Most vegetables can easily be grown from seed. Many can be direct-sown in the garden, however, in most regions it is best to or start them indoors. Starting vegetables indoors will give you a headstart and provide you with a longer growing season. Too, you can grow a lot more variety as there are thousands of varieties of vegetable seeds available, but only a few available at your local garden center. Of course, if you decide not to start your own vegetable plants from seed, your local garden center will always have a good selection when the time is right for planting - which, by the way, is after weather forecasts indicate no more frost, and nightime temperatures remaining above 50 degrees F, or so.

Sowing Vegetable Seeds Indoors

Plant vegetable seeds indoors at the recommended number of weeks prior to transplanting outdoors as indicated on the seed packet. Also, follow instructions on packet for light or darkness needs to gerninate, and whether it should be covered or uncovered, as well as any other special growing requirements such as soaking, chilling or scarifying.

Supplies you might need for indoor seed sowing include the following: fluorescent or grow lights, disinfested containers with excellent drainage, pasteurized (sterile) seed-starting medium and a location with proper temperature and ventilation.

Growing Media For Starting Herbs From Seeds

Choose a medium with a loose, uniform, fine texture. A mixture that is 1/3 soil, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 peat moss has the qualities of a good seed-starting medium. Your local nursery and garden center may carry mixes labeled for seed starting. Whatever is selected, be sure it is pasteurized (sterile). Using pasteurized soil prevents damping-off, a fungal disease that kills young seedlings. Pasteurized soil also helps to avoid weeds, diseases and pests. If your local nursery doesn't stock pasteurized soil growing mixes, ask them to order it for you.

Seed-starting media are usually low in fertility. This means that a regular fertilization program is very important once seedlings emerge.