The Home Garden Seed Association has these tips on how to start seed for the best production in your garden this coming growing season.

1 Use quality seed. Old seed won't perform as well as fresh seed. Ask yourself these questions: Were the seeds stored incorrectly with regard to temperature and moisture protection? Are the seeds more than two years old? Do you know the origin of the seeds?

2 Maximize light. Adequate light is necessary for strong seedling growth whether it's supplied by natural light or grow lights. (Check out this link for a bit of mythbusting about grow lights.)

3 Start seed at the right time. Starting seed too early can result in weak and spindly plants. Determine seed start dates by using information on seed packets which usually indicate timing based on last frost dates.

The Home Garden Seed Association recommends these plants to start indoors:

Edibles: Broccoli, Brussels Sprout, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Eggplant, Onions, Peppers, Tomatoes, and various herbs

A south- or west-facing window will provide adequate light, assuming you wait until the longer days of April to begin planting. A sun porch might work if you pay attention to the fluctuation of temperatures and add some warmth on frosty nights. If you're starting seed in a cool indoor area consider a heat mat under the seedling tray to achieve optimum temperature to assist with germination. Remember to remove the heat mat once seedlings have sprouted.

Visit ezfromseed.org for more info.