Starting Plants Indoors

Starting seeds indoors is a popular activity for dedicated home gardeners, but can be scary for the novice. Let’s look at some tips that will make it easy and help ensure success in starting your own seeds for the coming season. The good thing is the garden centers have all the supplies you’ll need. A fantastic way to get start is with a cell tray and clear dome, sometimes they’re called a seed starting greenhouse, and have everything needed to grow more than enough seedlings. Simply add water and the coconut fiber pellets soak up the water and expand. Break up the pellets to fill the cells. Today we’re sowing tomato seeds by placing a couple of seeds into each cell because not all of the seeds will germinate. Water the seeds in and cover with the clear dome. Voila, you have a mini greenhouse. Place in a bright sunny window or under fluorescent lights. Once the seeds start to germinate, prop up the dome cover to improve air circulation, and remove the cover when all the seeds have germinated. On nice days take the seedlings outside in bright light but not direct sunshine. In about 6 weeks the tomato transplants will be ready to set out in the garden or large container. Starting seeds indoors is a fun activity all gardeners can enjoy. I’m horticulturist Gary Bachman and I’ll see you next time on Southern Gardening.