{"id":5816,"date":"2026-01-07T14:10:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T22:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/how-to-start-annuals-indoors-from-seed\/"},"modified":"2026-01-07T14:10:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T22:10:07","slug":"how-to-start-annuals-indoors-from-seed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/how-to-start-annuals-indoors-from-seed\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Start Annuals Indoors from Seed"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

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Seeds<\/h3>\n

Be sure to purchase from a reputable grower that have been harvested and packed for the upcoming season.<\/p>\n

Annuals may be classified in one of three ways: hardy, semi- or half-hardy, or tender.<\/p>\n

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\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Hardy annuals can endure a fair amount of frost; some survive winter and grow again the following spring.<\/p>\n

Semi-hardy varieties may tolerate light frost. Tender plants are too fragile to survive any frost.<\/p>\n

Each may be started indoors<\/a><\/strong> and later transplanted to the garden per packet instructions.<\/p>\n

Tablespoon<\/h3>\n

I find that the delicate work of filling cells with soil is much easier with a tablespoon than with a garden trowel.<\/p>\n

I recommend sanitizing your spoon with an alcohol swab prior to use.<\/p>\n

Tape<\/h3>\n

Waterproof tape may be needed to secure the plastic wrap underneath the baking pans when making greenhouses.<\/p>\n

First aid tape or duct tape work fine. You may also use masking tape to label containers.<\/p>\n

Terra cotta Pots<\/h3>\n

Terra cotta pots are good to have on hand. Sanitize them with a 10 percent bleach solution and rinse well prior to use.<\/p>\n

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\"A\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

They\u2019re useful when it\u2019s still too cold for outdoor planting<\/a><\/strong> and you want to give seedlings more room to grow.<\/p>\n

Tweezers<\/h3>\n

Tweezers are used to pick up the tiniest of seeds with ease. Sanitize them with an alcohol swab, rinse, and dry before use.<\/p>\n

Water<\/h3>\n

Germination begins when a seed becomes moist, and must stay moist throughout its growth process.<\/p>\n

You can mist the soil with a spray bottle, or you can make a mat watering system.<\/p>\n

How to Make a Mat Watering System<\/h2>\n

A mat watering system is one of the best ways to ensure that your plants never go dry. Here\u2019s how to make one:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Line an old one- or two-inch tall baking pan with newspaper that has been cut to fit. Use enough sheets to fill the pan to the top.<\/li>\n
  2. Dampen the newspaper with water to the point of saturation.<\/li>\n
  3. Place your planted egg cartons on top of the wet newspaper. They will absorb water as needed.<\/li>\n
  4. Remember to mist or saturate the newspaper daily.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Congrats! You\u2019re really doing this. You\u2019ve got your supplies, and you know how to make a mat watering system.<\/p>\n

    That\u2019s two thumbs up! Now let\u2019s get into the seed packets<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Prepare Your Seeds<\/h2>\n

    Seeds come in a range of shapes and sizes.<\/p>\n

    Some, like lobelia<\/a><\/strong>, are so small and light, you don\u2019t dare sneeze while you\u2019re trying to separate them under a magnifying glass.<\/p>\n

    Others are many times larger, like those of the lima bean<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    \n
    \"A\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

    Many are ready to sow right out of the packet.<\/p>\n

    As we noted above, others need to be chilled, soaked, or scarified before planting to replicate what would have happened to them in nature, had they not been harvested for sale.<\/p>\n

    When a plant scatters seeds, they tumble about in all kinds of weather, roughing up their outer coatings, and preparing to take in air, water, and nutrients<\/strong><\/a> when they sprout in the spring.<\/p>\n

    Gardeners must do what Mother Nature would have done, to enable the seeds to open and grow.<\/p>\n

    \n
    \"A\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

    Be sure to read packets thoroughly, and don\u2019t skip chilling, soaking, or scarifying, if required.<\/p>\n

    And now it\u2019s time to sow!<\/p>\n

    How to Start Seeds Indoors<\/h2>\n

    With all of your supplies assembled, you\u2019re ready to go.<\/p>\n

    Here\u2019s what to do:<\/p>\n

    1. Drainage<\/h3>\n

    Poke several drainage holes in the bottom of each cell of your egg cartons.<\/p>\n

