• Starting seeds indoors gives plants a head start on the growing season.Medioimages/Photodisc/Valueline/Getty Images
  
  Starting plants indoors can be a fulfilling way to get a head start on the growing season. Gardeners lucky enough to have a greenhouse can start a wide variety of seedlings before the last frost. Many home gardeners also use countertop seed-starting kits to start seeds indoors as well. The goal is the same -- to have healthy, happy plants ready to plant outside after the soil has warmed up and the danger of frost has passed.
  
  

Impatiens

• Impatiens are slow growing and need to be started indoors.impatiens image by palms from Fotolia.com
  
  Impatiens are tender annuals noted for their versatility and beauty. According to Iowa State University, impatiens are the most popular bedding plant in the United States. It is no surprise -- these cheerful flowers bloom all spring and summer long. Impatiens are useful for adding bright spots of color to a shady spot in the home landscape.
  
  Starting impatiens from seed can be challenging because the seeds are so incredibly tiny -- 40,000 to 60,000 individual seeds are contained in a single ounce. Gardeners can place the seed into a small bowl and pick up individual seeds with the moistened tip of a toothpick. The seed can then be transferred to the planting medium. Impatiens germinate in 14 to 21 days. They should be started 10 weeks before the last frost to ensure healthy vigorous transplants that are ready for the garden.
  
  

Snapdragons

• Tall snapdragons make excellent cut flowers.snapdragon flowers image by mefanti from Fotolia.com
  
  Snapdragons are cool-weather flowers that are native to the Mediterranean. They are available in a wide variety of colors, sizes and growth habits, which makes them ideal as bedding plants and container plants. The taller varieties are also excellent candidates for a cut flower garden, as they can reach 2 to 3 feet tall.
  
  No matter what the size, however, this attractive flower should be started indoors about six to10 weeks before the last frost. Snapdragon seeds are very small but they usually germinate quickly, generally four to eight days after sowing. Unlike some other annual flower varieties, snapdragon seeds have the best rate of germination when they are kept relatively cool. A temperature of 64 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. Temperatures above 75 degrees will actually delay germination in some cases.
  
  

Petunias

• Petunias are available in a striking array of color combinations.petunia image by Earl Robbins from Fotolia.com
  
  Petunias are another annual flower available in a variety of colors, sizes and growth habits. Petunias are also very easy to grow, making them a popular choice for many gardeners. Upright and spreading petunias are ideal for flower beds. Trailing varieties are stunning in hanging baskets or in tall containers.
  
  Petunias should be started indoors 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost. Petunia seeds are even smaller than impatiens seeds -- 250,000 to 300,000 seeds per ounce. Fortunately, seed suppliers offer pelleted seed, which is larger and easier to handle. Gently press the seeds into the growing medium, but don't cover them up since petunia seeds need light for germination. The seeds should germinate in 10 to 12 days. Maintain a temperature range of 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit for germination, and then place the seedlings in a cooler location to avoid leggy plants.