If you’re new to growing your own seeds, it’s best to begin with easy plants to grow indoors from seed. To help you be successful, I put together a list of some of the easiest seeds to start indoors; both flowers and vegetables.
Growing seeds can be really difficult to get the hang of, especially if you’ve never tried it before. But when you begin by growing the easiest seeds to start indoors, the you’re more likely to be successful.
Though there area many, many types of seeds that you can grow inside, I wanted to keep this list short so it’s not overwhelming for beginners. I also included general planting times for each type of seed. But be sure to check the packets for the specific seed starting dates.
17 Easiest Seeds To Start Indoors
Below, I broke my list down into two sections. One is for flowers, and the other one is for vegetables. Hopefully that will make it simple for you to find what you’re looking for. So here is my list of the easiest plants to grow from seed indoors for beginners…
Some of the best seeds to start inside
Easiest Flower Seeds To Start Indoors
First I’ll begin with a few of my favorite flower seeds that I always plant inside the house. I use a lot of them, both in my garden and in containers. So it’s nice to be able to easily grow the seeds for pennies, instead of having to buy the plants every spring.
1. Marigold – One of my all-time favorite flowers, marigolds are super easy seeds to grow indoors. They attract pollinators, and can help to deter pests from the garden too. Start the seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before your average planting date in the spring. Two of my favorite varieties are french marigold and Crackerjack.
Marigold are easy plants to grow from seed indoors
2. Castor bean – Castor bean seeds can be a bit fussy, so it’s much easier to start them indoors. Once they sprout, the seedlings grow really fast. Red castor bean is my favorite type to grow, and they are gorgeous. Plant the seeds indoors about a month before you plan to move them outdoors. Learn how to grow castor bean from seeds here.
3. Coleus – Coleus is definitely one of the best plants to grow indoors from seed because the seeds are tiny and could be washed away in the garden. Plus they take long time to mature from seeds. Plant the seeds inside 8-10 weeks before they can be transplanted outside. I like to grow this rainbow coleus blend.
4. Zinnia – Another must-grow plant in my summer gardens are zinnias. They won’t tolerate the cold, so it’s best to start them indoors in early spring rather than planting the seeds outside. Plant them 4-5 weeks before your last frost date to give them a good head start. This Thumbelina dwarf zinnia is a gorgeous mix, as is this Solar Flare Blend.
Zinnia seeds are simple to grow inside from seeds
Easiest Vegetable Plants To Grow From Seed Indoors
Many types of vegetable seeds need to be started indoors in order to grow their best, and have plenty of time to mature to produce yummy food for us. So I’ll continue my list by adding my top picks for the easiest vegetables to start early inside the house…
5. Cauliflower – Since it can be a slow growing plant (depending on the variety), it’s best to sow cauliflower seeds indoors to give them jump on the growing season. Start the seeds 4-6 weeks before the average spring planting date in your area. You can’t go wrong with the Early Snowball variety. Or try a fun mix with purple and white cauliflower seeds.
6. Brussels sprouts – Brussels sprouts take a long time to grow from seeds, so start them inside 4-6 weeks before transplanting to the garden. The seedlings can be planted outside in early spring, but protect them from freezing. Hestia Brussles sprouts is a great type to try growing.
7. Radicchio – Radicchio grows best in cool weather, so be sure to get this one planted early. Sow the seeds inside 4-6 weeks before your average last spring frost date to give them a head start. Try this Early Treviso variety in your garden this year!
8. Tomatoes – Tomatoes are one of the easiest seeds to start indoors (and probably the most popular too!). Sow them indoors about 6-8 weeks before average last frost. Wait to plant the seedlings into the garden until the soil has warmed and all chance of frost is gone. Cherry tomatoes, Beefsteak and Brandywine are three of my favorite ones to grow every year.
Tomatoes are easy seeds to plant indoors
9. Watermelon – Since they have a really long growing season, it’s best to sow watermelon seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your average last frost date. Take care not to disturb the roots when transplanting the seedlings into the garden, or it could stunt their growth. If you have a long enough growing season, try Jubilee. Otherwise, Sugar Baby has a shorter time to harvest.
10. Okra – Another fun plant to grow if you’ve never tried it is okra. Not only do they produce yummy food, the flowers are beautiful too! Plant the seeds 4-6 weeks before it’s safe to move them to the garden. For better germination, soak the seeds in water for 12-24 hours before sowing. Red Burgundy is a must in my garden, but green okra is beautiful and tasty too!
