Edmonton’s growing season is short. Starting seeds indoors gives you a head start, letting you harvest tomatoes, peppers, and other warm-season crops that need more time than our climate allows.

But timing matters. Start too early and your seedlings outgrow their pots before the soil warms. Start too late and you lose the advantage. This workshop teaches you how to plan your indoor seed starting around Edmonton’s last frost date and growing conditions.

You’ll learn which crops benefit from an indoor start and which grow better when sown directly in the garden. Not everything needs to be started inside. Knowing the difference saves you time and gives each plant its best chance.

The session covers equipment and materials. Pot sizes. Soil choices. Lighting requirements. You’ll leave knowing what you need and what you don’t.

Seedling care is where most beginners struggle.

Watering, airflow, light levels, and temperature all affect whether your seedlings thrive or fail. This workshop addresses common problems like leggy growth, damping off, and weak transplants. You’ll learn what causes these issues and how to prevent them.

The final piece is transplanting. Moving seedlings from indoors to the garden is a critical transition. Done wrong, weeks of work die in days. You’ll learn when seedlings are ready, how to harden them off, and how to transplant safely into containers or garden beds.

What You’ll Learn in This Seed Starting Workshop

• Garden planning for seed starting – Decide which crops to start indoors and which to direct sow based on Edmonton’s climate and your growing goals.
• Timing your plantings – Learn when to start common garden seeds so transplants are ready when outdoor conditions allow.
• Equipment and materials – Understand pot sizes, soil options, and lighting requirements for successful germination and growth.
• Seedling care and maintenance – Practice proper watering, airflow management, and troubleshooting for common problems like leggy seedlings.
• Transplanting techniques – Know when and how to move seedlings into larger containers or the garden without losing plants.