For those of you who start seeds indoors, what’s one seed-starting mistake you’ve made and what did it teach you?

Starting seeds indoors is one of the easiest ways to get a jump on the growing season especially if you have a short spring, limited garden space, or just want stronger plants from day one. You also and get more variety (especially heirlooms and hard-to-find seeds) and it's cheaper in the long run. What You Actually Need (Keep It Simple) ✔ Containers: seed trays, small pots, reused yogurt cups (with drainage holes) ✔ Soil: seed starting mix (lighter than regular potting soil) ✔ Seeds ✔ Light: a sunny window or a simple shop light ✔ Water: gentle misting or bottom watering That’s it. When to Start Seeds Most seed packets say something like “Start indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost.” Planting Basics 1️⃣ Fill containers with damp seed-starting mix 2️⃣ Plant seeds at the depth listed on the packet 3️⃣ Gently water 4️⃣ Place under light immediately (this prevents leggy seedlings) Light tip: Seedlings need 12–16 hours of light per day. If they’re stretching, they need more light. Watering & Care • Keep soil moist, not soggy • Bottom watering helps prevent mold • Good airflow = healthier seedlings Once seedlings have their first “true leaves,” they’re ready for:➡ Light feeding➡ Potting up if needed Don’t Skip Hardening Off Before planting outside, seedlings need to slowly adjust to sun, wind, and temperature. Start with 1–2 hours outside per day and increase gradually over a week.

I'm creating a helpful guide on companion planting and will be adding it to our courses section soon. It will be going vegetable by vegetable and this week we are starting with tomatoes! Anyone here planting tomatoes in the garden this year? What is the biggest issue you've had when it comes to tomatoes?