Grow Lights for Seedlings: Distance, Hours and Setup
How far to hang grow lights above seedlings, how many hours a day they need, LED versus fluorescent, and the setup mistakes that leave plants leggy and weak.
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Starting seeds indoors
Starting vegetable and herb seeds indoors: timing by your last frost, mix and containers, grow lights, germination temperature, watering, feeding and potting up.
Seed Germination Temperature, Domes and Heat Mats
Most vegetable seeds germinate best at 65° to 75°F. How to use domes and heat mats, when to remove the cover, and how to cool seedlings after sprouting.
How to Start Seeds Indoors, Step by Step
A practical, step-by-step guide to starting vegetable and herb seeds indoors: timing, containers, mix, warmth, light, watering, potting up and hardening off.
Potting Up Seedlings: When and How to Move Them
Learn when to pot up seedlings, how to separate and lift them without damage, what container size to use, and how to avoid mistakes that set plants back.
Seed Starting Mix and Containers: What Seedlings Need
Choose the right seed starting mix and containers for healthy seedlings. Learn why soilless mix beats garden soil, cell sizes by crop, and avoiding damping-off.
Watering and Feeding Seedlings Without Drowning Them
Learn when to water seedlings, top versus bottom watering, why soggy mix kills roots, and when to start feeding with a diluted fertilizer.
When to Start Seeds Indoors: Count Back from Last Frost
Use your last frost date to time indoor sowing. Tables compare Maryland and Clemson week counts for tomato, pepper, broccoli and more, plus why early sowing fails.