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Hello fellow gardeners! It's hard to think of spring when we're surrounded by so much SNOW! But here we are, reminding you that no matter how much snow is on the ground it will melt away come spring. And when that happens, one of the most important steps in getting our gardens ready is starting our seeds. After all, the growing season is right around the corner!

There are a few things to consider when starting your seeds, including:

• What type of seed you want to plant
• When to start planting your seeds
• How to care for your seedlings

In this blog post, we'll explore all of these topics. You'll be prepared to start your seeds and have a successful growing season!

What Type of Seeds to Plant

First, let's talk about how to pick seeds for your garden.

When selecting seeds for your garden, it is important to consider what type of climate you live in. If you live in an area with a short growing season, as we do here in Utah, you will want to choose plants that can be started indoors and then transplanted outdoors. Some examples of plants that can be started indoors and then transplanted outdoors include tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and herbs.

If you live in an area with a long growing season, you can start your seeds outdoors. Some examples of plants that can be started outdoors include squash, cucumbers, watermelons, and pumpkins.

It is also important to consider the amount of space you have available. If you have a small space, you can choose plants that thrive in containers or raised beds. Some examples include tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, herbs, and lettuce.

If you have a large space, you can grow just about any type of plant. However, it is still important to consider the amount of sunlight and water that your plants need.

Once you have considered these factors, you can choose the specific varieties of plants that you would like to grow. To find out more about specific plant varieties, consult a gardening book, online gardening resource or one of our experts here at Glover Nursery.

When to Start Your Seeds

Next, we move on to the all-important question of when to start your seedlings. Here at Glover Nursery, we recommend taking the last average frost date and counting backward as to how long that seed would need to germinate.

According to the Farmer's Almanac, the average last frost date in West Jordan Utah is April 25. So, to get a good start ready for transferring outdoors we have an easy equation to help you. We recommend looking at how long something takes to germinate and adding a couple of weeks of growth onto that before transplanting it into the garden.

Here's a quick equation.

(Average Last Frost Date - Germination Time) + 2 Weeks = When to Start Your Seeds

Now that you know what to plant and when to plant it, you may be interested in learning how best to take care of your lil baby starts.

How to Start Your Seeds

There are a few key things to keep in mind when caring for your seedlings. The first is to make sure that they have enough light. Seedlings need a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight per day. If you do not have a place in your home that gets six hours of direct sunlight, you can use grow lights.

The second key thing to keep in mind when caring for your seedlings is to make sure that they have enough water. Seedlings should be watered daily, making sure to keep the soil moist but not soggy.

Finally, the third thing to remember when caring for your seedlings is to fertilize them regularly. Seedlings should be fertilized every two weeks with a balanced fertilizer.

If you're growing seeds for an herb garden we suggest you check out our blog post here. Herb gardens flourish with these specific guidelines.

By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your seedlings have a happy and healthy start to the growing season!

The seeds have arrived at Glover Nursery and we can hardly stand all the promise that the rows and rows of seed packets are giving off here.

If you're overwhelmed or looking to try something new this year we encourage you to stop by and chat with our knowledgeable staff. We love pointing out our favorite seeds for our local climate here in the Salt Lake City Valley. We may even have one or two surprises for the seasoned gardener.

Seedlings need a lot of care, but if you follow these simple tips you can ensure a happy and healthy start to the growing season!

Even though winter months have just barely begun, it’s time to start thinking about spring! Growing plants from seeds is an exciting and fulfilling undertaking. Utah gardeners; now’s the time to start your seeds inside (also known as seeding indoors). If you haven’t done it before, Glover Nursery is here to help. We’ve got you covered with all the tips and tricks (& seeds!).  

One of the many benefits when growing from seed is that you have more options than you do when you transplant from starts. If you’re looking to grow a lot of vegetables, it’s typically cheaper too. You can start all sorts of seeds indoors, including: broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, lettuce, and tomatoes (to name a few favorites here at the nursery). As for vegetable gardening, seeds that have a slower root development, like cauliflower, eggplant, and peppers, also benefit from being started indoors. But it doesn’t have to stop at vegetables! We have a HUGE selection of seeds for your garden. Visit our Utah garden center to see the entire range of hundreds of choices. 

You may also check out: How to Plant Seeds for a Home Herb Garden

How to Get Started Planting Seeds Indoors?

• First, you’ll want to decide exactly what you want to grow. You can visit our nursery to look over the selection, or read through seed catalogs for inspiration.  Before you buy dozens of seeds, to save on money and potentially wasted food, a few questions to answer first: 
  • What does your family love to eat? (maybe pick a few more varieties)
  • What does your family NOT like to eat? (don't grow it if they won't eat it)
  • How much sun do you have available? (veggies need some sun)
  • How much space do you have for gardening? (if it's a tiny area, maybe no on vine plants)
• Once you have your list, choose your containers for your indoor seeding. You can opt for traditional seed flats or trays which are easy to use and are re-usable.  We have also seen some very creative upcycling ideas such as egg cartons and yogurt cups. Depending on what you have laying around the house or containers you have an excess of, you can use those!
• Next, you’ll want to do this VERY important step. Before you get to planting, label your containers! It can be such a pain to later realize you don’t know what a certain plant is once it has started sprouting.  
  • Pro-tip, use popsicle sticks and a sharpie.  Write the seed name as well as the seeding date so you can keep track of how long those seeds have been in the soil.  That way, you'll know sooner than later if something isn't germinating properly.
• Fill the containers you have chosen with an all-purpose seed starting mix, the soil is designed specifically to help seeds get their best start.
• With your finger, make a shallow hole (the ideal depth should be listed on your seed packet as well as any other pre-planting needs the seeds may have). Then press the seed into the hole and add some extra soil on top. Repeat with each container. 
• Moisten your seeds with water, don’t use too much or too little. A tool such as a turkey baster can be used to make sure you’re watering the correct amount without blasting the seeds out of the soil.  Or, if you are using a seed starting tray, they are designed to pull water from below, so you can soak the tray from the bottom up to ensure proper saturation.
• Finally, cover the trays loosely with a seeding dome, plastic wrap, or something clear that is also waterproof. Poke holes in it to keep air flowing properly around the soil. 

You can refer to this planting calendar for the ideal planting time for your seeds. 

Other useful links: Seasonal Tips: Seeding for spring

Watch Your Garden Seeds Grow

Keep your pots moist and warm, and be sure to check them regularly. Once you start to see sprouts, move the containers to a light source like a window or indoor grow lights, if you have them. If you place them by a window,, rotate them regularly so the plants are getting equal amounts of light. Monitor the moisture level so they aren't soaking wet, but don't dry out entirely, either.

Signs of Overwatering: Yellow wilting leaves, mold or mildew, stunted growth. 

Signs of Underwatering: Soil pulling away from the container, brown drying leaves.

With a little bit of TLC, you’ll have healthy sprouts in no time, and come spring you can plant them in their more permanent home: your garden! If you ever have any questions about growing seeds or any other gardening matter, reach out on social media, give us a call, or even better come and see us at our nursery and garden center in West Jordan, Utah.

Other useful links and resources:

Growing from Seed

Busting Myths About Planting in the Fall