by Susan Klatz Beal

Created on: March 05, 2009   Last Updated: May 04, 2010

Anyone who has ever grown vegetables or had a vegetable garden will know that for many vegetables, it is not possible to sow the seeds directly outdoors. In order to be able to plant plants outdoors as soon after the last freeze as possible, the seeds would have to have been planted 8 to 10 weeks earlier. This allows the plants sufficient time to grow and get to the point where they are strong enough to be planted in the ground.

*Monitoring -

The controlled atmosphere of an indoor environment, whether it be a small plastic greenhouse, a more elaborate unit, an economical greenhouse that you put together in your home makes monitoring the progress of seedlings possible. For anyone who is trying to determine the success or lack of success of the methods they use, starting seeds indoors will make it possible to track germination rates and determine how successful the rate of germination for any particular seed is.
Hardening-off seedlings

When planning so that the seeds will be planted this far in advance, it also considers the necessity of hardening off the seedlings. This means that the seedlings will be allowed some time to acclimate themselves to the outdoor environment before they go into the ground. They will be stronger because of this, and it may also help to minimize any transplant shock.

*A head-start for places with very short seasons -

In colder climates, the gardening season is much shorter than it is in the southern part of the United States where cool weather crops can, under ideal circumstances, be grown all winter long. Therefore, unless seeds were started sufficiently far in advance so that the plants would be more mature than small seedlings when planted in the ground, it would not be possible for people who have short growing seasons to harvest anything.

*Ensure an abundant harvest -

Some varieties of tomatoes may take as long as 85 days to bear fruit. Broccoli, peppers, Brussels sprouts, and many other vegetables also take quite a while to mature. Although some things like melons, squash, pumpkins, beans and peas will germinate very easily in the ground, the jump start that indoor sowing affords may mean that it is possible to harvest the fruits for considerably longer than would have been possible if the seeds were sown outside.

*Extend the amount and duration of a harvest -

Sowing seeds indoors in advance may also make it possible to stagger plantings and extend the harvests of certain crops. When it comes to cool weather crops that can be

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