Indoor Seed Starting Tips from HomeHarvestSeeds.com

INDOOR
SEED STARTING TIPS

Should all seeds be started indoors?
No, in fact, only a few seeds need indoor starting - those that are very slow-growing or need a headstart where the season is short. The packet will tell you specifically when and where to plant.

What does "germinate" mean?
To germinate, a seed takes in water and begins to swell, and continues until the tiny plants emerge from the soil and begin to make their own food by photosynthesis.

How long until germination?
The individual seed packet give the approximate number of days from planting to emergence (when seedlings appear). For example, under ideal conditions, a bean seed takes about 7 to 10 days to germinate.

What kind of lighting is best for indoor germination?
If a completely unobstructed south window of natural light is not available, use 4 foot fluorescent light tubes for 12 to 18 hours per day.

Using a four foot two-tube fixture is always preferred to a two foot two-tube fixture if space permits. Flourescent tubes are dimmer at the ends than in the middle. A two-foot fixture only gives you about 16 to 18 inches (in length) of usable light, whereas a four-foot fixture gives you an area of a little more than three feet. The width of coverage of a two-tube fixture is approximately 8 to 12 inches.

One disadvantage of fluorescent lighting is that the usable light doesn't have a lot of depth penetration, about 18 inches at most. This means you have to keep your tubes no more than 6 inches from the tops of the seedlings. You'll see significantly better results by keeping the tubes about 4 inches from the tops of the seedlings. The advantage of fluorescent lamps is that they burn cool, allowing you to place them this close to the developing plants. Be sure to raise your fixture as the seedlings grow.

New high-output fluorescent light fixtures provide much better depth penetration, illuminating larger areas with more than sufficient light for speedy seed germination.

Why are my seedlings tall, spindly and falling over?
The number one reason is insufficient light, however, a plant that germinates and grows outside has to weather many environmental issues, such as wind and rain. To defend itself against these ravages, it develops a short, sturdy stalk and stays more compact in its growth habit. A plant that germinates indoors doesn't have the wind or rain to strengthen its stalk, so using an artificial wind source is necessary to insure your seedlings don't grow tall and spindly. Use a small oscillating fan and place it near the seedlings so that they sway ever so slightly in the breeze. You don't need nor want to recreate a hurricane. A couple of hours a day will keep your seedlings stronger and more compact.

Keep fluorescent fixtures no more than 2 to 4 inches above the canopy of the seedlings.

Place HID lighting fixtures no closer than 2 feet to the seedling canopy.

When do I fertilize my seedlings?
When plants start growing their first true set of leaves, water with a liquid fertilizer at quarter to half strength.