by Allen Teal

Created on: March 11, 2009

The best way to start seeds indoors depends on the type of seeds. All seeds eventually end up in a pot of soil, but what happens before that is important, too. Many seeds come with indoor and outdoor planting instructions. Pay attention to these instructions to improve your results. However, for those seeds that do not have indoor planting instructions, there are some basic tips to help maximize your results.

Plant small seeds directly into soil.

Small seeds germinate easily. Because of this, they can be planted directly into the soil without any preparation. Cover these seeds with a thin layer of soil. If the soil is already wet, do not water. For dry soil, water until the soil good and damp. It does not need to have standing water.

Limit the number of seeds that you plant in a container.

It is a good idea not to plant too many seeds in a small space. Even if you plan to thin the seedlings, it is better to limit the number of seeds per square inch of surface space. For example, if you were using an egg carton to plant tomatoes, you should plant no more than two seeds per egg holder. With a foam cup, you might be able to go to 3 or 4 seeds. The young root systems need room to develop without heavy competition for space and nutrients. Also, when it is time to transplant the seedlings, it can be tough on the roots if they have to be torn apart from the other plant.

Large seeds need to be soaked in water for faster germination.

Beans, corn, pumpkin, watermelon, and other larger seeds can be soaked for 8 to 12 hours in water to cause them to germinate faster. These larger seeds require a lot more moisture to start the germination process. By soaking them for a few hours under water, they are already primed before you plant them. Do not soak them for more than 12 hours. Less is alright. It does take the seeds a few hours to absorb the water. So, try not to rush them too much.

Plant larger seeds deeper.

Unlike small seeds, large seeds are designed to have to penetrate a little soil to find the light. These seeds can be planted from 1/4 to 3/4 of inch deep. By planting them slightly deeper than small seeds, it gives their roots and stems a better anchor in the soil before they show the growth above ground. Even if you plant these seeds a little too deep, they should do just fine. Water them good after they are planted even if they have soaked in water. They need a lot of water to develop enough pressure to burst through the tough seed coat.

Use a good potting soil or starter mix.

Although the advertising makes it seem like the starter mix will give you great plants, the reality is that it is not significantly better than a good quality potting soil. Using a good potting soil will assure that your young plants are well-fed. Most decent potting soil has ingredients to help hold moisture without compacting into a hard lump. This gives young roots soft wet soil to develop and begin feeding. Also, when you transplant these seedlings, it gives them a little extra nourishment to draw on before they have to fend for themselves in the soil of your garden.

Do not start seeds too early.

Everyone is tempted to start their garden in the middle of winter in pots in their house. The problem with this is that young plants need more sun than you can easily generate inside your house. Without the heat and light of the sun, plants will grow thin stems and their leaves will be less healthy. Also, you run the risk that the plant will be too far along in fruit production and lose ground due to the stress of transplanting. For most plants, start the seeds from the middle to the end of February at the earliest.

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