How to Start Seeds Indoors: A Beginner’s Guide

Want to start your garden from seeds but not sure where to start? This helpful guide will walk you through the process of how to start seeds indoors.

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Spring is officially only a few weeks away and…

It’s finally time to start some seeds!

When you grow your garden from seed, you know exactly how your plants are grown. From seed to harvest.

When to Start Seeds Indoors

Some seeds can be started 6-8 weeks before the last frost date while others need to wait 2-4 weeks before.

Each seed packet will state the recommended number of weeks.

Count back the recommended weeks on the seed packet from your last frost date to find out when you can start planting.

Find out your last frost date here.

Print this helpful planting guide that states when to start seeds based on your zip code.

How to Start Seeds Indoors

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Seeds
• Water
• Seed starting mix or loose potting soil
• Seed starter tray
• Plant labels
• Bin (to mix the soil with water)

All-in-one Kits

You can find seed starter kits like these that come complete with growing pellets and a greenhouse dome. The growing pellets are made of coco choir, a light, fluffy material that is also ideal for seed starting. The dome lid helps keep the humidity in and the soil moist to aid in germination.

Shop quality seed from Botanical Interests and help support our little homestead.

Here’s what you do:

1. Prep the soil.

Pour some soil into the bin and mix in some water. You want the soil to be moist, but not waterlogged or muddy.

If the soil can hold its shape when you squeeze it with one hand it is the perfect consistency.

2. Fill the seed starter trays.

Fill each of the seed starting cells with the soil, gently tapping it down to fill each cell completely.

Keep the soil loose. If you make it too compact the seed could have trouble rooting.

3. Plant the seeds.

Place 1-3 seeds in each cell and gently cover the seed with soil.

(Tiny seeds like mint and celery can be placed on top of the soil without covering.)

4. Place your seeds in a warm, sunny location.

I place mine on my kitchen table in a southern window and they grow beautifully every year.

If you don’t have a window with direct sunlight, get grow lights to help your seedlings grow.

5. Keep the soil moist.

Seeds need to stay moist in order to germinate.

Bottom watering is my recommended watering method. If you are using seed starting cells, they most likely came with a bottom tray to keep the cells in.

To bottom water, fill the bottom tray with an inch or so with water. Don’t add too much water as you can drown your seeds and plants.

Check the soil daily and water when the soil becomes dry.

Tip: If your seed starter tray came with a greenhouse dome use that to help trap the humidity inside and keep the soil moist. Remove the dome once the seedlings emerge.

6. Thin out the weaklings.

As your seedlings grow, you will need to thin them to one plant per cell. Leave the healthiest, strongest seedlings and gently pull out, or use scissors to trim the others.

Compost the weaklings or use them as microgreens in your salad.

7. Pot them up when they’re ready.

Eventually your seedlings will outgrow the starter cells they are in. Move them into larger nursery pots for them to stay healthy and continue growing until they are ready to go in the garden.

Watching your garden grow from teeny-tiny seeds to full size plants and eating the fruit from those plants is so empowering.

Share your garden journey with me on Instagram

Tag @thehomesteadmother in your post or hashtag it #onceuponahomestead

More in this series:

• Plan a Summer Vegetable Garden in 5 Easy Steps
• How to Winter Sow Seeds in Milk Jugs
• Direct Sowing Seeds: What and When

Until next time –