If you like starting your garden seeds on your own, we are nearing the time. Mid-March is the best time to start vegetables such as peppers and other annual flowers.

One of the biggest mistakes that I see people make when starting seeds indoors is starting plants too early. Plants that take longer to mature can be started earlier.

Plants such as tomatoes, however, only take about five to six weeks to grow indoors. If they are started in early February, they get too leggy and become too hard to manage.

Following are suggested dates for starting specific vegetables indoors: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower — early March; peppers, eggplant — mid-March; tomatoes — early April.

Flower varieties also vary in their starting times. Check the seed packets to learn the best time to start indoors and follow the recommendations.

The other mistake I see when starting seeds indoors is insufficient light. Think about the amount of light these plants receive when they are outside. It’s tough to match the exact amount of light indoors. Therefore you have to supply as much light as possible.

Lights sold specifically for growing plants are useful and provide the specific light range needed for plant growth. However, you can also use shop light fixtures with fluorescent tubes.

It’s not a good idea to start your plants in a windowsill. There is simply not enough light and you will notice that the plants become leggy and are always stretching or reaching for the light.

The final mistakes to avoid are using the right container and soil mix. The container must, must, must absolutely have drainage. Nothing stops plant growth quicker than rotting roots. You can place the container with drainage in a flat or tray that holds water, but be sure to dump any excess water out after watering.

The soil is critical. Don’t use garden soil. Purchase a soilless mix that is usually composed of a mixture of peat moss, vermiculite, perlite or other components. These mixes don’t contain any true soil and are best for starting seeds.

They have good drainage capabilities, are lightweight, free from weed seeds, and have the right texture to allow the tiny germinated seedlings to thrive.

Some mixes have fertilizer in them, but this won’t last forever. After your seedlings are established, you will need to fertilizer (follow label instructions) to keep them healthy.

It sounds like a lot of work, but it’s rewarding to see the fruits of your labor. In addition, you can find many unusual varieties in seed catalogues that you can’t find in the garden centers.