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When is a good time to start veggie seeds growing in the house?

I live in the north part of the U.S. (Very North..it's always cold) I am a novice gardener and want to try a small veggie garden this year. I'd like to start my plants from seeds in the house so when it comes time to plant, I'll have healthy little plants already started. How do you judge when to start growing the seeds indoors? I don't want to start too soon but I have no idea how long they take to get to be a good size for planting in the garden. (Also I've got a wicked case of spring fever and I'm just looking for excuses to go buy gardening things.) ;) I'm *thinking* about growing tomatoes, cucumbers, & green bell peppers. Just found a helpful site that tells me the average last frost for my area is June 14th. So, now that we know this, when is a good time for me to start my seeds indoors. ((I know, NOW is way too early. )) There goes my shopping adventure for the day.

Public Comments

1. Start vegetables indoors, usually 6-8 weeks before the last frost date in your area. This site lists various plants with approximate number of weeks before last frost date to start seeds indoors; time seeds take to germinate (days), & temperature & light requirements. Tomatoes can be started 6 weeks before the last frost date, peppers 8 weeks before the last frost date...but cucumbers aren't started until 4 weeks or less before the last frost date: http://www.savvygardener.com/Features/seed_starting_calendar.html You should be able to plant your peppers seeds indoors anytime after April 20, your Tomatoes by May 4, & your cucumbers by May 18. Make sure your plants get plenty of light . Time & temperature chart for starting seeds from North Dakota State U. and U.S. Dept. of Agriculture : http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/landscap/h1139w.htm I can't wait to start planting, but I know I have to wait or my plants will get leggy if I plant too soon. I'm checking out the garden catalogues & devouring the garden magazines in anticipation. Good luck! Hope this helps.
2. Hi: Living in the far northern part of the United States can be a long rough winter. You will want to think about putting your vegetable seeds out in May or after the ground temperatures have warmed up. You should be able to start your vegetable seeds in April. You can also think about starting some herb and flower seeds. These three combinations make a wonderful garden. You can start tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers inside. I lived in upstate New York and went to college in northern New York, so I know what you are refrerring to as cold all the time. I will link you to a page in the spice and herb section of my website. It is growing herb from seeds. This is an easy step by step process for you to follow. I have grown thousands of herb, flowers, and vegetable seeds in a greenhouse and also indoors. The key is a good light weight potting soil, (no bark) and adding some vermiculite and humus to the soil. Adding hot water to the soil mixture will help the roots get established. I will also link you to the site map, as this page has everything that is on the website. Browse through as the are many tips, techniques, articles and other information that may be helpful to you. There is a page on a vegetable, herb and flower garden as well as one on the right ground temperatures for starting a vegetable garden. I hope you can use some of this information and good luck to you. Have a great day. You can go ahead and start some herbs inside now as they are fine to be in containers for a couple of months. This is help you with spring fever. Kimberly http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.com/Spices.html http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.com/Site.html
3. Most packets will tell you this, check your zone and location to know when your last frost will be. Your nights should be near 60 at least. I start planting when the Lilacs come out as far as the warm crops
4. I'm in northern SC and I usually start my seed 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. That way I can set the seedlings out about a week or two before the last frost date. Make sure to give them good lighting, preferably sunlight, to keep them from becoming "leggy". If you plant the seedlings early like this you need to keep a close watch on the weather. If the temperature is for casted to drop below 35 or so I cover my plant with straw, pine needles, or an old bed sheet. Don't use plastic because if you don't remove it very early in the day your plants can be scorched by the morning sun.
5. To figure out best time to plant use your average last day of frost and back up about 6 to 8 weeks and plan to start planting then. Tomatoes and bell peppers are easy to grow and can easily be started indoors. They both needs lots of light. Once you start getting warmer weather it's ok to slowly start setting your plants outside in sunny ,windfree spot for a couple hours per day...gradually getting them used to being outdoors.That will help harden them off. As for cucumbers they only require about 60 days growing time...I would wait and plant them outdoors. They are fast growers and even if plant them in early June you will have cucumbers come the first of August. Cucumbers like LOTS of water so don't let them dry out...especially once they start blooming. I always run my cucumbers along fences or trellis to keep them off ground and make it easier for you to pick. I too have been sick with "spring fever"...we are in northern Iowa and our last frost is the middle of May...which seems like a LONG time away. So I can really relate how you feel....it's been a really snowy and cold winter and can't wait to get my hands dirty. Good luck!!