Find your last frost date
Check your hardiness zone (using zipcode) and planting times for each type of plant to know when to start your seeds indoors.
Soil temperature matters!
Hot peppers require REALLY warm soil (80-85 degrees F) to germinate and grow. The heating mat is required in that case unless you have a super warm greenhouse.
By the way, some seeds won’t sprout if they get too warm! For example, lettuce and other cool weather crops like soil temps in the 50-60 degrees F range.
Use a fan to prepare plants for the outdoors
About the fan: I'm turning it on for a few hours each day, not constantly.
The cover stays off now that seeds have sprouted (for air circulation). Give them as much sun as possible.
Don’t forget to transplant!
If you started with cells (tiny pots), your seedlings will need to be transplanted to a larger pot once they grow true leaves. The pots I used are a good size to transplant directly into the garden once the plant is 6-10 inches tall.
You can always transplant again at that point to a larger pot if your garden isn't ready or if you are growing your tomatoes in containers.
Tomatoes don't mind being transplanted several times, regardless of size. The one rule of transplanting tomatoes is to cover 2/3 of the plant in the new container. Bury them deep! Even if the soil covers some of the lower leaves.
Required Equipment
Seed Starting Mix: I always get this bag from Wal-Mart, not an important distinction.
Pots: I like to collect the small plastic pots from transplants I buy from the store. They’re a great size and stronger than those cheap black plastic pots
Seed Starting Plugs: Sort of required… You can use these first, then transplant to the larger pots, or you can just use the larger pot the whole time! I haven’t tried this kind BTW, just an example. :)
Seeds: Of Course!
Optional Equipment
Heating Mat: Here’s the heating mat I bought and love since making this video! Use this for tomatoes and peppers. DON’T use it for lettuce, spinach, broccoli and other cool weather crops.
