How to Start Seeds Indoors in 4 Easy Steps — Seattle’s Favorite Garden Store Since 1924 – Swansons Nursery

Transplanting

Your babies are all grown up. Or at least they’re teenagers and you want them out of the house until they adjust their attitudes. In any case, the time has come to harden them off (sounds like tough love but it’s for the best). Then you can plant them!

Harden Off Your Seedlings

Remember last April – that first warm sunny day? You pulled on your shorts, tank top, and flip-flops, and ran out to offer yourself up to the sun goddess? Then, after a day of ecstatic frolicking, you came home and realized that your tender PNW skin was burnt to a crisp? So, now you’re sunburnt and embarrassed and wishing you’d shown a bit more restraint? Yeah, seedlings feel like that, too.

Those indoor lights are far less powerful than the sun. So you have to gradually prepare them for the great outdoors. This is called hardening off. It will take about a week, give or take. Day 1: place your seedlings outside in a protected area in the shade for an hour or so, then bring them back inside. Day 2: repeat, extending the time by an hour or two. Day 3: repeat, possibly allowing some morning sun.

Repeat, repeat, repeat. Each time allowing your plants to stay outside longer (if the night temperatures are moderate, you can even leave them outside overnight) and get a little more sun each day. At the end of the week, they will be ready for planting.

Hardy seedlings can begin the process of hardening off once they have 3-4 true leaves. Start hardening off your tender plants about 1 week before you plan to plant them outside.

A Few Planting Tips

Cucumber and squash don’t take kindly to people messing with their roots, so try not to manipulate them too much when you transplant them.

Bury tomatoes deep. Otherwise, the Law might find them (joking). If you bury up to about 2/3 of the stem, roots will grow from each leaf node, making them stronger.

Be sure to water your new seedlings well after planting and keep a regular watering schedule. Seedling have small roots so they can dry out quickly.

When to Plant Your Seedlings Outside

Sowing and transplanting dates are determined by their distance from the last expected frost, which can kill half-hardy and tender plants. In Seattle, our last frost can be as early as mid-March but since it varies, we generally place it on April 15th to be extra safe. Everyone has a different opinion on when to transplant so refer to your seed packet for specific recommendations.

Transplant 4 weeks before last frost: scallions, spinach

Transplant 2 weeks before last frost: arugula, broccoli, calendula, kale, lettuce, onions, parsley, snapdragons

Transplant on our right after last frost: bachelor’s buttons, cauliflower, corn, cosmos, marigolds, nasturtiums, pansies

Transplant 2 weeks after last frost: beans, bok choy, ground cherries, melons, squash (summer and winter), tomatillos, tomatoes, zinnias

Transplant at least 4 weeks after last frost: basil, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers

Time to get out there and start some seeds! If you have any questions, we at Swansons are happy to help. Ask us in person or email us at garden@swansonsnursery.com. You can also send us pics and updates on social media using #heyswansons! We love to see your baby veggies!