If you're anything like us, when the weather begins to get warmer, you start getting the urge to head outside. If you've got outdoor space, you might even start planning your summer outdoor garden.
Here are 7 reasons why you should grow your own seedlings — seedlings being young plants started from seed in a controlled environment before being transplanted outdoors — this year + how your Rise Garden can help you jumpstart your summer garden.
Start heartier spring veggies now
Kale, swiss chard, root vegetables and other cool weather crops are ready to plant now. Start your seeds in your garden immediately and plant them outside in as little as 3-4 weeks. For outdoor garden planting timing, check out the Farmer's Almanac.
Grow your own fruiting plant seedlings
Instead of heading to your local hardware store or greenhouse for your tomato + pepper varieties, you can grow the varieties you want from the seed pods you love.
Save money on non-GMO, pesticide-free plants
Instead of paying $5-$10 per organic plant at a local store, you can grow your own outdoor plants from seed. Your plants will be free from pesticides + you'll know their variety + history. According to the USDA's National Organic Program, consumer demand for pesticide-free produce continues to rise, making home seed starting one of the most cost-effective ways to guarantee what goes into your food.
Grow special varieties not available locally
You may want to grow special varieties of herbs or vegetables not available at your local store. By growing your own seedlings, you expand your options to grow your food.
Know the environment your seedlings grow in
Not only do you know what's in and on your plants by growing your own seedlings, you also know what's in your air and water. You have 360 degree control of your plants' environment.
Ensure strong + healthy plants
The environment your seeds are germinated in impacts the yield. Research from Cornell University's Center for Controlled Environment Agriculture confirms that optimized indoor germination conditions consistently produce stronger root development and higher transplant survival rates. Germinate seeds in your Rise Nursery for the best environment for high-yielding plants.
Start harvesting earlier
By starting your seeds indoors now + growing them in your garden for a few weeks, you'll be harvesting your veggies sooner. Plants grow 50% quicker hydroponically — hydroponics being a method of growing plants without soil, using water and dissolved nutrients to feed roots directly — so harvest day is just around the corner.
Ready to get started? Grab your Outdoor Garden Starter Kit here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it better to start seeds indoors before moving them outside?
Starting seeds indoors allows you to control germination conditions — temperature, humidity, and light — resulting in stronger, more uniform seedlings than those started directly in unpredictable outdoor soil. Getting a head start indoors also extends your growing season by 4 to 8 weeks, meaning you can transplant already-established plants once outdoor temperatures are safe. For gardeners in short-season climates, indoor starting is often the difference between a successful harvest and plants that never fully mature.
Can a Rise Garden be used to start seeds for an outdoor garden?
Absolutely — a Rise Garden is an excellent seed-starting system for plants destined for outdoor soil because it provides consistent light and moisture levels that produce robust, healthy seedlings. Plants started in a Rise Garden develop strong root systems quickly due to the direct access to nutrients in the hydroponic reservoir. When it is time to transplant outdoors, a brief hardening-off period — gradually exposing seedlings to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days — ensures a smooth transition.
What vegetables should you start indoors before outdoor planting season?
Vegetables that benefit most from indoor starting include tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, all of which have long growing seasons that require a head start in most North American climates. Herbs like basil and parsley also benefit from indoor starting because they need warm soil temperatures that outdoor spring conditions often cannot reliably provide. Fast-maturing crops like radishes, carrots, and beans are better sown directly outdoors, as they do not transplant well.
How much time do I save by starting seeds indoors?
Starting seeds indoors typically accelerates your garden timeline by 6 to 10 weeks compared to direct sowing outdoors, which is especially valuable for warm-season crops in climates with late last frosts. For tomatoes, for example, starting indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date means you transplant a mature, flowering plant rather than a tiny seedling, dramatically increasing your total harvest. This head start effectively extends the productive growing season by a full growing month or more.
