Getting organized before seed starting indoors leads to success! Learn how to plan and prep your indoor garden with these simple tips.
Spring is just around the corner, and for avid gardeners, that means it’s time to prepare for the upcoming planting season. There’s something magical about starting plants from seeds – watching those tiny specks grow into flourishing greenery is a reward unlike any other.
However, to ensure a successful and stress-free seed starting experience, getting organized beforehand is an absolute must! Today, we will review how to organize your seed starting schedule, gather the necessary supplies, and create a designed workspace to cultivate seedlings with ease.
Oh and be sure to grab your FREE downloadable printable at the end of this post that will help you organize your seed starting schedule.
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Seed Starting Success: Getting Organized Before You Sow
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!
As a gardener, the day Christmas is over, I’m already planning my projects for the new growing season, which includes planning my spring garden. Starting seeds inside and winter sowing outdoors is a great way to get a jump on the next season. It’s also a great way to grow flowers, vegetables, herbs, and other plants that may not be readily available at your local nurseries.
If you are preparing to undertake seed starting this year, it is super important to get yourself organized before you begin so you are all set to go before you sow.
From Seed to Plant: Prepare Your Seed Starting Schedule
Creating a seed starting schedule might seem like a small task, but it’s a crucial step that can make all the difference. If you are starting several different types of seed, it’s a good idea to make a when to start seed indoors chart to help you see what seeds to plant and when.
Start by noting down the average last frost date in your area – this will be your guideline for when it’s safe to transplant seedlings outdoors. Then, work backward from that date to determine when to start each type of seed indoors. Different plants have varying germination and growth periods, so having a charted schedule helps you sow seeds at the right time for optimal growth.
Organizational Supplies Needed Before Starting Seeds
- seeds
- notebook or journal
- pen or pencil
- calendar
Directions for Organizing Before Sowing Seeds
The purpose of getting organized is to help you know how many supplies you need and when to start germinating seeds. I don’t know about you, but if I don’t organize myself, the task seems daunting.
Charting it all out on paper is helpful to see what the sowing schedule will look like. So organizing, journaling, and calendaring is a huge help when starting seeds. Here’s how to get yourself organized.
- 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 it 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 it to a spreadsheet or garden journal so it’s easy to make changes during the growing season.
Gather Your Necessary Supplies
Nothing halts the momentum of seed starting like realizing you’re missing essential germinating seeds supplies midway through the process. Before beginning, take inventory of your seed starter supplies before diving in. Here’s a quick checklist to get you started:
- Seeds
- Vermiculite
- Seed Starting Potting Soil
- Seed Trays
- Bottom or Drainage Trays
- Clear Dome Lids
- Grow Lights
- Table or Shelf System for Seedlings
- Heat Mat
- Plant Labels
- Oscillating Fan
- Programmable Timer
Notes About Your Seed Starting Supplies
- Containers: Whether it’s seed trays, peat pots, or recycled containers, ensure they’re clean and have proper drainage.
- Seed Starting Mix: Invest in a quality, well-draining seed starting mix to provide the best environment for seedlings.
- Seeds: Check the viability of your seeds and organize them by planting dates.
- Labels and Markers: Don’t underestimate the importance of labeling your seedlings – it’s easy to forget what’s what once they start growing.
- Watering Can or Spray Bottle: Gentle watering is key in the early stages of growth.
- Light Source: If natural light is scarce, invest in grow lights to provide adequate illumination.
- Heat Source: Some seeds require warmth for germination, so get a heat mat or two.
Create a Designated Workspace
Designate an area in your home specifically for germinating seeds. Ideally, this space should have access to natural light (or grow lights) and be easily accessible for daily checks and care. Whether it’s a dedicated corner in your living space or a shelf in a well-lit room, having a defined workspace helps in staying organized and focused on nurturing your seedlings.
When I germinated seeds in the basement of our former home, I used to work in my kitchen and then move the trays down to the basement to keep them under the lights. But here at the new house, I have a designated workspace in my garage for seed starting, potting, and other small DIY gardening projects.
Wherever you decide to sow seeds indoors, keep in mind that you’ll be making a bit of a mess. So you may want to keep a dust pan, broom, or vacuum on hand to clean up messes as you go.
From Seed to Plant: Why Organization Matters
The journey from seed to seedling is delicate and requires attention to detail. By getting organized before you sow, you set yourself up for success:
- Efficiency: Following a “when to start seeds indoors chart” or seed starting schedule and having all necessary supplies on hand saves time and prevents stress while you work.
- Optimal Growth: Sowing seeds at the right time ensures they have ample time to grow strong before transplanting.
- Prevention of Mistakes: Labels and good organization prevent mix-ups, ensuring you know exactly what you’re growing and how you’ll execute it.
What I Learned After Organizing My Seed Starting Schedule
After charting my seed starting schedule, I learned my snapdragons and zinnias will be the first to be sown. They had the earliest sow date of 8-10 weeks before the last frost date. (Don’t know your last frost date? Check it here!) So the earliest I can sow them here in my gardening zone 6b is February 10.
From there, I realized I’d be sowing seeds almost every other week until just before the last frost. While I winter sow seeds outdoors and direct sow seeds after my last frost date, here’s what I am starting indoors this year.
- Snapdragon Flowers
- Zinnias
- Gomphrena
- Strawflowers
- China Asters
- Ageratum
Seed Starting Organizational FAQs
What Is the Best Container to Store Seeds In?
Since you’ll likely have leftover seeds, it’s a good idea to think ahead to how you want to store the extras so you can sow them the following season. 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.
I keep mine in a card catalog in the library but you can also keep them in the back of the refrigerator. I keep some seed packets in the garage fridge.
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.
Starting Seeds Indoors: Getting Organized Before Sowing Seeds
Are you starting seeds this year too? Do you have any organizational tips you’d like to share? I would love to know more in the comments below.
For more organizational tips, please read this article from the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension.
Thanks for stopping by the blog today!
Enjoy your day! xoxo
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 Inside Without a Greenhouse
- Supplies for Starting Seeds Indoors Without a Greenhouse
- Seed Starting Success: Getting Organized Before You Sow (you are here)
- What You Need to Know About Sowing Seeds Indoors
- 7 Lessons I Learned Planting Seeds Indoors
- What You Need to Know About Hardening Off Plants
- How to Plant a Garden After Growing Seeds Indoors
- 7 Lessons I Learned From Growing a Cut Flower Garden
- How to Keep Fresh Flowers Longer
- Cut Flower Gardening For Beginners
