The Best Seeds to Start Indoors
Why start seeds indoors?
Start seeds indoors to see your garden go from seed to harvest. It’s economical if you have a large garden to fill. Plus, you can grow varieties the nursery isn’t selling.
Generally, you start seeds indoors to give the plant extra time to grow before its outdoor growing season starts.
Try Growing These Plants from Seeds Indoors
Some vegetables need more time to go from seed to harvest because you’re harvesting them for their fruit, or because they are slow growing.
Broccoli and cauliflower - These large cool season veggies are slow-growing and need the extra 30 days you can give them by starting them from seeds indoors.
Eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes - These are just a few of the quintessential garden veggies that we all imagine harvesting from a garden. We are harvesting them for the fruit the plant produces and plants take awhile to go from seed to fruit, so starting indoors ensures they have plenty of time to produce well in the garden before our warm season ends.
Basil and oregano - These herbs in the mint family transplant well. you can also direct sow, but starting indoors will give you a longer period to enjoy harvesting them out in the garden.
Borage, calendula, and marigold - These flowers are incredibly beneficial to your kitchen garden. They deter pests, and should be interplanted all over. Grow indoors so they are closer to flowering by the time you transplant.
Medium and large greens like cabbage and kale - They need a little more time to grow so the jump start indoors helps. Lettuce can also be direct sowed but starting indoors gives you a longer harvest season in the garden.
By identifying plants that need extra growing time, we’ve got our list of plants to buy as seeds for starting indoors! 👇
Which Seeds to Start Indoors
Direct sow outdoors when you’re growing:
Fruiting or Slow-Growing Vegetables
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Eggplant
Peppers
Tomatoes
Some Herbs
Basil
Oregano
Flowers
Borage
Calendula
Marigold
Medium to Large Greens
Bok Choy
Cabbage
Lettuce
Kale
Swiss Chard
Timing is one of the keys to garden success.
You may know our frost dates, but did you know we have three growing seasons in the DMV? Download this guide to our local growing seasons so you can save time and money by planting the right plants at the right time.
