No greenhouse, no fancy tools—just a windowsill and a little hope.
If you’re craving a tiny sign of spring—but it’s still very much winter outside—starting a few seeds indoors is the gentlest little mood-lift.
No fancy setup required. A tray, a sunny window (or a small grow light), and a few minutes here and there. That’s it.
First: a quick note on timing
Seed-starting dates depend on your last frost date. As a simple rule:
- Slow growers start 10–12 weeks before last frost
- Most spring veggies start 6–8 weeks before last frost
(Your seed packet is always the boss if it says something different.)
What to start indoors now (the “slow growers”)
These are the ones that take their sweet time—and starting them early makes a big difference:
- Celery (yes, celery!) – slow to germinate, slow to grow, totally worth it
- Leeks – easy and reliable indoors
- Onions from seed (if you’re growing bulb onions)
- Peppers (sweet or hot) – love warmth, start early
- Eggplant – similar to peppers, also slow
Tiny tip: Warmth helps. A cozy spot + consistently moist soil = happier germination.
What to start soon (if you want early spring harvests)
These are faster and often fine with cooler conditions:
- Brassicas: cabbage, broccoli, kale (great at 6–8 weeks pre-frost)
- Lettuce + spinach (or just grow as baby greens)
- Herbs: parsley (slow), chives, dill, basil (later if your window is cool)
The easiest “I just want something green” option
If you want results quickly (and zero pressure), do microgreens:
- radish
- broccoli
- pea shoots
- sunflower shoots
They’re fast, forgiving, and make your kitchen feel instantly more alive.
A simple seed-starting checklist (no perfection required)
- Use seed-starting mix (lighter than regular potting soil)
- Keep soil evenly moist (not soaked)
- Give seedlings bright light (a sunny window works; a small grow light helps a lot)
- Label everything (future-you will thank you)
- Once they have a few true leaves: pot up or thin gently
A gentle reminder
You don’t need to start all the seeds. Even one tray is enough to feel like spring is on the way.
If you try one thing this week, let it be: celery or leeks (slow growers) or microgreens (fast win).
Happy seed-starting 💛