In Minnesota, the indoor seed starting season can feel like a high stakes poker game.
Start too early, and your seedlings might outgrow their containers before it’s safe to plant. Wait too long, and you risk a late harvest—or worse, missing the season’s peak altogether.
So when is the right time to start seeds indoors?
Gardening expert Michelle Bruhn, author of Small-Scale Homesteading: (Bruhn and Thurow, 2023), shares her best strategies for timing your indoor plantings—no matter where you live.
Planting by the Numbers
“Timing is definitely the trickiest part of seed starting,” Michelle says. “Our springs are all over the place.”
One of her go-to tools? The Minnesota DNR’s interactive freeze map, which tracks frost dates across the state. For the Twin Cities, there’s a 50% chance of freezing temperatures until mid-April.
But Michelle has noticed a shift.
“When I started gardening seriously a dozen years ago, I went by May 1st. Now, I use April 15th as my reference point. Our growing zones are changing.”
(Note: MN growing zones are 3a-Northern Minnesota to 5a-Twin Cities and south).
That shift affects not just when but what you should start indoors. Cold-hardy crops—like lettuce, spinach, and broccoli—can go outside earlier, especially with protection.
“If you start them indoors now and use low tunnels, you can get a harvest before the first June heat wave,” Michelle says.
By the way, she started her seeds Feb. 15th and 16th.
Michelle adds that gardeners need to have more patience when it comes to warm-weather crops, like tomatoes and peppers.
Don’t Forget the Flowers
Beyond vegetables, Michelle suggests starting companion flowers indoors—like calendula, marigolds, and sweet alyssum.
“You’re jumpstarting pollination,” she says. “By the time your veggies bloom, pollinators are already there.”
For more comprehensive seed-starting tips on soil, lighting needs, and watering tips, Michelle shares resources on her blog, Forks in the Dirt.
Part 2 from Michelle will cover common mistakes, seed starting for small spaces and resources. Look for that on March 5th.
MEANWHILE- A Bloom With Me Subscriber’s First-Time Dahlia Growing Journey
As winter lingers, gardeners like Bloom With Me subscriber Danlye Jones are already nurturing new life indoors. This season, she’s taking on a fresh challenge: growing dahlias from seed—an experiment inspired by small farmers and online flower groups.
“I’ve grown native plants and overwintered geraniums, but this is my first time starting dahlias from seed,” Jones shares.
Unlike tubers, which produce clones, seeds create one-of-a-kind blooms.
Jones began her seeds indoors in late November, using a damp paper towel method. “Most sprouted in 7-14 days, but some in just two,” she notes. Once sprouted, she transferred them to trays with well-draining soil.
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(Above photo provided by Danlye Jones)
As seedlings grow, Jones repots them, ensuring strong roots before transplanting outside.
If she finds a bloom she loves? “I’ll be saving the tubers for next year!” she says.
Also, Thank you for making the Bloom With Me Art Tour at MIA on Feb. 11th such a wonderful experience! Special thanks to our docent, Julie Holland, for guiding us through the Hokusai and Monet exhibit, and more.
Enjoy the attached photos from our day! I’d love your ideas for future tours—what should we explore next?
And finally, I'll be heading down to the 2025 Home + Garden Show in Minneapolis.
Show Highlight: New Plants for 2025 with Ryan McEnaney, Bailey Nurseries
MARCH 5-9, 2025. I can't wait to see what's new and bring it to you.
See you next time with more trends and tips!
Diana Pierce
Diana Pierce Photography
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