Springtime Delights:
A Seed Starter's Guide for South Louisiana
It may not feel like it right now, but the spring season will be back before you know it! As gardeners, we’re well aware of how planning ahead can pay off big, and that’s never more true than when opting for seeds over potted plants & vegetable starts. You’ll get more blooms and earlier, more vegetables at half the price, and you’ll appreciate the progress every step of the way! In this seed starter guide, we’ll discuss starting seeds indoors, highlight our favorite picks, and vibrant blooms to kickstart your spring garden. Most every product we mention – seed starting mix, biodegradable containers, seed trays, plant labels, and the seeds themselves – are available at Louisiana Nursery locations!
Seed Starting 101
Seed Starting 101
Before we delve into individual plant suggestions, let’s brush up on our seed-starting basics. What for me was as simple as a wet paper towel and a seed has expanded dramatically: seed starter trays and even seed sprouter kits make the process easier and more efficient than ever.
Whatever you decide to use for your seed germination journey, these tips should be universal enough for anyone to benefit:
Most seeds thrive in seed starter soil or well-draining potting mix Typically, they’ll prefer warm temperatures (around 70°F). Choose containers with drainage holes and label them for easy organization. Sow seeds according to package instructions, generally covering them with a light dusting of soil. Keep the soil moist but not soggy, and provide plenty of bright, indirect light using grow lights if necessary. Once seedlings sprout and develop their first true leaves, it’s time to pot ’em up into individual containers to give them room to grow.
Veggie Delights
Veggie Delights
Tomatoes are our top choice in the vegetable seed category and that’s probably not much of a surprise! Besides the fact they perform so well in our Louisiana climate, you can grow them in too many ways to count (potted, trellising, caged, and many more)!
Botanical Interests – our most prominent seed supplier – suggests waiting to transplant with specific timeframes on each seed packet. Glacier tomatoes seem like the obvious choice for those chompin’ at the bit for the earliest ripened fruits, or maybe you’ll prefer to wait for the colorful and tasty display of the cherry tomato rainbow blend. Whatever you choose, be sure to bring us some from your leftover harvest!
Some other top suggestions from Louisiana Nursery staff include all of the many pepper varieties as well as egg plant seeds.
Herb Heaven
Our top-picks for herb seeds before spring: Basil, Cilantro, and Dill. Herbs are a bit on the subjective side of this list, as only you know your culinary habits. Pick out a few packets of whatever greenery you tend to reach for most when cooking up that favorite meal.
Herbs can be grown indoors all year-round, and when potted are easy to move outside for the warm season and back in for the cold. This versatility makes it easy to recommend just about everything we have on the seed racks in store!
If you’re feeling extra generous to that feline friend, you can grab some catnip seeds which offer a number of health benefits. Giving your pets their own designated, safe-to-eat plants is the best way to keep them out of all your favorite houseplants!
Flower Power
With so many amazing flowers to choose from, it was tough to narrow down what we’d like to see in more gardens and landscapes for 2024. Our top choices include Alyssum, Black-Eyed Susan, and the Milkweed (Native).
Alyssum offers a choice for those ready to get started ASAP, and are available in two stunningly contrasted varieties. Fragrant, spring blooming, and unique colors make this a great plant to try out from seed!
Black-Eyed Susan are a show-stopper when blooming at our nurseries, but you’ll love them that much more when caring for them from the start. Speaking of care, this easy-to-grow plant will reward your minimal effort with vibrant, large blooms. If grown from seed, you might even have stalks and flowers before we do!
Finally we have milkweeds – a classic choice that has only grown in popularity as a new generation of gardeners show particular interest in pollinator gardening. In particular, we suggested native varieties that offer the best of both worlds: beautiful blooms without the adverse affects non-native milkweeds have on our favorite gardening friends.
Remember, this list is in no way exhaustive; you’ll definitely want to visit your local Louisiana Nursery location to see the vast selection encompassing hundreds of difference plants.
Thanks for reading!
