According to Anne Striech, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Horticulture Educator, warm season crops such as tomatoes, peppers, and watermelon, should not be planted outside until after the frost free date which is about May 10. However, gardeners can get an early start by seeding their plants indoors. There are many things to consider when seeding a plant.
Once the seeds have germinated, look at the lighting in the home to find suitable lighting for plants to grow in. Placing plants near a window may not be a good idea because temperatures near windows will change drastically from day to night which isn’t good for plants in the early stages of development. Plants should be placed under a florescent bulb, with the bulb 2-3 inches above the plant’s highest leaf.
The soil should be warm for seed germination, for most plants, 65 to 75 degrees will be ideal. A seeding mat can be used to keep soil warm, or the seeds can be placed on top of the refrigerator. Once the seeds germinate, they will need to be moved off the top of the refrigerator to a place with better lighting. Soil should drain well so plants aren’t over-watered.
Gently water the plants, being careful not to over water. Over watering can cause diseases. Seed containers can be placed in shallow trays and watered, allowing moisture to be absorbed into the soil. After the soil has been moistened, remove the seed container from the water tray. High humidity is also beneficial. Simply mist or spray the plants to increase humidity when the top of the soil appears dry.
Seedlings can be transferred to individual pots once plants have one set of true leaves. When transplanting, it is important to handle the plant by the leaves in order to avoid damaging the stem.
