Seed Starting 101: Grow Strong Seedlings Indoors
Light, warmth and the right mix are what matter most. Here is a simple setup that works on any budget.
Why start indoors?
Starting seeds indoors gives slow crops like tomatoes, peppers and many flowers a head start, so they produce before the season ends. It costs far less than buying transplants and opens up hundreds more varieties.
What you need
Clean cell trays or small pots, a light seed-starting mix (not garden soil), a tray for bottom watering, and a light. A sunny windowsill rarely provides enough light, so most growers use LED shop or grow lights on a timer.
Quick tips
- Cell trays with drainage holes
- Seed-starting mix
- LED light on a timer
- Labels and a marker
Sow, thin and pot up
Moisten the mix before filling cells. Sow two seeds per cell at a depth of about twice the seed's width. Keep the tray warm and covered until seeds sprout, then remove the cover and lower the light to a few inches above the leaves.
When seedlings have true leaves, snip the weaker one in each cell. Feed weekly with a diluted liquid fertiliser and move fast growers into bigger pots if roots fill their cells.
Quick tips
- Bottom-water to prevent damping off
- Brush the tops gently each day
