- Choose the right containers – you can use almost any type of container as long as it’s at least 2-3″ deep and has drainage holes.
- Use potting soil made for growing seedlings – don’t use soil from your garden or re-use potting soil from your houseplants. Start with a fresh, sterile mix that will ensure healthy, disease-free seedlings.
- Plant the seeds – sprinkle small seeds on the soil surface and bury larger seeds. Moisten the soil and cover the pots with wet paper or a plastic dome to speed up germination. Remove the cover when you see the first signs of green.
- Water and feed regularly – keep the soil moist but not soggy and let it dry slightly between waterings. Feed the seedlings regularly with liquid fertilizer.
- Provide ample light – seeds need a lot of light, so set the lights on a timer for 15 hours a day. If growing in a window, choose a south-facing exposure and rotate the pots regularly to keep plants from leaning into the light. If growing under lights, adjust them so they’re just a few inches above the tops of the seedlings.
- Gradually transition to the outdoors – about a week before setting the seedlings into the garden, place them in a protected spot outdoors for a few hours, bringing them in at night. Gradually expose them to more and more sunshine and wind over the course of a week or 10 days.
