Starting Seeds Indoors Early
Average time to read: 3.1 minutesBefore you begin, read about setting up an indoor grow station here.
First of all, why do we start seeds indoors early?
Seeds are started indoors early when a plant’s life cycle is longer than the local growing season. By starting these varieties indoors early, you are “faking” a longer season. A tropical plant may be thriving indoors while a blizzard rages outside.
Another motivation for starting seeds indoors early is to increase yields. Rather than direct-sowing, gardeners raise seedlings indoors to transplant into garden beds the moment space opens up. This strategy relies on extra planning but when done well, the number of harvests that are possible within the growing season is much higher.
Lay down newspaper when potting indoors for easy cleanup
There are two non-negotiables to seed starting:
Warmth and Moisture.
Seeds are alive! They know when spring has arrived and when conditions are right for growing. When you start seeds indoors, it’s up to you to mimic these conditions. And it really just boils down to two: warmth and moisture.
Warmth: For every variety, there is an optimal temperature for germination. Most will tolerate a wider range but some are very particular. In any case, nothing stalls germination like a chill. Cold seeds will almost certainly be slower to germinate and in some cases, may not germinate at all.
Make sure your seeds are warm enough:
Place trays of germinating seeds in a warm room where the temperature will remain fairly constant.
Cover trays of germinating seeds in a clear plastic dome to create a greenhouse effect, trapping heat inside.
Feel the top of your fridge. If it’s warm, consider placing your trays up there. It’s perfect!
Or keep germinating seeds warm by placing the tray on a seed starting mat, which is specifically made for this purpose.
There are plenty of varieties that will be perfectly happy at room temperature. However, supplemental heat from the fridge or a seed starting mat is important when germinating tropical varieties like tomatoes and peppers. That’s because their natural climate is much warmer than ours in Canada. For example, the optimal temperature for germinating peppers is 24-29.5 degrees Celsius!
This tray of Strawberry seeds is covered by a clear plastic dome and sits atop a seed starting mat for warmth
Moisture: Germination is a one-shot deal. After moisture has penetrated the seed coat, the seed will die if it is allowed to dry out. For germination to be a success, you must keep your seeds moist (but not soaked!) for the entire germination period. The easiest way to do this is by using those clear plastic domes we mentioned above. Not only do they help keep seeds warm, but they also lock in moisture.
Canadian homes are very dry in the winter. Without covering your trays, it will be nearly impossible to keep the surface of the growing medium damp 24/7. So get yourself one of these domes and mist inside as-needed (usually once a week or less).
Use a spray mister to moisten seeds and lock in humidity with a clear plastic dome. (Seen here: seeds on hemp mats for microgreens)
Hooray the seeds have germinated! Now what?
Growing on: Congratulations, all that even warmth and moisture did the trick! But those conditions that were perfect for germinating seeds aren’t right for growing seedlings.
After your seeds germinate, remove the supplemental heat source (if any) and place them under grow lights and/or a sunny south-facing window. Check on them every morning and water lightly as-needed. Over the next several weeks or months, the needs of your seedlings will change. They’ll drink more water as they grow larger, they’ll require potting up, and they may need supplemental nutrition. Expect some trouble from pest and disease from time to time as well.
Don’t worry if this seems like a lot. Seed starting is trickier and more involved than caring for mature plants. Your baby seedlings will soon grow up and become more independent.
Is this really necessary?
Nope! At the end of the day, some gardeners choose to skip seed starting indoors. Seedlings are available from plant nurseries to transplant directly into the garden in the spring instead.
If that sounds better to you then go for it! Many gardeners begin that way, including us! But now we thoroughly appreciate the joys and challenges of seed starting indoors. There’s just something about a shelf of bright young plants on a dark winter day. And if you find growing plants as rewarding as we do, you’ll probably agree.
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