    2. Fill Cells<\/h3>\n

    Fill each cell three-quarters full of potting medium.<\/p>\n

    \n
    \"A\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

    Place a toothpick in the center of each cell.<\/p>\n

    3. Prepare Mat System<\/h3>\n

    If you are making a mat watering system, stack sheets of newspaper in your baking pans and thoroughly dampen the newspaper.<\/p>\n

    Place your egg cartons on top. One baking sheet may be able to hold multiple egg cartons.<\/p>\n

    If you have purchased a capillary mat product, prepare it per manufacturer\u2019s directions.<\/p>\n

    \n
    \"A\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

    If you\u2019re going to skip the mat system and use a water bottle mister, simply place your egg cartons on top of baking pans that will serve as drip pans.<\/p>\n

    4. Sow Seeds<\/h3>\n

    Sow one variety per baking pan so watering requirements will be the same for all. Use your tape and marker to label each tray\u2019s contents.<\/p>\n

    \n
    \"A\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

    Sow as follows:<\/p>\n

    For tiny seeds<\/em>, mist the soil lightly. Use a magnifying glass, and tweezers if necessary, to place two or three in each cell. Do not cover with soil.<\/p>\n

    For seeds large enough to measure<\/em> with a standard ruler, plant at a depth equal to the size of the seed, and cover lightly with soil.<\/p>\n

    Planting too deeply may deprive them of oxygen, and they will not germinate.<\/p>\n

    5. Make a Greenhouse<\/h3>\n

    Start by cutting a piece of plastic wrap the length of each baking pan. Cut two to cover wide baking pans, and overlap them.<\/p>\n

    Use a pin to poke about 10 tiny holes in the plastic at random.<\/p>\n

    Lay the plastic wrap gently on top of the toothpicks to form a greenhouse. Tuck the ends and sides of the plastic firmly underneath each baking pan, taping as needed.<\/p>\n

    Place it in a bright location out of direct sunlight.<\/p>\n

    6. Record and Observe<\/h3>\n

    Save your seed packets and start a gardening journal<\/a><\/strong>. Note the planting date, and approximately how many days until maturity per package instructions.<\/p>\n

    As plants grow, write down when they bud, bloom, and bear fruit.<\/p>\n

    7. Monitor Moisture<\/h3>\n

    If you are using the mat watering system, keep the newspaper saturated.<\/p>\n

    If you\u2019re using a spray bottle to mist, make sure to keep the soil moist by misting it regularly.<\/p>\n

    8. Acclimate Sprouts<\/h3>\n

    After they germinate, or sprout, lift the edges of the plastic wrap \u2013 but do not remove it for two days.<\/p>\n

    \n
    \"A\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

    Allow time for acclimation to the cooler air outside the mini-greenhouse.<\/p>\n

    9. Move into the Sun<\/h3>\n

    After two days, remove the plastic wrap completely.<\/p>\n

    Place the baking pans in direct sunlight, away from drafty places like exit doors.<\/p>\n

    10. Rearrange and Fertilize<\/h3>\n

    Turn the baking pans periodically to prevent sprouts from leaning toward the light.<\/p>\n

    After germination, cotyledons or seed leaves will soon appear. Above these, the first true leaves will follow.<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Miracle-Gro Quick Start Fertilizer<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

    If your potting medium does not already contain fertilizer, now is the time to apply a liquid plant food like Miracle-Gro Quick Start, available via Amazon<\/a><\/strong>, per manufacturer\u2019s instructions.<\/p>\n

    Thinning<\/h2>\n

    It\u2019s best to sow more seeds than you really want because it\u2019s rare that all of them will thrive.<\/p>\n

    A few may simply fail to germinate, never sprouting at all.<\/p>\n

    Some may grow to the seedling stage, only to succumb to a condition called \u201cdamping off,\u201d<\/a><\/strong> which makes them to fall over and die.<\/p>\n

    \n
    \"A\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

    The best methods for prevention are not overwatering, and using sanitary soil and supplies.<\/p>\n

    Others may grow spindly and weak, while their neighbors grow tall and strong. This is where you\u2019ve got to get tough.<\/p>\n

    Ideally, seedlings need an inch of space all to themselves.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n