In colder climates like ours here in Colorado, it is a great thing to start your seeds indoors a few months before you can actually plant them outside. Last year I started tomato plants in March, but decided I needed to plant them a month earlier this year. I found this terrific little adjustable grow light at Phelan Gardens Nursery here in the Springs, and the little plants are doing quite well. This year, I planted 3 varieties of tomatoes, 2 varieties of bell peppers, cucumbers, squash, and some herbs. When I transplant them to my garden around the beginning of May, I will put "walls of water" around them to protect them from the frost and cold weather at night. So here is the process of starting your seeds indoors:
- Purchase peat moss pellets and put them in seedling trays; add warm water until they expand to about triple in size.
- Gently pull apart top netting on each pellet and plant 2-3 seeds in each one, following directions on back of seed package.
- Cover tray and put in dark warm area until seeds have sprouted...a few days to a week. I put mine over a heater vent to keep them warm.
- After seeds have sprouted, take off the cover and put them under the grow light. Water when peat moss gets dry. It will usually turns a lighter brown when it starts to dry out.
- After the plants begin to put on the "true" leaves and have grown several inches in height, thin out your plants and leave only one or two of the strongest plants in each pellet.
- When plants get too large for the pellet, transplant them to larger pots with a good starter soil. Keep under grow light until plants have grown large enough to transplant into garden.
- When you are ready to transplant the plants to the garden, put them outside in a sheltered area for a few days to get them hardy enough to transplant.
- Don't forget to put the "walls of water" around the tender plants after you have planted them in the garden.
