AMES. Iowa — Growing your own vegetables or flowers at home is rewarding and fun! There is an opportunity for gardeners to try out new varieties or cultivars that aren’t as readily available at local lawn and garden stores. This can open the door to a tastier and more colorful garden! February is the best time to assemble all the pieces needed for seed starting.
It is important to have seeds you trust when starting seeds indoors. You can buy seeds from a variety of locations. The prices of seeds will vary greatly depending on what it is. It is very important to not buy more seeds than you will use in two to three years. Leftover seeds often germinate poorly in comparison to seeds bought within the year of use. The fresher the seed, the greater the chances that all seeds will still be viable. To be safe, buy early in the year from a seed company you trust. It is extremely important to purchase seeds that will grow within your gardening zone. If you are not sure what zone you live in, visit https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/5706 for a free download.
When selecting a place inside to start your seeds it is essential to choose a place that is away from cold drafts, excess heat and temperatures above 60Ëš F. If possible, avoid windowsills. The sunlight through a window is weak in comparison to an artificial light source. Make sure the space is large enough for the seedlings to grow and eventually be transplanted in larger containers.
Having small, individual containers with drainage holes will allow each seedling to grow without the possibility of tangled roots that could be damaged when transplanting into larger containers. Plastic sheet trays, or cell flats, come in many different sizes and can even be reused year after year. After the seedling has germinated, you will want to transplant them into larger, individual containers for more room to grow. Don’t forget to label your seedlings!
Commercial seed starting mixes are recommended for starting seeds indoors. The mixes are disease-free, sterile, lightweight, and free from weed seeds. The medium isn’t created with true soil, but rather vermiculite and peat for a more porous texture. To prevent your seeds from flooding out of the potting mixture after sowing, you will want to lightly moisten your potting mix before adding to the containers.
Now, it is time to plan. Having a calendar, like the Garden Calendar from ISU Extension and Outreach (https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/4127), or garden journal will be helpful when preparing to sow your seeds. Each seed has different requirements, such as: germination temperature, growing temperature, time to transplanting, and flat spacing. Your seed package will provide you with all the information needed. Make sure to save them until the end of the growing season.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has many fantastic resources on seed starting indoors (https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/4183), planting and harvesting time for vegetables (https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/3960), and suggested vegetable varieties for a home garden (https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/3980). Happy gardening!
—Katelyn Brinkerhoff, Iowa State University Extension