Advantages of starting plants indoors from seed
The long days of winter are finally gone, and it is time again to plan a garden! Starting plants indoors from seed is an excellent way to ensure you get the amount and varieties of the plants you want. Over the long term it can also save you money. There are some upfront costs the first year, and in later years when supplies wear out and need to be replaced. However, the main costs each year will be in the seeds, soil, and electricity to run your lights.
Why we start our plants from seed
For several years we sold our produce commercially to local grocery stores. The only cost effective way for us to do this was starting our own plants from seed. Even after a decade, the excitement of waiting for our seeds to germinate in our plant stands doesn’t seem to wane.
For us this process usually starts each year around mid-March. We begin putting our plants in the ground after the danger of frost has passed. In our area this date is May 12th. One thing we are very careful of is not to put plants out too early. This can be very tempting on a warm day in early Spring. It is an enticing thought to get an early start on the gardening season. However, in 2020 our last frost was around May 10th and it was a great reminder of why it’s so important to wait. Feel free to check out the resource below to find the estimated last frost date in your area:
Overcoming challenges of starting your own plants from seed
It may sound intimidating to some, but once you try it, I hope you will see how rewarding it can be to learn this skill. The last few growing seasons have been a little different with Covid 19. This pandemic has certainly shown us that our supply chains are vulnerable, and gardening is no exception. We have noticed shortages and increased costs the last few years. These pertain to purchasing plants, as well as starting your own. We’ve found it helps to plan well and order early. So please join us on this step-by-step guide to starting plants indoors from seed. We think you will find this to be an empowering and fun project to kick start your garden and customize it for the exact garden you want. Here is the link to the next post in this series.
