There is a season for every vegetable, and a temperature that the plant thrives in – Brussels sprouts should be planted when it’s cool outside. Tomatoes should be planted when it isn’t too hot or too cold outside. Sometimes the season we have to work with isn’t as long as we would like it to be. Sometimes getting a head start growing indoors is all your plants really need. This post will show you how to start seeds indoors.
While mother nature doesn’t give us much control over the weather, there is a way to work around seasonal time constraints – greenhouses. We can keep the environment cool when it’s hot out, and warm when it’s cold out. We can control watering and limit pests.
You don’t need a big extravagant greenhouse that costs thousands either. For my fellow backyard gardeners, all you really need is a light and a little space inside. This is the light I have – Jump Start 2′ T5 Grow Light System.
Make sure if you use a light right above your plants that you raise it as your plants grow. The leaves can burn if they touch the light. Keeping everything by a window can also help. My tomato plants are able to grow inside for a month or two during the hottest time of the year here in Florida (July and August). I’m able to take a time where very little grows in Florida and still use it to my advantage. I use peat pots when growing indoors. And then after the seedlings get a few leaves I transplant them to 3″ Peat Pots.
I doubt I’d ever start tomatoes directly outdoors. In my opinion, tomato plants do much better when they’re transplanted once. In December I start the same process again to plant my tomatoes outside in February. Of course, there are other plants that you can start indoors and transplant. Some plants are sensitive and should not be transplanted. Below is a list of plants you can start indoors and transplant after a month or two.
Plants That Transplant Easily
- Cauliflower
- Chinese cabbage
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Collards
- Brussels Sprouts
- Eggplant
- Peppers
- Tomatoes
I hope this post has helped you learn how to start seeds indoors. Make sure to get a head start growing indoors with your garden this year! Happy Gardening!
