Michigan's short growing season makes starting seeds indoors a must! This guide will take you through everything you need to know to grow strong, healthy plants from seed—even if you’re a beginner!
Vocabulary: Key Terms to Know
Before we dive in, here are a few helpful terms:
- Sowing – The process of planting seeds in the soil.
- Thinning – Removing extra seedlings to give remaining plants room to grow.
- Germination – When a seed sprouts after dormancy.
- Frost date – The average date of the last light freeze in spring.
Step 1: Choose the Right Seeds & When to Start
Michigan’s growing season can be as short as 120 days, so choosing the right seeds—and planting them at the right time—is key to a successful harvest!
⏳ Timing is Everything!
Starting seeds too early can lead to overgrown seedlings before it's warm enough to transplant. Starting too late means plants may not mature before Michigan’s first frost in the fall.
✔️ Check the back of your seed packet for variety-specific timing!
🔎 Want to know the best time to start sowing? Click the links below to see a helpful chart with the earliest sowing dates for your area, based on the last spring frost!
Step 2: Gather Your Supplies
- Baccto Professional Planting Mix or Baccto Lite Premium Potting Mix (lighter & well-draining compared to regular soil)
- Seed trays or small containers (egg cartons or yogurt cups work too!)
- Plant labels (so you remember what’s what!)
- Spray bottle (for gentle watering)
- Grow lights or a sunny window (south-facing is best)
- Heating mat (optional, but speeds up germination for warmth-loving plants)
- Plastic wrap or a humidity dome (optional, but helps retain moisture and creates a greenhouse effect for better germination!)
Step 3: Plant Your Seeds Indoors
- Fill your containers with Baccto Lite Premium Potting Mix or our Baccto Professional Planting Mix. Avoid using garden soil, as it’s too heavy for seedlings!
- Moisten the soil before planting so it’s damp but not soaking wet.
- Check the seed packet for the correct planting depth & spacing.
- Make a small hole for each seed. Some seeds need to be covered with soil, while others require light to germinate—check your seed packet for details!
- Label each container with the plant name and sowing date to keep track.
- Water carefully using a spray bottle or gentle watering can—avoid disturbing the seeds!
🌞 Pro Tip: Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy. A humidity dome or plastic wrap helps retain moisture until seeds sprout. 🌱 Once they do, remove the cover to prevent mold and improve airflow!
Step 4: Create the Right Growing Conditions
🌡️ Keep soil warm (65-75°F). A heat mat can help with germination.
💡 Provide 12-16 hours of light daily if growing indoors. Grow lights work best! Plants need a period of darkness too, so don't leave them on continuously.
💦 Mist daily to keep soil evenly moist (not soggy!).
⏳ Be patient! Some seeds germinate in days (lettuce), others take weeks (peppers).
When Will Seeds Sprout?
- Fast sprouters (3-7 days): Lettuce, basil, radishes
- Medium (7-14 days): Tomatoes, peppers, cabbage
- Slow (14-21+ days): Peppers, rosemary
Step 5: Transitioning Seedlings to the Outdoors (Hardening Off)
Once seedlings have 2-3 sets of leaves, they’re getting stronger! But before planting them outside, they need to acclimate to outdoor conditions.
- Start 7-10 days before transplanting.
- Place seedlings outside for 1-2 hours in a shady, wind-protected area.
- Gradually increase their time outdoors each day, adding an hour and exposing them to more sunlight.
- Avoid planting outdoors until nighttime temps are consistently above 50°F.
- After 7-10 days, they’re ready for the garden!
Step 6: Transplanting to the Garden
- Choose a cloudy day or late afternoon to reduce transplant shock.
- Dig a hole slightly bigger than the root ball.
- Gently remove the seedling
- Place in the hole & cover with soil, pressing gently.
- Water thoroughly after transplanting.
Step 7: Direct Sowing Seeds in the Garden
Some plants grow better when planted directly in the ground instead of started indoors.
- Wait until the soil has warmed (at least 50-60°F for most seeds).
- Plant seeds at the correct depth (check the seed packet).
- Keep soil moist until seeds sprout.
- Thin out crowded seedlings once they’re a few inches tall (check the seed packet).
Step 8: Ongoing Care & Maintenance
- Water consistently
- Mulch around plants to retain moisture & prevent weeds.
- Support tall plants (like tomatoes & beans) with stakes or cages.
- Watch for pests like aphids or cabbage worms.
Step 9: Harvest & Enjoy!
🌽 Lettuce & Herbs: Ready in 4-6 weeks
🍅 Tomatoes & Peppers: Start ripening mid-late summer
🥕 Root Veggies: Harvest when full-sized (check packet for details)
🌱 Ready to Start Growing?
If you're ready to start your own seedlings, get everything you need at:
✔️ Hartland store (open now!)
✔️ Macomb store (opens April 1st!)
Or click below to shop our seed selection online!