Cold, foggy winter days really get me down. I stay indoors most of the time and there is no lush greenery in sight. Still, we can be a year round gardener by improving our knowledge from gardening books and putting our green fingers to work with indoor seed planting.
Growing seeds indoor is not difficult if you get the basics right – all you need is soil, water, light, and good seeds.
Photo credit: Pagoda
Soil
A good quality soil can be bought ready and should consist of garden loam, clean sand, peat moss, or humus in equal parts. The soil itself should be dampened but not soggy.
Seed trays or Pots
The seed trays or pots should be sterilized and soaked and have good drainage. You can put gravel at the bottom with a thin layer of sphagnum moss topped with the soil.
Germination of Seeds
Getting fresh seeds from reputable seed producers will ensure good germination. Cover with fine soil three times the diameter of the seed. Various seeds require different handling (check instructions in seed packet); some need to be scarified while others pre-soaked.
During germination, seeds must have moisture. You can maintain a uniform moisture by spraying with a bulb syringe. Don’t allow them to get soggy though, watering in the morning should be sufficient.
Bright light is also important. You can consider buying an indoor grow light to improve brightness. But some seeds need darkness to germinate or shun direct light which can cause burning, so read the instructions carefully.
The temperature for germination should be about 60–70 degrees. Germination mats are helpful or you can just set the trays where the heat is optimal, for example the top of the refrigerator.
Seedlings
When the seed leaves start appearing, the warmth needed for germination can be reduced to about 50 degrees. This will force the plants to become stocky and vigorous instead of looking scrawny.
Seedlings in a window need to be turned every day to prevent them from bending. As they grow, remove weak plants by pulling them gently from the soil.
Transplanting seedlings
Not every plants adapt well to transplanting. Before transplanting, prepare the containers or garden soil. Terracotta pots should be soaked first and the soil moistened and workable.
Test the soil by balling it and see if it falls apart when you open your hand. If it’s too “sticky,” there is too much clay or moisture. The soil can be amended with compost and sand for better drainage.
Next, use a fork to lift the seedlings from the soil. Place the plants in the container or ground and firm soil carefully about the roots. Don’t plant too loosely.
You can apply organic fertilizer weekly to encourage healthy growth after the young plants are in place. If they require staking or trellises, it’s best to install them beforehand.
Initially, the seedlings are delicate and must be protected from strong wind, light or extreme temperatures. Place them in an area with dappled shade and a few hours of sunlight a day, increasing exposure gradually.
If it is too cold at night, then move the plants indoors. Continue keeping them evenly moist. Also keep a lookout for slugs and bugs. Slugs in particular are notorious for annihilating small seedlings, so exterminate them early.
It takes about two weeks to condition your plants. Timing is crucial for transplanting the plants but there is still much guesswork, even for experienced gardeners. A very wet or dry spring can throw off your entire gardening time table.
Never rush to transplant seedlings into the garden, if the weather doesn’t cooperates, else your efforts could be wasted.
