To get a jump on this season's flowers, plants, and veggies, start seeds indoors before transplanting outside. But you don't need to buy a special growing light... an ordinary florescent light fixture works well for growing seedlings. The florescent lights (often seen in hardware stores and gardening centers), come in a variety of lengths with two lights per fixture. For growing seedlings, the intensity of the florescent lights should consist of one "warm" light and another "cool" light to give off the right amount of light for optimal growing conditions. The light should always be kept two to three inches from the tops of the seedlings and they should be exposed for approximately 15 or more hours a day. For convenience, plug your light into a timer. After four to eight weeks, your plants will be hardy enough to transplant into the newly thawed ground.
