Give tender seedlings a head start by sowing seeds indoors or under cover to extend your growing season. Watch this to learn the basics…

It’s that time of year! If you want to give your garden a head start this spring, sowing seeds indoors ahead of your last frost date will give slow-growing seedlings a chance to get established before planting them out in the garden.

When to plant will depend on your climate and growing zone, as well as what types of seeds you are starting. In most areas of the U.S., long-season crops like tomatoes and peppers should be started indoors 4-6 weeks before it’s time to transplant outside to give them a chance to produce a good crop before the fall frosts arrive.

There are a number of different ways to start your seeds indoors – from pots on your windowsill, to greenhouses, cold frames, and other protected areas. We start our seeds in flats, plug trays, or biodegradable containers and keep them in an old aquarium under grow lights for several weeks. Here in Central Ohio, it’s usually safe to transplant tomatoes outside after Mother’s Day, but we usually give the peppers until late May as they don’t care for cool nights.

Cooler weather crops such as broccoli, cabbage, or cauliflower also are good to start indoors to give them a head start; that way, you can get the seedlings out as soon as it’s warm enough so that they can finish their growing season before it gets really hot in mid-summer.

This short video shares some basic tips for sowing seeds indoors or undercover for a longer and more productive growing season this year.

Watch now to learn:

• Why start seeds under cover?
• Where and how to start your seeds
• What types of containers and growing medium to use
• Keeping seedlings watered
• And more