March 27, 2026

How to Start Seeds Indoors for Your Garden

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When planning a garden, one of the first decisions you’ll make will be whether or not to start your own seeds. This choice is critical for determining the cost and labor required to achieve your gardening goals. To start seeds indoors will require a little more time and effort. Buying plant starts from a nursery will save you time, but will be more costly.

Each Spring, I eagerly await the opportunity to place my newly purchased seeds into soil. It is something that truly gets me through Winter. It is cost efficient, provides variety, and helps to combat our short growing season in Alaska. In this article, I’m going to show you why growing seeds indoors is a game changer for you as well, and how to do it.

Why Start Seeds Indoors?

If you follow my blog, then you know that my family and I run a homestead in Alaska. The bitterly long Winters and deep cold have me longing for Spring and greenery each year. One thing that has always helped to ease the end of Winter blues is starting our garden seeds indoors. This gives me the opportunity to tend to something green and save my family money in the long run.

1. Starting seeds indoors saves a good amount of money

The plant starts at my local nursery range from $3-$10 each. That cost adds up quickly, especially if you have a large garden. One packet of organic, heirloom seeds is just $4 and I’ll grow 20 tomato plants for the price of one start.

2. Provides more variety in your garden.

It also helps to add variety into my garden. The local nurseries are limited in their capacity to carry many varieties of plants. If you browse the seed section of any store, you’ll find many different varieties to suit your gardening needs.

3. Maximizes your growing season.

Living this far North also affects the length of our growing season. The typical growing season in Fairbanks, Alaska is 150-120 days. Last year in 2025, we had one of the longest growing seasons on record, a whopping 129 days! That is still not a lot of time to grow your own food. To combat the short growing season, we start seeds indoors as early as possible to ensure they have plenty of time to grow.

4. Gives you control over the quality of conditions.

One of my favorite aspects of starting my own seeds is that I get to have control over the quality of the soil and inputs. It is important to me to only use organic and regenerative practices. When I am buying starts at the nursery, I am unsure of what type of soil and usually even what type of seeds have grown that plant. Organic soil and compost, no synthetic fertilizers, and heirloom variety seeds are my non negotiables and learning to start seeds myself really helps me to achieve this every year.

5. Creates healthier, stronger plants.

When you purchase seedlings, they have to be transported back to your home to be placed in the garden. I’ve lost quite a few seedlings to shock from this journey, which is why it just isn’t worth it to me anymore. When I start my own seeds, the seedlings only have to be transferred from indoors to the garden. You also have the opportunity to harden them off to your specific micro-climate.

Basic Seed Starting Setup (Simple + Affordable)

A quick Google search will show you that this process can be as simple or as complex as you like. If you are a simple backyard gardener, there’s definitely no need to go out and buy the latest fancy seed starting equipment. There’s nothing wrong with buying it if you want, however.

Containers to Use to Start Seeds Indoors

You can start seeds indoors in as little as a simple egg carton. If you save your egg cartons leading up to Spring, then it makes it essentially free. I like the egg carton method because it’s biodegradable, meaning you can tear off the section of carton your seedling is in and place it in the ground. It will reduce the shock to the plant.

In a pinch, I’ve used just about anything that could hold soil to start seeds indoors. Old yogurt containers, butter containers, and plastic cups work just fine.

Other items that can be used are a bonus because they also have the effect of becoming a mini DIY greenhouse. Milk jugs and other clear plastic containers are perfect for trapping in heat and light and creating a humid environment, perfect for your seedlings. This is what many people use in a gardening method called Winter Sowing. There’s a lot of groups and resources out there that teach you this method of sowing seeds in containers Outdoors that will germinate once the temps are just right. Here’s a great article that explains it well: Winter Sowing: A Simple Way To Successfully Start Seeds Outdoors.

If you can, the easiest containers to start seeds are seed starting trays. I’ve used a variety over the years and they all work about the same. When finding a seed starting tray, look to make sure it comes with a plastic bottom to hold water, peat seedling trays, and a plastic dome to cover it all until the seeds germinate.

Egg cartons
Plastic containers
Plastic cups
Milk jugs
Seed starting tray like this one

Soil and Supplies to Start Seeds Indoors

To make an optimal seed starting setup, you’re going to need a few essentials. First and most important is a quality seed starting mix. This can be something you purchase ( I usually do), or something that is easily DIY.

The primary difference in seed starting mix and regular potting soil is the consistency. Seed Starting mix is much lighter in texture and makes it easier for little seedlings to establish and grow roots. It will increase your germination rate to use this. But the thing about plants is that they DO want to grow, so it can be done in regular soil. Just expect a lower germination rate this way.

You will need a way to identify your seedlings when you start seeds indoors. There are a variety of ways to label your seed starting trays, just make sure you don’t forget so you know what is what when it comes time to plant in the garden! You don’t want to mistake lettuce for a tomato plant if you are a novice. They have significantly different needs. I simply write what I am planting with a sharpie on a Popsicle stick and place it in the soil. Don’t forget to keep a notepad or some way to document what you planted and when. Those sowing dates are important for transplanting into the garden.

Depending on where you keep your seed starting tray, grow lights may be necessary to prevent “leggy” starts. We’ll go over lighting needs next so you can determine whether or not you need them.

Here is a great starter kit that includes most of these items to start seeds indoors.

seed starting mix
labels
T5 grow lights
a notepad and pen

Light, Warmth, and Location to Start Seeds Indoors

Lighting

When growing seeds starts indoors, you’ll have to think carefully about how you’re going to provide light. If you have a sunny south facing window, then you can probably get by with placing them in the window. I haven’t had success with that up here in Alaska. If you live in a more northern climate, grow lights will definitely be the way to go.

