On Long Island we wear the label of “cold climate gardeners.” But that sounds more grim than it really is. You can keep things growing for most of the year! To satisfy your green thumb passion and enthusiasm through the chilly months, the answer is to start your seeds indoors in early spring. All you need is a sunny windowsill or a grow light, starter trays, potting soil and of course your favorite flower seeds. So, while you’re waiting for the last of the frost, you have a beautiful mini garden right inside your home.
Most of us gardeners wait patiently to head to the nursery in late April or early May. We buy our annuals and perennials and are thrilled with the instant gratification. But subsidizing that expanse with trays of indoor starters plants is wonderfully cost-effective. You also have the added bonus of growing more unique varieties of flowers then are available at the local nursery.
Now… here is the fun part! You can either order your annual and perennial seed varieties (along with vegetables and herbs) through seed catalogs or at your local gardening center. (Be sure to check out your the local variety store for surprisingly great prices on seed packs.)
Read the package carefully for instructions on starting seedlings inside. Since some varieties do not transplant well from starter trays into the garden, the seed company will recommend that certain seeds should only be sown directly into the soil after the last frost. While you are reading the seed pack, it’s a good idea to double check the expiration date and make sure the seeds are packaged for the 2025 growing season.
Typically, starting seeds indoors can be done 4 to 10 weeks before the last frost, depending on the variety. The quick germinators include zinnias, sweet pea, nasturtium, marigolds and sunflowers. Flowers that need a longer lead time include petunias, snapdragons, stock, bee balm, coneflower, lobelia, verbena and bachelor buttons.
Resist the temptation to plant in the trays too early. This leads to “leggy” and “weak” seedlings that will struggle to survive when transplanted to the outside garden. It’s a good idea to rotate the seed trays every few days to ensure the seedlings grow straight and avoid the planets “bending and reaching” for the light.
Remember too, that indoor seedlings need to be “hardened off” (or acclimated to the outside conditions), especially the strong rays of direct sun and wind. When it is warm enough, bring your trays outside, place them in a shady location then gradually increase their exposure to direct sunlight before transplanting them into the garden.
Another unsung benefit of planting starter seed trays is that you learn to identify seedlings. Once you know what to look for, you can spot the self-starters of many varieties as they emerge from the soil the following spring—and no work required!
Yes, starting seeds inside takes some effort. But if you are a gardener, you a “doer” too. Though the trays from the nursery are stunningly beautiful, nurturing your own collection of seedlings feels special because you have created something from nothing—and in that act there is magic and greatness!
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