Seed starters

A seed is a plant embryo with its initial food supply stored within a protective coating. Seeds remain dormant until a combination of moisture, temperature, air, and light triggers germination. Packaged seeds from stores and catalogs are readily available.

Seeds are either hybrid or heirloom varieties. Hybrid seeds (designated by F1 or F2 on the package) are formed by cross-fertilizing two plant varieties to achieve certain desirable traits, such as disease resistance or high yield.

Heirloom seeds come from open-pollinated plant varieties -- those fertilized naturally by wind, water, insects, or birds. Gardeners grow heirloom varieties for their flavor, scent, or other special attributes, putting up with produce or flowers that may be irregular in appearance or may not keep well -- reasons why you don't see heirloom varieties at your local grocer or florist.

Starting times

Knowing when to start seeds indoors takes some backward thinking. First, find out the average date of the last frost in your area and the number of weeks before that date you should start a particular seed. (The number of weeks varies and is listed on the seed package.) Then count backward on the calendar from the average last frost date. Most seeds should be started six to eight weeks before the last frost date. Some seeds can be started a few weeks before it, while others may need a lead time of 12 to 14 weeks. If you start seeds too early, you'll have to keep the seedlings inside too long, and they will be weak by transplant time.

What you'll need

A cardboard egg carton makes an excellent seed-starting flat, as do cut-down milk jugs, yogurt cups, nursery flats, and disposable aluminum pans. You also can purchase biodegradable peat pots that can be set in the ground when it's time to move seedlings outdoors. Whatever you choose, make sure the container has holes in the bottom for good drainage.

Because seeds contain enough food to support the germinating seedlings in their first days, they don't need to start in an especially nutrient-rich medium. Use a sterile, weed-free soil mixture that's substantial enough to absorb and hold water but not so densely packed that it keeps air out and inhibits roots. Good commercial seed-starting mixtures are available at nurseries and garden centers.

Finally, many seedlings look alike, so labels are a good idea. Write the plant names on frozen-dessert sticks or other labels and stick them in the soil. Keep your seed packages for reference.