7 Simple Tips to Getting Organized Before Starting Seeds Indoors
Starting seeds can seem like a daunting process but once you get organized and chart it all out, it’s pretty easy to do. If you are unsure where to start, this post is for you!
With the holidays behind us, it’s time to get organized both inside and outside our homes.
As a gardener, the day Christmas is over, I’m already planning my projects for the new growing season.
Starting seeds indoors is a great way to get a jump on the next season.
And it’s also a great way to grow flowers, vegetables, and other plants that may not be readily available at your local nurseries.
This post is part 3 of a series that shares how to start a garden from seed.
Today, we will review how to organize your seed starting schedule to help you know when to do what.
And be sure to grab your FREE downloadable printable at the end of this post!
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Starting Seeds Indoors
To quickly recap Parts 1 and 2 of my seed starting series:
In Part 1, I shared an overview detailing how to start seeds indoors without a greenhouse.
And if you do have a greenhouse, I’ve got you covered there too.
In Part 2, I shared how I set up an indoor seed starting system in the basement.
Doesn’t it look so cool?
I successfully started over 1400 flowers here!
In this post, I reviewed all the supplies that I used to sow seeds in my basement.
Now that we covered both the overview and supplies, let’s talk about how to get yourself organized.
Supplies Needed to Getting Organized Before Starting Seeds
- seeds
- notebook or journal
- pen or pencil
- calendar
7 Simple Tips to Getting Organized Before Starting Seeds
The purpose of getting organized is to help you know how many supplies you need and when to start sowing the seeds.
I don’t know about you, but if I don’t organize myself, the task seems daunting.
Laying it all out on paper is really helpful to see what the sowing schedule will look like.
So organizing, journaling, and calendaring is a huge help when starting seeds.
Here’s what to do:
- Grab your seed packets, pen and a notebook or a garden journal. Have your calendar handy. (I just use my phone.)
- Organize seed packets by plant.
- I like to make it look like a spreadsheet, so make columns for Days to Maturity, Seed Germination, Sow Date, Flower Color, Overall Size and Amount of Sun. The information is on the back of each seed packet.
- In the rows, start with each plant then name each variety underneath.
- Grab the information from each seed packet and drop into your list.
- Calendar the sow dates for each plant and variety. You will need to know your last frost date to calendar this.
- When complete, clean up the list and add to a spreadsheet or garden journal so it’s easy to make changes during the growing season.
What I Learned After Organizing My Seed Starting Schedule
After charting my seed schedule, my sweet peas are the first seeds to be sown.
They had the earliest sow date of 10-12 weeks before the last frost date.
So the earliest I can sow them here in my gardening zone 6a is February 20.
What Is the Best Container to Store Seeds In?
The best container to store seeds is made from glass, plastic, or metal.
It’s important to keep them in an envelope or paper bag in a cool, dry place that is kept out of direct sunlight.
Where is the Best Place to Store Seeds In?
The best place to store seeds is a place that is not in direct sunlight and maintains an even temperature, like a cold closet, basement, or room on the north side of your home.
How Do You Organize Garden Seeds?
Similar to a card catalog, I like to keep them in a container with dividers between the seeds and organize them alphabetically.
This makes it much easier to find the seeds I’m ready to sow when I want them.
How to Sow Seeds Indoors
Next in the series, we’ll cover what you need to know about sowing seeds indoors without a greenhouse and the lessons I learned along the way.
Want To Get More Organized to Start Seeds?
CLICK HERE to get my FREE DOWNLOADABLE PRINTABLE that will help you get organized to sow seeds this year.
Print as many pages as you want and add them to your gardening journal for ease of reference during the growing season.
How to Start Seeds Indoors Without a Greenhouse Series
- Overview of How to Start Seeds Indoors Without a Greenhouse
- Supplies for Starting Seeds Indoors Without a Greenhouse
- 7 Simple Tips to Getting Organized Before Starting Seeds Indoors (you are here)
- What You Need to Know About Sowing Seeds Indoors
- 7 Lessons I Learned Starting Seeds Indoors
- What You Need to Know About Hardening Off Plants
- How to Plant a Garden After Starting Seeds Indoors
- 7 Lessons I Learned From Growing a Cut Flower Garden
- How to Keep Fresh Flowers Longer
- Cut Flower Gardening For Beginners
More Great Seed Starting Tips
My good friend Kim from Shiplap and Shells just shared an amazing post all about how to start sweet peas from seed as well as how to care for them.
You can read all about it HERE.
Aren’t they so gorgeous?
Shop for Seed Starting Supplies
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