Hey everyone, I'm a bit confused about when to start my seeds! I know my last spring frost date is around May 24th, and I've seen my seed packets mention sowing seeds indoors or outdoors several weeks before that date. How many weeks am I talking about? Is it 2, 3, or maybe even 4 weeks? Any advice would be appreciated since I'm new to this gardening thing!
2 Answers
No need to feel dumb about asking! Gardening can be tricky, especially with all the different recommendations out there. Check your seed packets for information on germination time and whether you should start them indoors or directly outside. If you're starting indoors, your frost date isn’t super critical since you can keep them inside until it's warm enough to move them outside. Just remember to harden them off for a few hours a day before making the full transition! Hope that clarifies things for you!
I totally get how confusing this can be! I use a garden planner app that helps me with these questions. For example, my last frost date is April 22, and I start my heavy-hitters like tomatoes and peppers indoors by the last week of February. Just remember, you’ll want to gradually transition them outside; if you don't, they might stress out and wilt!
Thanks for the tip! I’ll check out that app! ?
Thanks for the advice! I’ll definitely be sure to harden off my plants. I also have a heat mat and LED lights to help with germination, but the timing is still a bit hazy for me.