When should seedlings be started indoors?

The date on which indoor seedlings should be started depends on the plant’s pace of growth and on local climatic conditions. Generally speaking, seedling dates suggested on seed packets correspond to the date of the last soil freeze-up. You therefore have to depend on local data to determine the seedling date. Opt for the later seedling date when two dates are mentioned.

In general, there’s no advantage to sowing earlier than stipulated on seed packets, since plants tend to wither under the growing conditions that prevail inside our homes (weak light).

To learn more:

• Indoor seedlings – vegetables and annuals