Sprague & Curtis Real Estate Blog
RSS Feed
Subscribe and receive email notifications of new blog posts.
RSS Feed
- 2026 | 8 Posts
- 2025 | 48 Posts
- 2024 | 48 Posts
- 2023 | 48 Posts
- 2022 | 48 Posts
- 2021 | 48 Posts
- 2020 | 51 Posts
- 2019 | 48 Posts
- 2018 | 29 Posts
Augusta, ME | 137 Posts
Buy a Home | 32 Posts
Gardiner, ME | 2 Posts
Hallowell, ME | 6 Posts
Home Safety | 1 Posts
Homeownership | 86 Posts
Kennebec Valley | 80 Posts
Lifestyle | 3 Posts
Manchester, ME | 1 Posts
Sell Your Home | 28 Posts
February
15
15
Indoor Gardening Tips To Help Start Your Garden
Our real estate agents prefer growing their own plants from seed. It gives gardeners more flexibility and control over the way the young plant is raised. Also, you have a much wider choice of varieties and can work within the planting dates that suit your area. Here's a step by step guide to help you grow your plants from seed with ease.
- Get the Timing Right
A key thing with starting your seeds indoors is to have the seedlings ready for the outdoors when the weather is favorable. Because each plant has unique seed-starting requirements, you want to develop a schedule ahead of time. Start by looking at the seed packet to determine how early you should grow your plants before the last frost. - Set Up a Lighted Area
Seedlings need at least 12 hours of light each day. If they don't get enough light, they will be weak and leggy. You can grow them in a window, but make sure to rotate the pots regularly to ensure your plants don't lean into the light. And rather than rely solely on natural light, it's also a great idea to buy fluorescent tubes to give plants adequate light. - Find the Right Containers
Seedlings can be started in almost any type of container, provided it's at least 2" deep and has proper drainage holes. Place the containers in leak-proof trays to prevent them from dripping. - Prepare the Potting Soil
Commercial seed-starting mixes are recommended for starting seeds. Usually composed of peat and vermiculite, the mixes are lightweight, free from weed seeds, and lightweight, with a texture and porosity suited for germinating seeds and seedlings. - Sow Your Seeds
Whether you're planting fruits, vegetables, or herbs, the best place to start is by reading the seed packet instructions. Find out how deep you should sow your seeds. Some seeds can be sprinkled directly on the soil surface, but others will need to be buried deeper. - Water the Young Plants When Needed
Use a mister or turkey baster to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Too much water can cause mold growth. As the roots begin to grow into the soil, add water to the tray so the roots can draw in moisture. Once the seedlings are established, allow the soil to dry slightly between watering. - Fertilize the Seedlings
Most seed starting mixes contain few, if any, nutrients. Once true leaves sprout, you'll need to feed the seedlings with half-strength, organic liquid fertilizer. - Thin the Plants
For your plants to grow strong and healthy, there should be only one seedling in each container. As such, you want to choose the strongest plant and snip the extras at the soil line with the least amount of root disturbance. You can also transplant the extra seedlings into separate containers, but there's the risk of root damage and stunted growth. - Repot into Larger Containers
Some seedlings will outgrow their containers. If the roots have filled the container or the plants need to be watered constantly, it may be time to transplant them to larger containers to continue growing at a healthy pace.
If you're looking for Augusta homes for sale, our team at Sprague & Curtis Real Estate can make it a priority to show you homes that have enough space for gardening. Contact us to get started.