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Starting seeds indoors is a great way to get a jump on the growing season, and with planning, you can have bedding plants blooming by the time they are planted outdoors.

On average, annual seeds, such as bachelor buttons, sunflowers, Impatiens, and geraniums, take five to eight days to germinate. Therefore, plan to sow in April or early May for flowering in June.

Text books can offer strict guidelines for starting seeds, but gardening is not absolute. If it were that unforgiving, no one would pick up a dibble. There are, nevertheless, a few basic things to keep in mind.

Planting in clean pots and using sterilized soil are two of the most important factors for success. When choosing soil, select one that is light weight and sterile (disease and insect free). After the pots or cell packs are filled with soil, water well and allow excess water to drain.

The size of the seed determines how deep it is planted. Most gardeners recommend planting to a depth of at least twice the thickness of the seed. Tiny seeds should be left uncovered. Once the seeds are planted, cover the container with a clear lid. This is to preserve the heat and moisture.

Heat can influence the speed at which seeds germinate, but keeping the containers at room temperature is adequate. Light is not required to germinate most seeds, but there are exceptions; Impatiens and Nicotiana are two.

The biggest problem gardeners face with seedlings is damping-off - the disease which causes healthy plants to fall limp and die. Learning the methods to prevent this disease is simple.

When seeds germinate, wait one day then remove the clear plastic lid. Reducing the amount of moisture and increasing the air circulation around the seedlings are two major elements in preventing damping-off. Once I discovered this, I never had a disease problem. It is also important to not over water and to allow excess water to drain.

After germinating, seedlings will require light to keep growing straight and stalky. Place them by a south facing window or under grow lights.

After a few weeks, plants may require pinching. This is cutting off the top one third of growth above a leaf node to encourage bushiness. The simplest method to pinch is by using your index finger and thumb nail. Many plants benefit from pinching, producing more blooms than if left to grow naturally.

Learn more about this author, Diana Tibert.
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