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Weed 'em & Reap

Urban Farming. Healthy Living.

How to Start Seedlings Indoors for spring planting

Published: February 4, 2014 | Last Updated: October 5, 2020 6 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links from which I will earn a commission.

How to start seedlings indoors for spring planting

The following Guest Post was written by Kristi at Veggie Converter:

Hello Weed ’em and Reap Fans, I’m Kristi from VeggieConverter.com and I’m a former newspaper reporter and editor who is now a gluten-free vegetarian mom married to Mr. Meaty, a “normal” omnivore. We are parenting two kids, a pescatarian with a hot dog exception and a lactose-intolerant nightshade-sensitive meat-lover. I love writing and cooking recipes for easy, family-friendly organic meals, learning about nutrition and living writing about the simple, green life.

How to Start Seedlings Indoors for spring planting:

Just because your garden is covered in snow doesn’t mean you can’t start your spring seedlings. Use our six steps to start seedlings indoors for your spring garden.

  1. Compile Your Gear: You don’t need expensive grow lights. Simple shop lights will do since your seedlings won’t be grown indoors long-term. An inexpensive seedling tray and a bag of potting soil also will be needed.
  2. Plant Your Spring Seedlings: Fill your tray will soil and pack lightly. Moisten the soil and plant at least two seeds per space. Plant a variety of garden seeds in your tray and mark your seedlings with fruit and vegetable names. Moisten the soil again and cover with clear plastic. Keep the plants out of direct sunlight. Check your seedlings daily. Once you see sprouts in each space, you can remove the plastic and add your lighting.
  3. Give Them Light: Your plants will need about 12 hours of light each day. Hang shop lights just above (no more than three inches) your seedling trays. Provide light daily for six weeks. Water daily.
  4. Let Your Seedlings Grow: The plants will grow strong and straight since the light source is directly above. After about six weeks, your seedlings will be strong enough to plant outside.
  5. Acclimate Your Seedlings: Take the entire seedling tray to your garden and let them acclimate to the weather outside. Take the tray out for longer periods each day as the weather warms. Once frosts end in your area, you can leave them outside all day and get ready for transplanting.
  6. Transplant: When the seedlings are acclimated and spring has well and truly sprung, replant your hardy seedlings outdoors. Follow spacing guidelines for each plant and voila! Your spring garden is off to a great start.

 

How to start seedlings indoors for spring planting

 

download (2)Kristi Arnold is a former newspaper reporter and editor who is now a gluten-free vegetarian mom married to Mr. Meaty, a “normal” omnivore. The culinary odd couple is parenting two kids, a pescatarian with a hot dog exception and a lactose-intolerant nightshade-sensitive meat-lover. Kristi loves writing and cooking recipes for easy, family-friendly organic meals, learning about nutrition and living the simple, green life. Get in touch with Kristi on her Website, on Facebook, Twitter @VeggieConverter, and Pinterest.

How to Start Seedlings Indoors for spring planting

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ABOUT DANELLE

DaNelle started to take an interest in a healthier lifestyle after suffering from two debilitating chronic diseases. On a mission to create a farm of her own, DaNelle forced, or rather 'lovingly persuaded' her husband to purchase a ranch home on an acre of land and transform it into their very own urban farm. DaNelle blogs at Weed 'em & Reap where she writes about the sustainable backyard farming, traditional food, & natural remedies.

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Comments

  1. FontsDownloadFree says

    July 28, 2015 at 1:17 pm

    I started my seeds in an indoor greenhouse and the cukes, melons, and squashs are 6inches tall already and its going to be another month before I can plant them in the garden.

    Reply
  2. Gary Cross says

    February 21, 2015 at 6:56 pm

    Keep up the good planting info. always bought my plants but this year I am doing my own starting plants from seedlings. thank you . City farmer.

    Reply
  3. Barry Benedict says

    February 21, 2015 at 1:32 pm

    Strangely enough, not all of us have a hot house and your directions fail to mention where to grow these seedlings.
    Do I leave them in my unheated garage, barn, chicken coop or corn crib or do I place them in my basement and install enough lights to cover the several trays I would need to use?

    Reply
  4. Jess @ Crunchy Hot Mama says

    February 6, 2014 at 5:28 am

    So good to know! I am realizing that I need to get my butt in gear and get my seeds going before it’s too late 😉 Can’t wait to get started-thanks for the tips!

    Reply
    • Joanne Mansfield says

      February 10, 2014 at 12:25 pm

      Kristi, thank you for this information ‘How to start seedlings indoors for spring planting. Just the inspiration I needed today. I am part of a new resident led edible gardening group in St. Paul’s, Bristol. We built a small garden in our local park last summer and are in the process of planning our calendar for the year which includes fundraising. But I think we can get started on planting some seeds! Thank you again

      Thank you to DaNelle for your blog Weed ’em & Reap. A lovely find on my foray in Facebook this morning. Wonderfully inspirational.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How to Start Seedlings Indoors says:
    February 21, 2014 at 2:55 pm

    […] Did you know you can get a jump-start on growing your garden by getting starts ready while the ground is still covered in snow? This method helps provide you with a longer growing season and ultimately more produce. Starts can be planted in store-bought containers like these, or by using paper cups, or even using old toilet paper rolls with the end cut and folded in ward. Are you ready to give it a try? Continue reading here… […]

    Reply

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HEY THERE!

I'm DaNelle. I'm a city girl who convinced her husband to buy goats. Because, goats. Growing my own food has been an amazing experience, and this is the place I share it all with you! READ MORE…

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