One way to extend the growing season is to start the spring garden indoors. Plants will have a good head start without problems caused by slugs nor will the seeds be eaten by birds. Many gardeners have larger harvests because there will be time for succession planting. In addition, plants which are started indoors have a better survival rate as they were started under ideal conditions. Planning for the spring garden should start 3 months before the last frost date for your area.

Beginning three months before the last frost date, decide which kind of plants you want to grow and where they will be placed in the yard. The decision of where to place each plant will depend on the amount of sun or shade the area will receive each day, water drainage, and the type of companion plants that will be in the same garden bed. When this analysis is complete, you will know which variety of each plant would be best for your garden as well as how many seeds will be needed.

Now that you know how many seeds to buy to start the spring garden indoors, it is time to calculate how much potting soil or other growing medium will be needed, how many potting flats or other containers to order, and the number of fluorescent growth lights which will be necessary. In addition, putting stones in the bottom of each pot will assist with drainage. All of the pots used for growing plants must have good drainage. Purchase the seeds and supplies. It is best to purchase fresh seeds every year to ensure a high rate of germination. Planting the seeds in commercial growing medium is better than backyard soil because it does not have slugs or weed seeds.

Two months before the last frost date, set up the indoor garden area with as much natural sunlight as possible. Use fluorescent lights to supplement. Put some stones in the bottom of each pot or flat and then fill with soil to the top. Soak each pot and allow to drain before planting any seeds.

Read each seed packet for germination instructions. Some seeds will only germinate in shady conditions while others will need 7 - 9 hours of light each day. Also, while many seeds can be planted directly in the growing medium, others (such as lima beans) should be sprouted first. Make a hole for each seed. Usually the depth of the hole should be 4 times the width of the seed. For example, if the seed is 1/16" wide, then the soil should have a hole that is 1/4" deep. If the seeds are extremely tiny, simply cover them with a fine layer of soil. The seed packets will have precise instructions.

Regardless of how the seeds were germinated, all of the sprouts of the indoor garden will need at least 7 hours of light each day. Some plants will need much more. Adjust the height of the fluorescent lights as the seedlings grow taller.

After the seedlings start developing 3 or 4 leaves, it will be necessary to feed them a good quality liquid fertilizer. This will help them to become healthy and vibrant plants.

Start hardening off the plants about one week before they will be transplanted outside into your spring garden. This is done by putting them outside for a few hours every day. Start them in a shady area and move to sunnier locations as the week progresses. Bring the plants back inside before sunset or if the temperature drops to near 40 degrees. After this group of plants has been transplanted into the spring garden, if there will be successive plantings in the same garden beds, then it is time to start the next stage of your garden indoors.

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