While the weather outside is cold and gray, you can begin your gardening season indoors. Having a solid foundation will make it easier for you to get your garden started in the spring and to get creative when it comes to the plants you use or the garden’s layout. This also gives gardeners an opportunity to get in the habit of tending to their gardens before it’s time to plant them in their selected location.

1. Location is Key

The first step to planning your dream garden is to pick the right location. Maybe you have an empty corner in your yard that’s perfect for a set of raised beds or a small plot in front of your windows that you want to fill with flowers? Keep in mind important items like how much sun the area gets, if it’s easy to access water from your selected spot and the quality of the soil in that area. Once you’ve selected your location, the designing can begin. Get creative! Map out your plans with drawings or use online templates and garden planners. Being able to physically see the plan will help you know where to adjust or add on to your garden

2. Pick Your Plants

Now you have the location and the plans, the next step is to pick your plants! One helpful way to narrow down your plant options is to find your hardiness zone. For example, St. Louis is in the 6a to 6b range, meaning our freezing temperatures typically range from 0 to -5 or -5 to -10 degrees Fahrenheit. Plants that prefer 6a or 6b zones are already built to thrive in this type of climate.

3. Prepare Your Seedlings

Picking your plants also brings an opportunity to begin your seedlings. This is a great way to prep your garden by beginning the process in January or February. Items you’ll need include seed starting soil mix, a seed tray, your preferred seeds, a heat mat and proper lighting. If you have a consistently warm space like a greenhouse, you may not need to worry about a heat mat. Before you start the process, check the back of your seed packets. Oftentimes, the packet will let you know the best time to begin planting the seedlings.

4. Planting Seeds: Start your seedlings in a few easy steps

• Moisten your soil mix! If your mix doesn’t come with a wetting agent, wet down the soil with some water before placing it in the seed trays.

• Fill your trays with the seed starting mix and use a pencil or small stick to poke a hole in the soil.

• Place your selected seeds inside each of the holes.

• Cover the holes with soil mix and make sure the soil is moist.

• Place the tray under the lights and on top of the heat mat to maintain consistent light and temperature.

• Check the seedlings often to make sure the seed starting soil is staying moist.

• Once roots begin poking out of the trays, it’s time to move the seedlings to their own pots! They can continue growing in the pots until it’s time to plant them in the ground.