Seedling Season: A Quick Guide to Start Your Own Plants Indoors

Are you tired of waiting for spring to arrive? Do you want to get a head start on growing your own herbs and vegetables? If so, seedling season is just what you need! Starting your own seedlings indoors or in a greenhouse is a great way to beat the unpredictable weather of Southern Idaho and ensure a successful growing season.

Here is a quick guide to help you get started on your own seedling season:

1. Gather Essential Items: Before you start planting, make sure you have all the necessary supplies, including individual containers or trays, covers or domes, potting mixture, direct light or grow light, warm surroundings or a heat pad, water, and your seeds.

2. Soak Your Seeds: Soaking your seeds for 12 to 24 hours prior to planting in lukewarm water can help with germination success by softening the outer shell.

3. Choose the Right Soil Mix: Soil mixtures for seedlings should have a 1/3 ratio of aeration, water retention, and soil. Mixing these three elements will give you the best chance for success.

• Aeration: Fine horticultural sand or perlite is great for better distribution of water and drainage.
• Water Retention: Coconut coir or sphagnum peat moss is excellent for level moisture and strong root starts.
• Soil: Seedling mix is perfect for a finer, lighter, sterile potting mix for seedling roots to take.

4. Plant Your Seeds: Once your soil mixture is ready, water it thoroughly before placing it into your containers or trays. After that, plant your seeds about one inch from the top, with two to three seeds in each hole. Cover the seeds with more soil mixture and water thoroughly.

5. Provide Ideal Conditions: Place your containers in a warm environment with direct light or on a heat pad and a grow light to ensure the growth of your seedlings. If you're using a dome or cover, it will help with humidity and moisture. Remember to check the watering daily!

6. Transplant Your Seedlings: When your seedlings start to reach 3 inches or the second set of true leaves, which is around 3 weeks of growth, transplant them into a bigger container to help establish the plant. The end of the last frost in Southern Idaho is usually within the first week of May. When the weather is ready, you can plant them in your garden or raised bed.

Starting your own seedlings is a great way to get a head start on the planting season and enjoy fresh produce from your own garden. By following these simple steps, you'll be on your way to a successful seedling season!