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Starting Seeds InsideStarting seeds inside have proven the best of times and the worst of times for me. I've tried it twice with tomatoes. The first time was when I lived in South Dakota. I grew the seeds in a north-facing window. I bought a starter kit and grew my seeds in an indoor window. I ended up with 60 healthy tomato plants and bore lots of tomatoes. It was a great experience.Then in Oklahoma I tried starting seeds inside again, this time using our greenhouse window. The seeds again grew, but they developed purple leaves and were sickly looking. I eventually put them in my garden, but they never amounted to anything, so I sheepishly went out and bought tomato plants to take their place. Our local farmer's supply place had them at an excellent price, and I swore I would never start tomatoes from seeds again. I realize now that my greenhouse window was too cold, so this year I am going to start my seeds on a counter in my kitchen under a grow light and also use a heating mat specially designed for starting seeds. 
While I don't plan on growing tomatoes from seeds, I'm not opposed to trying other things, and plant to start broccoli and maybe some flowers from seeds.
I have always wanted to grow stocks in particular. They were in my wedding bouquet and I have always had an emotional attachment to them. Unfortunately, they have a hard time surviving our hot summers, so I plan to keep a pot on our back porch. What I have learned about starting seeds inside, is you need four crucial things to start seeds successfully indoors: light, warmth, good soil and good seeds. LightThis is probably the most critical factor when starting seeds inside. Sufficient light will make the difference between success or having to visit the local greenhouse. Your seedlings will need 12 to 14 hours of direct light each day. If not, then they'll likely be tall and spindly. Not only should your babies have access to light, it should be an intense light, no more than three to four inches away from your plant. So if necessary, set your pots on boxes to get them closer. As they grow, you can remove the boxes so they don't touch the light. For an awesome and affordable grow-light system, click here.Good SoilI prefer starting seeds inside in jiffy pots. Both the greenhouse and pellets are available online. Once the seeds are up and have put on four leaves, then transfer them to individual pots. Any container will do as long as it can hold moisture and is strong enough to hold wet potting mix. I prefer Jiffy pots, as they are biodegradable, and you can plant them right in the soil, pot and all.For the soil, seed starting mix will be much easier to use and make for healthier plants. WarmthYou need to keep the seedlings in a temperature range between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit when starting seeds inside. If it's too warm, your seedlings won't be as strong.
Good SeedsAnd obviously, you need seeds that are viable. If you are using seeds from last year, and you're not sure if they are still good, set a few seeds between two moist paper towels. If the seeds sprout within a few days, plant the germinated seeds. Discard any seeds that don't sprout.When to StartWhen to start them will depend on the type of seeds you are working with. The directions on the back of the package should tell you a good time to plant seeds indoors for your area. Here in the lower Midwest, we can put our tomatoes out in the middle of April, a month ahead of folks up north, so if I were starting tomatoes indoors here in the sunny sooner state, I would start my seeds in January rather than February.Extra Gardening Tips Comprehensive Course on Gardening! Increase the value of your home by 30%. Learn more by clicking here. A garden kneeler and seat 
makes daily weeding chores much easier by easing the strain on your lower back and knees while protecting your clothing from stain and injuries.
To protect your back, use a lifting tool 
for heavy pots and other objects.
Long-term exposure to the elements will damage your tools and shorten their use. Store your tools and other gardening supplies in a portable storage bin  .
To make yard and garden cleaning easier, use a Kangaroo Gardening Container  .
Invest in a sharpening tool 
to keep your shovel and other gardening tools sharp and easier to work with.
 Grow a successful hydroponic gardening with this helpful resource. Protect your hands from insects and other injuries by wearing good quality gardening gloves. 
More Homestead Gardening LinksThinking about gardening the organic way? Follow these simple steps first.Want to save even more money when gardening? Purchase bulk seeds for cost savings and self reliant preparation. Get an early start on your gardening by starting your seeds indoors. Here are some tips. Ready to grow your own vegetables, but you're not sure where to begin? Learn which vegetables are the easiest to grow by clicking here.  The most comprehensive gardening instruction available on the internet! Learn more. Are you thinking about putting in a garden? Follow these tips. For healthy strong plants, put in raised beds. Or avoid the digging altogether and put in these easier raised beds. For truly rich, healthy soil, learn how to make your own compost. Protect your plants and keep down weeds by mulching. Here are some mulching tips. Build up your soil, and you'll keep pests down to a minimum, but what happens if pests do attack your garden? Here are some pest control tips  100's Of Wonderfully Frugal, Eco-Friendly and Highly Resourceful Gardening Techniques. click here to learn more. Gotten into poison ivy lately. Learn how to treat that awful itch. Here's how. Do you have limited space? Consider growing your organic garden in containers. Ready to have your own container garden? Here are some tips on finding the right garden container Gardening can be much more than a hobby; it can also be a way to raise most of your food. Here's how. An good resource for raising your own food is this ebook. If you want the richest humus for your gardening, consider composting with worms  Save Thousands of Dollars a Year With This Fully Illustrated Guide. Click here to learn more. Want to have fresh greens for your salad all winter? Then build this easy, effective cold frame. Get your garden off to the right start with strong growth and an early harvest. Learn how you can germinate seeds. So why should you pursue organic gardening? Learn the benefits by clicking here. True self sufficiency means being able to produce your own excellent-quality seeds. Here's how. To save seeds, you must start with quality plants. Learn why you should purchase the seeds of heirloom plants by clicking here. Have you thought about organic gardening but don't know where to begin? Try these tips.  Have a Bountiful Organic Garden using a tiny amount of space. Learn more. As homesteaders, we primarily think about gardening to raise food, but beauty is also important. Learn the importance of cottage gardening. When planning your garden, don't forget to grow herbs. Not only do they smell nice and add flavoring to food, many also have healing qualities. Learn more. Got a bumper crop of potatoes or other root vegetables this season? Learn an economical way to store them to keep them fresh all winter by clicking here. If you want to extend your growing season, a small greenhouse might be just the ticket. Learn more. If you are thinking about adding on a lean to greenhouse, there are a few things to keep in mind. Read more. The winter months are a perfect time for planning your spring garden. Learn more. Summer garden not all you hoped it to be? Consider putting in a fall garden, but be sure to protect your plants from frosty nights. Learn how. The ins and outs of storing produce from your garden can be found by clicking here. If you had an abundant harvest of root vegetables this year, don't let them go to waste; store them using this time-proven method instead. Read more. |
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You Can Build a Chicken Tractor Provides you with step-by-step instructions on how to build a chicken tractor and also provides helpful information on how to get free wood and how your chickens can pay for themselves. Click Here learn more. Search This Site: Subscribe to my free ezine! Successful Homesteading is a bi-weekly e-zine covering everything about self-reliance and the healthy, frugal life. Imagine! Great tips on organic gardening, self reliance, frugal living and frugal recipes on a regular basis and sent straight to your ebox! Click here to subscribe.
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