Certain vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplant require a long growing season and usually will not mature if seeded directly in the garden. Other vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower don't like the hot temperatures of late summer. It is necessary then, either to start these crops indoors or to buy the plants at a nursery or greenhouse.

In North Dakota broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and peppers should be started indoors about April 1st. Tomatoes should be started near the middle of April. Many of the annual flowers can also be started indoors.

Seeds can be started in flats, peat pots or starter pellets; or you can use pans, pots, cans, sections of milk or egg cartons. Be careful when selecting a media for starting plants. Purchase prepackaged potting soil or mix your own. One part garden soil, one part sand or perlite, and one part peat is a good mixture. If you are using garden soil, in your starting mixture, sterilize it. For small amounts, spread moist soil in a shallow pan and bake at 180-190 degrees F. in the oven for one hour or microwave for 2 1/2  minutes at full power in an appropriate container. This will prevent damping off disease.

If possible, punch holes in the bottom of your containers for drainage. Fill soil containers about 3/4 full with your soil mixture. Sow seeds thinly at the depth given on the seed packet. Cover with a fine layer of perlite, sand or soil. Water thoroughly with a fine mist and cover the container with a moist paper towel or newspaper. The covered container should be kept at a temperature between 65 and 75 degrees F. Check periodically to make sure the soil hasn't dried out. As soon as the seeds have germinated, removed the covering and place the seedlings in good natural light or under artificial lights.

If you are starting melons, cucumbers, or squash, plant 1-2 seeds in each container. Peat pots or pellets work very well for starting these plants since these containers can be planted directly into the garden. These plants are very susceptible to transplant damage. Don't start these plants until the early part of May.

This page was last updated April 2003

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