Don’t be fooled by pictures on the internet of seedlings growing in sunny windowsills.
Save money with recycled containers, use inexpensive potting mix or garden soil if you must - but your transplants will not be successful if you do not use an indoor light. Don’t be fooled by pictures on the internet of seedlings growing in sunny windowsills. While you might be able to get away with starting some cool weather crops that will only be indoors for 3-4 weeks, like lettuce or kale, in the light of a window, that won’t be enough light to produce strong, healthy seedlings. Especially not for warm-season plants that will need to be indoors for 6-12 weeks, like tomatoes or hot peppers. If you want to grow your own transplants, you will need indoor lights.