I always start some plants in the house so I can get a jump on the growing season. I enjoy following the whole life cycle of my plants and trying different varieties than the usual ones you can find at the nursery. The seed catalogs are full of new types of flowers, vegetables and herbs. For a very small investment, you can grow a whole garden of different varieties. When you are only spending a small amount up front, you can afford to be adventurous!

I've tried many different methods of indoor seeding. The one I like best is the Accelerated Propagation System (see the source list below). It uses a capillary matting underneath so you never have to water from above and wash seeds and plants away. Another advantage is that you can go away for a few days, and your small plants will be fine. Fertilizer is added to the water, in very small amounts, for continuous feeding.

Use only a few seeds per compartment so you don't have a tangle of germinated seeds to thin out. I like to presprout my seeds, and then just plant the ones that germinate. To presprout, put your seeds on a folded paper towel that has been moistened. Cover them with a glass and place it in a very warm place. I use a special heated grow mat which I can also use under my APS. Make sure the seeds never dry out and they should germinate in a few days to a week.

The growing plants should have plenty of ventilation. A small fan will keep the air moving. At this point warmth isn't needed or desired. The plants will be sturdier with cooler temps (60 - 65 degrees). They do need lots of light, however. Fluorescent lights work very well, because you can lower them to right above the seeds and small plants. Many seeds need light to germinate, so start the lights right after you seed or when you are presprouting.

When should you start your seeds? It really depends on what you are growing. The seed package usually tells the optimum time to start inside.

If you buy the larger APS, you can leave the plants in it till they go outside in May. Generally, I replant my plants into a peat pot about a month before they go out. That way the pot and all go right in the ground, for the least root disturbance.

The last thing to remember is not to plant them outside without hardening them off first. This applies to house plants you take out for the summer, as well. Plants grown in the house do not like the fluctuation in temperatures and the air currents they find outdoors. It's best to get them acclimated to it gradually. Some people take them out a little longer every day, starting with an hour the first day. I put mine in a cold frame for a few weeks, lifting the plastic for a few hours a day.

I know its very tempting to order a packet of every new variety you see in the catalog. If this is your first try at seed starting, it might be better to start small. Remember, there is always next year when it comes to gardening!

There are many seed catalogs that have sites on the net (I've listed my favorites below). For more comprehensive listings try http://www.cog.brown.edu/gardening/cat.html or http://w3.aces.uiuc.edu/hort/kramer/sources/flowers.htm.

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