To start off, let’s talk about seed starting. To ensure that your plants are ready to go for the start of spring, you want to start them 6-8 weeks indoors in advance of planting them. When you “start” them, you should consider soaking the seeds in a wet paper towel before planting them into a little pot to quicken the germination process. There are of course exceptions to this rule, like if you're planting seeds that germinate (crack out of their shell and grow shoots) easily and or quickly such as tomatoes, morning glories, or zucchini. A good seedling height to put in the ground is 2-4 inches tall, and it should have 3-4 sets of healthy leaves. That being said, this rule can vary depending on the type of plant you grow.

As for when you put your green babies into the ground, this should be a couple of weeks after the last anticipated frost of the season to ensure they won't freeze. Plants so young are very fragile and can die easily. Conditions must be not too hot or cold. You must also watch how much water you give them. If they receive too much or too little water and if they’re exposed to too much sun can make these young plants die before they even get a chance. Because of their delicate nature, it is important to do a little bit of research on your plants to see how much water, sun, and type of soil they will need. Speaking of soil, when planting plants into the ground, especially if it’s a crop or flower, you don’t want to put them directly into the dirt without some preparation. Plants like that need lots of nutrients, which they get from the soil, so clay-like dirt won’t cut it. 

Now that you have a basic understanding of seeding and planting, let's talk about maintenance. Some plants, such as rose bushes, leafy greens (like lettuce, kale, spinach, etc.), morning glories, tomatoes, and more require maintenance. This can mean pruning (take away damaged or dead branches, leaves, or stems to help the growth of the plant), picking, replanting (this would be necessary if the plant was getting too much sun, or it didn’t like the soil you put it in), or even simply poor watering. This may sound strange, but plants love a schedule just as much as people do! You should work out a schedule that works for both you and your green things that keeps them healthy and thriving, like watering every-other day, vs watering every day or twice a day.