When choosing grow lights, be sure to look for T5 lights that mimic natural sunlight and promote the growth of stronger, healthier seedlings.

Warmth

There’s a broad range of temperature between 65F and 85F that will germinate your seeds. What you really want to aim for, however, is a consistent 70F to 75F. This is the optimal range for a lot of different types of plants. A quick Google search can lead you to your optimal temps.

If you live somewhere cold and drafty, a special heating pad can be placed underneath your seed starting tray to provide warmth. In our old cabin, this was often an issue because we had a heater that wasn’t consistent and the temps fluctuated a lot. These heat pads were a life saver!

Location

If you are placing your seedlings anywhere other than a sunny window, make sure you think about all of these factors. You’ll need somewhere by an electrical outlet to plug in your grow lights. You also want a warm spot without drafts. Think about the safety of your starts also, do not place the trays close to an edge. With pets and children in my home, I’ve lost countless seed trays and have had to start all over again, wasting precious growing season.

My Current Setup to Start Seeds Indoors

My current setup is my favorite and most successful thus far. I use this exact seed starting soil mixture placed in the Ferry Morse seed starting trays. I’ve been purchasing the 72 cells because I have a large garden and plenty of seeds to get started.

This seed starting Cart was the game changer that dramatically increased my success rate. Each shelf has a fixed grow light and a plastic covering with easy access that traps in the heat and humidity my young plants need to thrive. I also love that it has a 12 hour timer so that I don’t even have to think about when to switch it off. If you have the ability to get a good setup like this, I do recommend it. I wish I would have sooner.

Step-by-Step: How to Start Seeds Indoors

Now that we’ve gone over why you should start your own seeds and what you’ll need to do it, we can discuss how to grow your own plant seedlings indoors.

Get your seed starting mix ready for planting. You’ll want to make sure your seed starting soil mixture is moist. There’s no need to drench it in water. I use a small storage container with a lid and place my mixture into that. Just add a little water at a time until you get it just right.
Prepare your containers. Remove any of the packaging that contains your seed starting trays. Wash and ready any plastic jugs or containers ahead of time. Get everything together in one spot to make it easier for this process.
Plant your seeds. Check your seed packets for optimum planting depth. The depth usually varies from 1/8th inch to an inch. Plant your seeds accordingly in each container.
Add your labels. Don’t forget to label what you have so you’re not confused in the future. Trust me, I can’t believe how many times I’ve fallen for the thought that I’d remember.
Create a mini greenhouse. Place your plastic dome fixture if using the seed starter tray on top. If using milk jugs, just place the top section back onto the container to create a warm and humid greenhouse environment.
Keep moist and wait. Check the soil moisture level daily. Don’t let it dry out, as this will harm the seeds. It is ideal to water from the bottom. This prevents erosion of the seeds. If you have successfully created a mini greenhouse, you shouldn’t really have to add any water as it will be trapped inside. Once you have about 50% germination throughout, remove the dome to give your seedlings air.
Maintain plenty of light to prevent leggy seedlings. When your seedlings are very small, it is beneficial to keep your seed starting tray close under the grow lights. If the lights are too far away, the seedlings will get too tall too quickly trying to reach the light. These “leggy” starts will not grow as healthy and strong as a plant that had enough light from the beginning. 12 hours of light is the ideal recommendation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Though It is a pretty simple process to start seeds indoors, there are a few common mistakes that we should go over.

Over-watering. I know I was pretty adamant about keeping the soil moist, but just as bad is soil that is much too moist. This can cause your seeds to rot and prevent germination.
Not Enough Light. I went over this already, but it’s worth mentioning again because it’s so important. If you are trying to be more self reliant and grow your own food, I’d even say definitely purchase grow lights. You’ll be happy knowing that you have enough light and won’t have to even worry.
Planting Too Early. I am definitely guilty of this! Here in Alaska, I have to be very strategic in my seed starting because of the erratic Spring weather. Those little seeds are going to grow into plants that will quickly outgrow their containers. If you don’t time your seed sowing correctly, you’ll end up with seedlings that are stunted from containers that are too small. Or even worse, you’ll have to scrap the ones you don’t have room for indoors because the weather is still freezing outdoors.
Skipping Labeling. Don’t rely on your memory, unless you love surprises. It’s inevitable. You don’t want to transplant incorrectly because you mistook a cucumber from a winter squash.

When to Move Seedlings Outdoors

When exactly to transition your seedlings to the garden will entirely depend on your climate and location. You definitely want to wait until after your last frost date. It’s best to ask around and get the best advice from local gardeners and nurseries. The general guideline here in Fairbanks is to transition after Memorial Day. A lot of folks, myself included, choose to wait until June 1st, just to be safe. Alaskan Springs are VERY erratic. Depending on the type of plant, you’ll want consistent overnight temperatures of at least 55F to 65F.

The back of your seed packets will give you a general idea of when to start your seeds so they’ll be ready with its time to transition to the garden. Hawke’s Greenhouse, a local nursery in Fairbanks, put out an excellent schedule if you happen to live up here. You can find that schedule here. It’s important to start your seeds at the right time for a higher success rate.ng

Final Thoughts

I invite you to try starting your own seeds this gardening season. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and it is so rewarding to watch your first sprout pop up. It is something that excites my kids and I as we eagerly await putting those seedlings into the garden.

If you are curious about what exactly to plant in your garden, these easy, low-maintenance plants are a great place to start.

No matter the method, I hope that this inspires you to plant your garden this year. It’s always a good year to grow something, even if it’s just herbs in your window. Gardening is beyond rewarding, both physically and mentally. It is one of my favorite homesteading activities and something I truly look forward to, year after year, and I think you will too.