It's Spring, Eager Gardeners Can Start Now With Seedlings
If you're a home gardener whose green thumb is itching to get started on spring planting, there is no need for further delay.
March and April are ideal months to begin nurturing seedlings indoors for an upcoming garden or home landscaping, says Lori Farr, a horticulturist and perennial production buyer at Dammann's Lawn and Garden Center, which has three Indy locations.
She recommends broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, pansies and impatiens as great crops to start indoors for early spring planting.
"Getting a jump start on the growing season is a fun activity and can help shake some of the pesky winter blues," Farr says.
Farr offers these tips for getting started:
- Choose a tray that will allow enough room for each plant to grow and spread without overcrowding.
- Purchase trustworthy seeds and read the packets carefully to find the best times to start seeds for our area, usually six to eight weeks before the last frost date.
- Start the seeds in a high-quality mix such as Organic Seed Starting Jiffy Mix.
- Place seedlings by a south-facing window or use a grow light and rotate the tray throughout the day for consistent light exposure.
- As seedlings grow, gently brush the tops of them with your hand to encourage strong stems. As the weather warms, place them outside for a few hours each day to minimize the chance of shock when they are transplanted.
