indoors
Once you have your supplies, it’s time to get planting. Fill your seed trays or pots with seed-starting mix and plant your seeds according to the depth recommendations on the seed packet. As a general rule, plant seeds at a depth that’s about 2-3 times the size of the seed itself.
Maintain Ideal Conditions for Germination
Seeds need warmth, moisture, and light to germinate. Place your seed trays in a warm spot, such as on top of a refrigerator or under a grow light. Most seeds germinate best between 65-75°F (18-24°C).
Keep the soil consistently moist, but not soaked. A humidity dome or plastic wrap over your seed trays can help retain moisture and create a warm environment for germination.
Hardening Off Your Seedlings
Once your seeds have sprouted and grown a few sets of leaves, it’s time to begin the process of hardening them off. Hardening off is the gradual process of acclimating your indoor-grown seedlings to outdoor conditions. This helps prevent shock when you eventually transplant them into the garden.
Start by placing your seedlings outside in a shaded, sheltered area for a few hours a day, gradually increasing the time they spend outdoors over the course of a week. Make sure to bring them inside during the night and on windy or stormy days.
Choosing the Right Time to Transplant Outside
Transplanting is moving young plants that have been started from seed in a controlled environment (such as a seed tray) to a new location, typically a larger pot or directly into the garden, to provide them with more space to continue growing. Timing is everything when it comes to transplanting seedlings. You don’t want to put them out too early and risk frost damage, nor do you want to wait too long and stunt their growth.
Wait until the danger of frost has passed and the soil is workable. If you’re not sure when the last frost date is for your area, check local gardening resources or use online frost date calculators.
| City | Last Spring Frost Date |
| Toronto, ON | May 4 |
| Barrie, ON | May 12 |
| Sudbury, ON | May 21 |
| London, ON | May 15 |
| Banff, AB | Jun 23 |
| Calgary, AB | May 29 |
| Edmonton, AB | May 15 |
| Abbotsford, B.C | Apr 30 |
| Chilliwack, B.C | Apr 19 |
| Kelowna, B.C | May 8 |
| Vancouver, B.C | Apr 21 |
| Victoria, B.C | Apr 14 |
| Winnipeg, MB | May 21 |
| Dauphin, MB | Jun 1 |
| Dalhousie, NB | Jun 1 |
| Fredericton, NB | May 22 |
| Saint Johns, NL | Jun 11 |
| Yellowknife, NWT | May 31 |
| Halifax, NS | May 8 |
| Iqaluit, NU | Jul 2 |
| Charlottetown, PEI | May 20 |
| Quebec, QC | May 17 |
| Regina, SK | Jun 1 |
| Whitehorse, YT | Jun 12 |
Transplanting Your Seedlings
When you’re ready to move your seedlings outside, it’s time to transplant. Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball of your seedling and gently remove the plant from its container. Be careful not to damage the roots or stem.
Place the seedling in the hole, fill it with soil, and gently pat it down to remove any air pockets. Water the newly transplanted seedlings right away to help them settle in.
Post-Transplant Care
After transplanting, keep the soil around your seedlings moist for the first few weeks as they establish themselves. Mulch around the base to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
If your seedlings are still small, you may want to provide some shade for them during the hottest part of the day until they get a bit stronger.
Watch Your Garden Grow!
Once your seedlings are happily settled in the garden, continue to care for them with regular watering, weeding, and occasional feeding. Soon, you’ll be reaping the rewards of your indoor-starting efforts with healthy, homegrown vegetables and flowers to enjoy.
Starting your seeds indoors and carefully transferring them to the garden is a rewarding process that sets the stage for a successful growing season. With the right preparation, patience, and attention to detail, you can give your garden the best possible start—and watch it flourish throughout the season.
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