These Plants are Easy to Start Indoors and Transplant Outside for Spring
Every year, one of the things we look most forward to at Southgate at Shrewsbury is the beautiful spring garden our community cultivates! The vibrant colors and marvelous smells are tantalizing for our residents and staff, alike.
As we get ready for spring and the sight of a full, beautiful garden, we’d like to share some easier-to-grow plants and seeds for you to start indoors to transplant out to your garden—or liven up your living space!
Make sure you pay attention to the growing instructions on the packaging, and place your plants in an indoor location that will receive proper light.
Edible Plants
Lettuces
If you love a good salad, you’ll love it even more when it’s freshly-grown! Lettuce does not require heavy maintenance, and transplants well in early spring because they can tolerate cooler soils.
Peppers
Want to enjoy fresh peppers before the weather warms? Peppers grow well indoors and will allow you to add a little fresh spice to your life, anytime! Wait until the danger of frost has passed, and you can easily transport them outside.
Eggplant
Thanks to a long growing season, eggplant is a great plant to start indoors. Plan to start them between seven and ten weeks before you plan to move them outside (about one month after the last frost). When you transplant eggplant, be sure to place them in a warm, sunny location.
Flowers
Alyssum
The seeds for these bright, fragrant purple beauties start to germinate in as little as four days! Before you know it, you’ll have a pot full of small flowers that will make for a great edge or bed for your outdoor garden. You can keep alyssum indoors, or transplant easily outside after the last frost.
Cosmos
Cosmos flowers are incredibly hardy and will hang on until the first frost in the fall. Additionally, there are two annual varieties that will continue to pop up year after year. Cosmos are easy to start indoors—simply sow seeds in a pot in a sunny area and watch them sprout! They are especially easy for beginners because they do not require a lot of maintenance and self-germinate.
Morning Glories
Starting morning glories inside is a cinch! A few weeks before the last frost, soak the seeds in warm water overnight, and then plant them under a quarter inch of soil. When you transplant the morning glories outside, make sure they have something to cling to. Your garden will be off to an extra colorful start!
Winter is winding down—start planning for a beautiful spring garden and brighten your winter living space with some easy-to-grow plants!