Q: What is the time frame for starting vegetable seeds for spring planting? Is there any rule of thumb as to when seeds are started indoors for Southern gardeners?

A: Starting seed indoors is a great way to save money when you need lots of plants for your landscape. With a sunny window, a sunroom or an artificial light set up you can raise hundreds of dollars worth of plants with just a few dollars investment. Judging when to start the seed indoors is a bit tricky. Seeds take various lengths of time to germinate and to grow to planting size which should coincide with the first warm weeks of spring. North Carolina State University has a widely inclusive resource at NC State University’s Starting Plants from Seeds.