Seed Starting:
Indoor & Direct Sowing
Calendula
Bronzed Beauty
Indoor
Germination: 7-14 days
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Fill your tray with soil leaving 1/4 - 1/2 inch.
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Place seed and mist into place.
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Cover with about 1/4 - 1/2 inch of soil and mist until wet.
If starting indoors, you will need to harden them off after your last frost.
No pinching necessary
Grows best in sun to part shade
Plant starts 6-12 inches apart
Direct Sow
Germination: 7-14 days (may be longer depending on your weather)
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After danger of frost, sow at a depth of 1/4 inch.
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Cover with soil.
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Create your rows with seeds 6-12 inches apart.
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Water them in.
No pinching necessary
Grows best in sun to part shade
Cosmos
Mixed & Cupcake Mix
Indoor
Germination: 7-10 days
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Fill your tray with soil.
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Sprinkle seeds in a tray (you can thin them out or separate after they germinate).
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Mist water to hold the seed in place.
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These you want to barely cover as light aids germination.
If starting indoors, you will need to harden them off after your last frost.
Pinch when the seedling has over 3 sets of leaves, pinching down to the third set
Thrives in full sun
Plant starts 9-12 inches apart (wider spacing creates stronger stems)
Direct Sow
Germination: 7-10 days (may be longer depending on your weather)
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After danger of frost, and soil temps are 60°F, sprinkle seeds.
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Lightly cover with soil, as light aids germination.
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Create your rows with seeds 9-12 inches apart. (Wider spacing creates stronger stems)
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Water them in.
Pinch when the seedling has over 3 sets of leaves, pinching down to the third set
Thrives in full sun
Cress
Green Dragon & Persian
Indoor
Germination: 2-5 days
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Fill your tray with soil leaving 1/4 inch.
-
Place seed and mist into place.
-
Cover with about 1/4 inch of soil and mist until wet.
If starting indoors, you will need to harden them off after your last frost.
No pinching necessary
Thrives in full sun
Plant starts 2-6 inches apart
Note: You can succession plant every 2-3 weeks, following the direct sow method, for ongoing flushes throughout the summer, as cress is not a cut and come again.
Direct Sow
Germination: 2-5 days (may be longer depending on your weather)
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After danger of frost, sow at a depth of 1/4 inch.
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Cover with soil.
-
Create your rows with seeds 2-6 inches apart.
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Water them in.
No pinching necessary
Thrives in full sun
Note: You can succession plant every 2-3 weeks for ongoing flushes throughout the summer, as cress is not a cut and come again.
Dahlia
Field Mix
Indoor
Germination: 3-5 days
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Fill your tray with soil leaving 1/4 inch.
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Place seed and mist into place.
-
Cover with about 1/4 inch of soil and mist until wet.
If starting indoors, you will need to harden them off after your last frost.
Pinch when the seedling has over 3 sets of leaves, pinching down to the third set
Thrives in full sun
Plant starts 9-12 inches apart
Note: At the end of the season, these will produce tubers.
Direct Sow
Germination: 3-5 days (may be longer depending on your weather)
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After danger of frost, and soil temps are 65-70°F, sow at a depth of 1/4 inch.
-
Cover with soil.
-
Create your rows with seeds 9-12 inches apart.
-
Water them in.
Pinch when the seedling has over 3 sets of leaves, pinching down to the third set
Thrives in full sun
Note: At the end of the season, these will produce tubers.
Scabiosa
Snowmaiden
Indoor
Germination: 10-12 days
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Fill your tray with soil.
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Sprinkle seeds in a tray (you can thin them out or separate after they germinate).
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Mist water to hold the seed in place.
-
These you want to barely cover as light aids germination.
If starting indoors, you will need to harden them off after your last frost.
No pinching necessary
Thrives in full sun
Plant starts 9-15 inches apart
Direct Sow
Germination: 10-12 days (may be longer depending on your weather)
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After danger of frost sprinkle seeds.
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Lightly cover with soil, as light aids germination.
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Create your rows with seeds 9-15 inches apart.
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Water them in.
No pinching necessary
Thrives in full sun
Statice
Mixed
Indoor
Germination: 5-14 days
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Fill your tray with soil.
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Sprinkle seeds in a tray (you can thin them out or separate after they germinate).
-
Mist water to hold the seed in place.
-
These you want to barely cover as light aids germination.
If starting indoors, you will need to harden them off after your last frost.
No pinching necessary
Thrives in full sun
Plant starts 8-12 inches apart
Direct Sow
Germination: 5-14 days (may be longer depending on your weather)
-
After danger of frost sprinkle seeds.
-
Lightly cover with soil, as light aids germination.
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Create your rows with seeds 8-12 inches apart.
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Water them in.
No pinching necessary
Thrives in full sun
Zinnia
Mixed
Indoor
Germination: 3-5 days
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Fill your tray with soil.
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Sprinkle seeds in a tray (you can thin them out or separate after they germinate).
-
Mist water to hold the seed in place.
-
These you want to lightly cover as light aids germination.
If starting indoors, you will need to harden them off after your last frost.
Pinching of initial bud or bloom and continual deadheading will encourage strong branching and bloom production
Thrives in full sun
Plant starts 9-12 inches apart
Direct Sow
Germination: 3-5 days (may be longer depending on your weather)
-
After danger of frost sow at a depth of 1/4 inch. (Zinnias are very sensitive to frost)
-
Cover with soil.
-
Create your rows with seeds 9-12 inches apart.
-
Water them in.
Pinching of initial bud or bloom and continual deadheading will encourage strong branching and bloom production
Thrives in full sun
Planting Tips
Hardening off your indoor starts:
Hardening off is a gradual process that helps your seedlings adjust to outdoor conditions, such as wind, rain, sun, and cooler nighttime temperatures. Taking it slow is key—it allows your plants to build up strength so they can thrive outside full-time.
Before starting, ensure your area is completely past the risk of frost. Keep an eye on temperatures, as late frosts can still occur after your last frost date. When transitioning your indoor starts outdoors, choose a cloudy day if possible. If it's sunny, place them in a shadier spot. I like to set up a dedicated folding table for hardening off our starts.
My Hardening Off Process:
Day 1: Place trays outside in the shade for 2 hours, then bring them back inside.
Day 2: Place trays outside in the sun for 2 hours, then bring them back inside.
Day 3: Place trays outside in the shade for 4 hours, then bring them back inside.
Day 4: Place trays outside in the sun for 4 hours, then bring them back inside.
Continue this process, gradually increasing outdoor exposure, until your plants can stay outside all day in full sun and all night.
You can also test your plants. Just select one seedling, plant it out and see how it does for 3-4 days. If it continues to grow well, it's safe to transplant the rest!
Must-Haves for Indoor Seed Starting
When starting seeds indoors, having the right supplies is essential. You'll need seed trays or soil blockers, a soil mix specifically for seed starting (I prefer Black Gold Seedling Mix), and grow lights to ensure strong, healthy growth. To make it easier for you, I’ve put together my must-have growing essentials!
