As the ground thaws and the breeze warms, gardeners around town are itching to start digging in their soil. Here in Alaska, we always start seeds in the protection of our homes far before the growing season begins. Starting plants indoors allows us to grow diverse crops, elongate our growing season and satisfy that gardening itch, months before the season kicks off.

When and what to plant can have a huge impact on your garden’s overall success and is a complicated dance that every Alaskan gardener needs to learn. For beginning gardeners, this can be a daunting proposition. Although there is a short learning curve, seed starting is critical for your foray into homegrown bounty.

First and foremost, choose seeds that are meant for our climate. Your success as a gardener starts with fresh, healthy seeds that are appropriate for Alaska. Select for cold tolerance, short seasons or fast growing, mold resistance and long days. Often the plants that grow well here are considered spring or fall crops in other regions.

Next rule of thumb: You can’t learn to garden from the back of a seed packet. That being said, there is a lot of useful information on there. Determine whether the seed says “direct seed” or the planting time in terms of “weeks before last frost.”

Direct seeding is when you plant right into the soil. Many of your seeds are not meant to be started indoors and won’t transplant well. Root crops and legumes are just some of the plants that can (and should) be sown directly into the soil.

The rest of your seeds should be scheduled according to the last hard frost date for your garden. Here in Haines, we have many different micro-climates. A raised bed in town can have a drastically different last frost than an in-ground garden in Mosquito Lake. Around Alaska, Memorial Day weekend is considered traditional planting weekend. We can gain upwards of four weeks on this but if you want to be extra safe, this is the go-to statewide. Choose your frost date and come up with a planting schedule working backwards. This is where the dance begins.

Once you’ve organized your seeds and come up with a schedule, you’ll need to find a space for seed starting. Be sure you have enough room wherever you start your seeds, as they get larger until it is time to go outside. Gardeners can often feel like a visitor in their plant’s home by the time the season finally rolls around.

Next, gather your pots or soil blocks and your growing medium. Potting soil is generally some combination of peat moss or coconut coir for bulk, perlite or vermiculite for drainage, and compost or added nutrients to feed your plants. If mixing in your own compost, shoot for 20-35 percent. Plant starts won’t need to be fertilized for four to six weeks if the growing medium is nutritious and strong.

At this point, you have put together your seeds and schedule, a place to put your plants, and something to plant them in. You are ready to put seeds to dirt and become a full-fledged Alaskan gardener. As you proceed, here are a few more things to keep in mind.

A Few Rules For Seed Starting:

Plants need space. Pots should be deep enough for roots and wide enough so plants can leaf out. If your roots are poking out the bottom, it is likely time for a bigger pot. Did more than one seed germinate in each pot? Choose the best and brightest. Not everyone gets to stay.

Soil drainage is key. Compacted soil and poor drainage holes will inhibit root growth. Pack your pots so it is firm to the touch but still has a little spring in its step.

Plant your seed twice as deep as the longest part of the seed. Planting seeds too deep can result in poor germination. Some seeds are so fine that they should be sown on the soil surface. These should be watered with a spray mist until they take root.

The healthiest plants receive direct overhead light. If you are planting in a window, plants will reach to find the sun. This is what we call “leggy.” Leggy plants have weak stems and are starting at a disadvantage. You will need to rotate your pots if you don’t have artificial lights to mitigate uneven growth. If you are using lights, keep the light approximately 2 inches above the plant as it grows to keep them strong and stout.

Don’t overwater. Soil should be moist to the touch and should only be watered as needed. Damping Off is a common fungal disease that happens when humidity exceeds 85 percent. The stem withers and you will lose the plant. Quarantine these plants and dispose of them. Don’t let them infect your healthy seedlings.

Label your plants. Don’t forget to label your plants. Always, always label your plants. Easy plant markers are a cut up yogurt container and a permanent marker to note the plant type, variety and date that it was seeded. Write down what you did so if and when there is a setback, you can readjust your methods for next year.

When starting your own seeds, you gain complete control over your garden and the food that you eat. You can choose flavor over uniformity, storage quality over size, and find tomatoes that will thrive in the Great North. Be intrepid, new Alaskan gardeners. Every seed we put to soil is more security for ourselves, our families and our community.

To another bountiful season.