What Plants Are Easy to Grow From Seed

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read full disclosure here.

17 Of The Easiest Seeds To Start Indoors Both Flowers & Veggies

Choosing the easiest seeds to start indoors is important, especially if you're a new gardener. To help you be successful, I put together a list of some easy plants to grow indoors from seed, both flowers and vegetables.

It can be really difficult to get the hang of successfully growing seeds, especially if you've never tried it before. But when you begin with the easiest seeds to start indoors, the you're more likely to be successful.

Though there are 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…

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, 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 this rainbow coleus blend.

4. Zinnia

Another must-have 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 perform 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 slow to mature (depending on the variety), it's best to sow cauliflower seeds indoors to give them jump on the gardening 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 mature 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.

7. Radicchio

Radicchio does 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, learn how here.

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 favorites.

Tomatoes are easy seeds to plant indoors

9. Watermelon

Since it takes them a really long time to mature, 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 summer, try Jubilee. Otherwise, Sugar Baby has a shorter time to harvest.

10. Okra

Another fun plant 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 fantastic, 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 they need warm soil to germinate. So it's much better to start them inside rather than in the garden. Start them 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 containers or in the garden.

Plant them inside the house 8-12 weeks before your average planting date in the spring. Little Prince is a cute variety 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 and easy to grow from seeds indoors, and delicious in salsa and sauces.

Sow them indoors 6 weeks before the last spring frost. You can stick with the traditional green ones, or try the purple variety. Learn exactly how to grow tomatillo seeds here.

14. Broccoli

If you've never tried 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 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, cayenne hot and jalapenos. Start them about 8-12 weeks before last frost date in early spring.

If the soil is too cold it could stunt them, so wait until it's warm before transplanting them into the garden. Learn how to grow peppers from seeds step-by-step.

Peppers are one of the easiest seeds to grow indoors

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 these easy seeds, you can move on to trying more difficult ones.

If you're looking for detailed, step-by-step help for growing any plant you want from seed, then my online Seed Starting Course is exactly what you need! It's a fun and comprehensive self-paced online course that will teach you everything you need to know. Enroll and get started today!

Otherwise, if you just want to get started growing seeds indoors, then you need my Starting Seeds Indoors eBook. It's a quick-start guide for beginners that will get you going fast.