11. Basil – Basil is a fantastic plant to grow, and it does well in both the ground or in containers. Traditional green basil is a staple in my garden, but I love the purple variety too! It will not tolerate the cold, and the seeds need warm soil to germinate. So it’s much better to start them inside rather than in the garden. Plant the seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before moving outside. Learn how to grow basil from seed here.
12. Eggplant – Eggplant are easy-to-grow seeds, and the plants are great for growing in containers or in the garden. Start the seeds inside the house 8-12 weeks before your average planting date in the spring. Little Prince is a cute variety for growing in containers, and Black Beauty is a more traditional type of eggplant.
13. Tomatillo – If you’re looking for a vigorous and highly productive vegetable for your garden, then try tomatillos. They are fun to grow, and delicious in salsa and sauces. Sow the seeds indoors 6 weeks before the last spring frost. You can grow traditional green tomatillos, or try purple tomatillos.
Tomatillo are good seeds to sow indoors
14. Broccoli – If you’ve never grown broccoli before, you should definitely give it a try. These are some of my favorite broccoli seeds to plant every year. Plant them 4-6 weeks before your average last frost. Learn how to grow broccoli from seed here.
15. Kale – Kale is another cool season vegetable that you can harvest summer through late fall. They are a little slow to get going, so it’s best to give them a head start inside. In early spring, sow the seeds indoors 3-6 weeks before your spring planting date. I recommend trying Chinese kale and Red Winter kale.
16. Cabbage – Another slow-growing vegetable, cabbage does best when planted indoors 6-8 weeks before your average last spring frost date. Seedlings should be transplanted into the garden in early spring, but be sure to protect them from freezing. Cabbage Red Acre adds amazing color to the garden.
17. Peppers – Peppers are super easy plants to grow indoors from seed. Some of my favorites are sweet bell peppers, cayenne hot peppers and jalapenos. Start them about 8-12 weeks before last frost date in early spring. If the soil is too cold it could stunt their growth, so wait until it’s warm before transplanting the seedlings into the garden. Learn how to grow peppers from seeds step-by-step.
Peppers are one of the easiest seeds to grow indoors
It’s fun and rewarding to grow your own seeds! And, when you pick from this list of the easiest seeds to start indoors, you’re sure to have great success! Then, once you become a pro at growing these seeds, you can move on to trying other seeds.
If you want to get started growing your own seeds indoors, then you need my Starting Seeds Indoors eBook. It’s a quick start guide for beginners that will get you started with growing seeds indoors. Download your copy today!
Otherwise, if you’re looking for detailed, step-by-step help for growing any plant you want from seed, then enroll in the Seed Starting Course today! It’s a fun and comprehensive course that will teach you everything you need to know about growing your own seeds!
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- 23 Easiest Vegetables To Grow from Seed
- 13 Easy Annual Flowers To Grow From Seed
- 17 Easiest Seeds To Direct Sow
What would you add to this list of the easiest seeds to start indoors? Tell us in the comments below!
Tom says
Well, I really like planting zucchini in planters. But this year, I’m hesitate to even start seeds because it’s been minus 7 degrees for about a month where I live. I worry, that even indoors, my seeds will just die on me and then what’s the point. Trying to keep the house warm with firewood, but it’s tough.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I know what you mean, growing seeds (even the easy ones) indoors can be a challenge sometimes! You could try putting your seeds into a small room with a space heater or a heat mat, that way they will stay warm even if the rest of the house is too cold. Hope it warms up soon for you!
Tom says
Wow, I really like the idea of using a space heater. I’ll give that a whirl. It’s getting a bit warmer here (as in the teens and 20’s not minus 35 wind chill) so maybe the seeds will have a fighting chance. We have a woodturning stove, but feel the seeds would not like the dry heat of that room. Besides, it’s really dark in there! Thanks for the idea.
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome, hope it works for you!
Kirsten says
I’m going to try to grow a few vegetables from seeds for the first time this year. I bought radishes, cauliflower and beets. I didn’t see beets on your list, so hopefully they do ok! If they don’t, at least seeds are cheap and I will not have lost much. 🙂
Amy Andrychowicz says
Haha, exactly! You’ve got the right attitude! Beets are easy to grow from seed (and they made my list of the Easiest Seeds To Direct Sow). However it’s best to plant them directly in the garden rather than starting them indoors. Root crops like beets don’t transplant well, and starting them outside is much easier.