White County
 Gardening
Podcast
February 13, 2009
Starting Seeds Indoors (2:58 minutes)
Audio/Video Script:
Sherri Sanders
County Extension Agent - Agriculture
For many gardeners, the growing season officially begins long before the
spring thaw. The season kickoff happens indoors with a packet of seeds sown on a
sunny windowsill. Even if snow still blankets the ground where you live, you can
get a head start on spring by starting some seedlings indoors. Hello this is
Sherri Sanders, County Extension Agent – Agriculture in White county.
You’ll find that growing flowers from seed expands your options. Your local
garden center might offer three kinds of geraniums red, salmon, and white while
a good seed catalog lists twenty or more. And, compared to transplants, seeds
are a bargain.
Sowing seeds indoors is a simple technique. As long as you pay attention to
light, temperature, and moisture, success comes easy. Here are some guidelines.
As a general rule, sow seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost
date. Some smaller‑seeded annuals, such as petunias, snapdragons, and begonias,
need more time to reach transplant size. Information on the seed packet is your
best guide in knowing when to sow. Time indoor plantings so that your seedlings
do not outgrow their containers before it is time to plant them out in the
garden. Seedlings kept indoors too long will be weak; they will grow slowly and
bloom poorly.
Choose a container with drainage holes that’s at least 2 inches deep. A terra
cotta or plastic pot works just fine, or a plastic growing flat or a
clear‑lidded deli container with holes punched in the bottom. Later, you’ll need
to transfer the seedlings to small individual pots, multi‑cell packs, or peat
pots that you can plant directly in the ground outdoors in the spring.
To avoid disease problems, use fresh potting mix. Commercial seed‑starting
mixes are usually blended from finely milled sphagnum peat moss and vermiculite.
To maintain moisture, cover the seed‑starting container with a clear plastic
dome, or make a tent with a clear plastic bag. Keep the container in a warm
location (about 75 degrees) to encourage quick germination. As soon as seedlings
sprout, remove the plastic cover and move the seedlings to a cooler spot. The
seedlings of many annuals grow best at around 65 to 70 degrees.
Bright light is the key to growing sturdy, healthy seedlings indoors. If you
live where late winter days are often cloudy, even a south window may not
provide enough light for your seedlings. Consider supplementing natural light
with a fluorescent shop light, hung so the tubes are just an inch or two above
the leaves.
When the seedlings have formed their second set of leaves, they’re ready to
transplant to individual containers. Don’t delay too long in transplanting the
seedlings or you will find yourself ripping tangled roots. For more information
on starting seeds indoors, please contact the White County Cooperative Extension
Service at 1-800-467-8166 or 268-5394. This has been Sherri Sanders in Searcy.
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