When should you start vegetable seeds indoor in Michigan? - Ask Extension
When should you start vegetable seeds indoors in Michigan? Can you Give me a Good Date to put my seeds in 3.5-inch (x) 3.5-inch pots and put in a sunn...
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When should you start vegetable seeds indoor in Michigan? #388149
Asked March 09, 2017, 6:24 PM EST
When should you start vegetable seeds indoors in Michigan?
Can you Give me a Good Date to put my seeds in 3.5-inch (x) 3.5-inch pots and put in a sunny window?
I don't want to be to late (or) to early.
Mainly Tomatoes; Kohrabi; and Candy Onions.
In Michigan I shouldn't set "onion sets" out until about Mid-April am I correct?
Genesee County Michigan
Expert Response
Hi there!
I'm glad you indicated which plants you wish to start indoors since not all vegetables benefit from being started indoors and then transplanted outdoors. Critical to successful indoor growing is the potting soil or seed starting mix you select. Below is a web site which will give you more information on that topic.
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/potting_soils_and_seed_starting_mixes_for_your_garden
Next determine which plants are cool season or warm season which determines when they grow best. Typically warm-season vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant can be started indoors in April but that depends on the weather. A good rule of thumb is to start the seeds for tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, cucumber , cantaloupe, squash and watermelon within 4 - 10 weeks of last frost. Kohlrabi seeds can be started indoors about 6 weeks before the last frost date.
The easiest way to determine the timeline is to count backwards from the frost free date in your area based on the info on the seed packet. For example, if the seed packets says to start seeds indoors six weeks before last frost, you can determine the last frost date and count backwards to the date the seeds should be started.
Below is a link to the MSUE Smart Gardening web site where you can find a statewide table for frost-free dates (along with other wonderful vegetable information) and another web site with a general chart for time and soil temperature needed to grow vegetables from seed.
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/topic/info/vegetable_gardening
https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/2751e/
A good soil temperature probe will help you determine the best time to plant the seedlings in your garden.
Onions are a cool season plant so the sets can be directly planted into the garden as soon as the ground can be worked easily and there is no likelihood that the temp will drop below 20 degrees. See more info about the cool vs. warm season plants on the web site below.
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/resources/how_to_plant_vegetables_tip_sheet
Hope that helps!!
I'm glad you indicated which plants you wish to start indoors since not all vegetables benefit from being started indoors and then transplanted outdoors. Critical to successful indoor growing is the potting soil or seed starting mix you select. Below is a web site which will give you more information on that topic.
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/potting_soils_and_seed_starting_mixes_for_your_garden
Next determine which plants are cool season or warm season which determines when they grow best. Typically warm-season vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant can be started indoors in April but that depends on the weather. A good rule of thumb is to start the seeds for tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, cucumber , cantaloupe, squash and watermelon within 4 - 10 weeks of last frost. Kohlrabi seeds can be started indoors about 6 weeks before the last frost date.
The easiest way to determine the timeline is to count backwards from the frost free date in your area based on the info on the seed packet. For example, if the seed packets says to start seeds indoors six weeks before last frost, you can determine the last frost date and count backwards to the date the seeds should be started.
Below is a link to the MSUE Smart Gardening web site where you can find a statewide table for frost-free dates (along with other wonderful vegetable information) and another web site with a general chart for time and soil temperature needed to grow vegetables from seed.
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/topic/info/vegetable_gardening
https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/2751e/
A good soil temperature probe will help you determine the best time to plant the seedlings in your garden.
Onions are a cool season plant so the sets can be directly planted into the garden as soon as the ground can be worked easily and there is no likelihood that the temp will drop below 20 degrees. See more info about the cool vs. warm season plants on the web site below.
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/resources/how_to_plant_vegetables_tip_sheet
Hope that helps!!
