Making seeds sprout in the middle of winter may seem slightly impossible to some, but I’m here to prove to you that just about anyone can make it happen! You’ll need your warmest window, and your richest soil, but you too can make seeds sprout in the dead of winter!
Step 1: The first step in seed sprouting is giving your seeds the proper growing environment. For example, unsown seeds will need a bit more fertilization than regular garden plants, so plant them in a mixture of perlite to start them off on the right foot. I like to purchase my perlite fertilizer from Hardware World. Also, seeds do best when divided in something like an old egg carton. Plant two seeds per section!
Step 2: When planting, it’s important to consider the optimal growing environment: what are the sunshine and watering needs of your plant? This is usually found on the back-side of the seed packet. Consult your packets for information on water and sunshine needs. But, like most seeds, they like a warm area with ample sunlight. Keep soil moist for the first few days to stimulate germination. Seedlings love temperatures between 65 and 72 F.
Step 3: Depending on what your seed packet says, you can begin to expect seeds to sprout in as little as a week. However, after the seedlings sprout, they will need ample room to grow! To prevent overcrowding, transplant your plants as soon as they reach 1 inch tall!
Step 4: When it comes time to transplant your seeds into the great outdoors, make sure you do so slowly! A week or so before the last frost in your area, move your seedlings to your garden where they will grow until they are ready for harvest. Just make sure that you bring them back indoors overnight to prevent any frost damage.
As always, make sure you are picking the varieties of plants that do best in these kinds of conditions! For example: Marigolds, Sunflowers, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Chives, and Basil are all easy to start indoors and then transplant outside when it is warm enough. They sprout indoors in no time at all!
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