Seed Starting Guide: Grow Healthy Seedlings Indoors

There’s something magical about seed starting. Tiny, dry specks transform into lush, living plants that fill your garden—and your plate—with beauty and flavor. Starting seeds at home is empowering, economical, and a wonderful way to jumpstart your growing season.

But it also comes with a learning curve. The good news? With a few tips and tricks, you can set your seedlings up for strong, healthy growth.

Here’s how to get started—and what to watch out for—when growing from seed.

🌱 Start with the Right Seeds

Not all seeds need to be started indoors. Begin with varieties that benefit from a head start, like:

• Tomatoes & peppers

• Eggplant

• Basil

• Kale, chard & lettuce

• Broccoli & cabbage

• Some flowers like zinnias or marigolds

Check your seed packets—they’ll tell you whether to sow indoors or direct sow outdoors, and how many weeks before your last frost to start them.

🌿 Choose a Good Growing Medium

Skip the potting soil! It’s too heavy and can retain too much moisture. Instead, use a seed starting mix—a light, fluffy blend that allows delicate roots to grow freely and reduces the risk of damping off (a common fungal issue in seedlings).

You can find pre-mixed options at your local nursery or make your own using a mix of:

• Coconut coir

• Perlite or vermiculite

• Compost (lightly)

I recommend staying away from brands that contain fertilizers and promise to grow your vegetables and flowers bigger and faster (I think you know the brand). You are what you eat so avoid that stuff. Instead, I recommend opting for an organic mix.

💧 Water Wisely

Seeds need consistent moisture to germinate, but they don’t like soggy soil. Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Use a spray bottle or bottom-watering tray to keep the mix evenly moist.

• Cover trays with a plastic dome or wrap to create humidity (remove once sprouted).

• Avoid overwatering—too much moisture invites mold and rot.

🌞 Light Is Everything

Seedlings need a lot more light than most people think—at least 12–16 hours a day. Even a sunny windowsill often isn’t enough.

If you’re serious about seed starting, invest in a simple grow light setup:

• Use full-spectrum LED or fluorescent grow lights.

• Keep them just a few inches above the seedlings (and raise as plants grow).

• Set a timer for 12–16 hours of light per day.

🌡️ Provide Gentle Heat

Some seeds (like tomatoes and peppers) sprout faster with bottom heat. Use a seedling heat mat or place trays on a warm surface until germination occurs.

Once sprouted, remove the heat to avoid leggy growth.

🍃 Don’t Skip the Hardening Off

Before transplanting seedlings outside, they need time to acclimate to real sun, wind, and fluctuating temperatures.

Start by placing trays outside in dappled shade for a few hours each day, slowly increasing time and exposure over 7–10 days. This step prevents transplant shock and helps them thrive once in the ground.

🪴 Bonus Tips

• Label everything! Seedlings often look the same for weeks.

• Keep a garden journal—note what you started and when, and track what worked.

• Start small. It’s tempting to grow everything, but a few well-tended varieties are better than dozens of stressed-out starts.

• Join a workshop! We offer seed starting workshops with hands-on guidance and supplies (and you leave with your own starter tray!).

Ready to Get Growing?

Seed starting is one of the most rewarding ways to connect with your garden—even before the soil thaws. With the right setup and a little patience, you'll be growing healthy, homegrown plants from the ground up.

Need help getting started? Book a consultation or join us for an upcoming workshop—we’d love to grow alongside you.