The Quick and Easy Guide to SEED STARTING

As the chill sets in, it's time to begin sowing seeds for warmer days ahead. Whether you're new to seed starting or need a refresher course, here's the dirt on how to do it right and common pitfalls to avoid.

- by MARIANNE WILBURN

Homegrown vegetables and flowers are some of gardening's greatest pleasures. It feels like pure magic to grow several pounds of tomatoes or a flurry of cosmos from a tiny seed. Plus, starting crops from seed lets you grow more unusual varieties than you could from seedlings (and more affordably too). Before you start sowing seeds with abandon, however, do these three things to lay the groundwork for success.

Check Frost Dates

Seeds have different germination and growth rates (aka days to harvest). Consider your area's average last frost date when sowing seeds. This is your secret weapon against leggy tomatoes that aren't ready to go outside, or pea seeds rotting in cold, wet soil. Get the average last frost date from your local state extension service and compare that with your seed packets' recommended sowing times.

Test for Freshness

If you have leftover seeds from prior years, make sure they're still viable. Wrap 10 of them in a damp paper towel and place it in a sealed plastic sandwich bag for the high range of its germination time. If only five seeds sprout, you've got a 50% germination rate and will need to sow more seeds than normal. Anything less and it's best to buy new seeds.

Contain Your Enthusiasm

We get it: Excitement for spring is high in late winter, and it's easy to sow too many seeds. If you're a beginner, resist the urge. You'll water, transplant, and worry less if you limit yourself.

Seeds, soil, and some kind of shallow vessels are all you need to start sowing indoors. Sometimes, however, it's better to sow seeds directly in the soil outside. Read on to learn the difference.

Indirect Sowing (indoors)