Are you thinking of putting in your first garden this year? Or maybe you're already a gardener, but you want to try starting seeds indoors? Many of your garden plants, both vegetables and flowers, can benefit from a head start inside. If you live in a northern or colder region, starting the growing season with established plants rather than seeds is essential for a good harvest.

Growing vegetables from seed can be rewarding and fun! Whether you're a new gardener, or thinking of trying indoor seeding for the first time, here are some reasons to go ahead and give your garden a head start.

 

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1. You'll Save Money

Would you like to save money on your grocery bill? Growing your own vegetables is a great way to cut down on how much you spend on food for your family. A packet of seeds and a bag of seed-starting soil mix costs far less than just one trip through the produce section. It's true, you will spend some time planting those seeds, but it's minimal: I can prepare four trays of seeds, enough for my garden to feed my family of four, in just a couple of hours.

Even if you buy plants from a greenhouse to plant in your garden when it's warm enough, you could save money by starting them yourself just a few weeks earlier. It's easy to learn how to plant seeds inside, and you can save money at the same time.

 2. You'll Eat Healthier Food

 Commercially grown vegetables are usually fertilized with the essential macronutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. But those plants are often lacking in the secondary and micronutrients naturally found in soil - calcium, magnesium and others that boost the plant's nutritive value. Plus, if you grow using organic methods, without the use of pesticides, you won't have to worry about thatc harmful residue on your vegetables.

 Learning how to grow seeds at home gives you more control over what goes in your plants, and what ends up on the dinner table!

3. You Can Gow Better Tasting Vegetables

If you've ever eaten a grocery store tomato, you'll notice how bland they usually taste. It's true, you will find a choice of vine, beefsteak, plum, cherry and grape tomatoes. But believe it or not, there are dozens of varieties of each of them, if you're willing to grow your own vegetables!

Take beefsteak, or slicing, tomatoes, for instance. Commercial growers generally choose to grow varieties that are heavy producers and uniform in size and appearance. Unfortunately, flavor is one factor that often gets overlooked.

But if you start seeds indoors, you can pick which varieties of beefsteak tomatoes to grow. To get the best flavor out of your garden vegetables, choose those rated best for eating fresh,.

 

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Do What's Best For You and Your Garden

If you have the time and the desire to harvest the healthiest, best-tasting vegetables from your own garden, you would do well to learn how to grow vegetables from seed. And for longer-season types, this means you will need to start seeds indoors, whether it's in a greenhouse, under a grow light in a warm room, or on a sunny windowsill. If you buy one packet of tomato seeds, put a dozen seeds in some soil and end up with six plants to transplant into your garden, you'll have enough tomatoes for the whole family and some to share!