Starting Seeds Indoors | Top 5 Plants

Starting seeds indoors is an affordable and easy option that allows you to grow and raise many heirloom varieties that can be difficult and expensive to find at nurseries. I’m in love with heirloom seeds, the texture, color, flavor, and varieties are awe-inspiring. 

I love growing my food, nothing beats watching a seed grow to fruition, then harvesting it and using it in the kitchen to feed my family. And, growing and preserving my food helps my family to stay on budget while providing high quality, and organically raised fruits and vegetables.

Here are my top five favorite plants, plus a few extra because how can I only list five?!!! 

Rhubarb

How I love thee. A cold hardy perennial that produces nonstop throughout the spring and summer, it can be used in pies, cakes, jams and more! It’s a delicious and early start to the season of fresh food, especially in northern Idaho. It’s almost impossible to buy an older Farm/Homestead property in north Idaho and not find Rhubarb growing somewhere on it!

Gooseberries

Where do I even start? A cold-hardy plant that defends itself from the deer and other wildlife with prickly branches, the bushes produce juicy, tart berries that pack a punch of flavor. They’re just the right touch in berry pies that are becoming saccharine and bring any baked dessert to the next level by balancing sweetness with their sour, sunshiny flavor.

Asparagus

What a lovely, perennial spring vegetable! One of the first to poke their heads through the ground, growing asparagus is what helps us northern gardeners make it through the winter months. I love roasting fresh asparagus in the springtime, a delicious and easy vegetable.

Potatoes

Such a multi-talented plant! Again, another hardy plant that does so well in this climate and nothing beats fresh homegrown potatoes. I use them in soups, stews, pot pies, casseroles, and the list goes on. 

Beets

You either love them or hate them. I happen to love pickled beets, especially on a fresh spring salad with soft goat cheese, and lots of crunchy seeds. Delicious! And of course, steamed beets with a bit of butter and salt on them are delicious too. Roasting is another excellent way to use these colorful beauties.

And my runners up are cabbage, kale, and tomatoes. I have so many favorites when it comes to fruits and vegetables that I’ve had a tough time narrowing it down, but these would have to be my top five. 🙂 

Starting Plants Indoors and My Top 5 Plants Video Below!

In the video below my daughter and I chat about plants and our method for starting plants indoors. Don’t forget to check out my YouTube Channel for more video tutorials. 

Starting Seeds Indoors 

Supplies:

Cups or small containers for starting plants

A tray for holding containers

Grow Lights or Shop Lights

Dirt

Seeds

1. Fill cups with dirt & place on a tray
2. Plant seeds in the soil-filled cups according to seed packet instructions. 
3. Mist thoroughly & cover with plastic or saran wrap, this will keep the soil moist until the seeds sprout. After which, take the plastic off. 
4. Place the tray under grow lights and mist plants daily.
5. Harden your plants off if you live in a colder climate, then plant them outdoors and enjoy the head start you’ve given your plants!

Hardening Off Plants

Hardening plants off is a process that will help your plants to go from being raised indoors to the great outdoors without going into shock or dying from the more extreme outdoor temperatures.

1. Harden your plants off slowly, over 7-8 days. 
2. Place outside in sheltered place for 2-3 hours daily
3. Increase time outdoors daily by a few hours at a time and decrease daily waterings
4. After 7-8 days you should be able to plant them outdoors with minimal shock. 
5. And, be sure to water plants after planting outdoors! 

Don’t forget, some plants are just too tender for the dips of temperature in colder climates and will require covering to prevent frost. I’ve used floating row covers, plastic tarps, old bed sheets; anything will do, just protect those plants by watching temperatures and covering plants at night. 

Tell me, are you a fan of starting your plants indoors and if so, what’s your system?

-Abby Jo