inceptive stage — the beginning or initial phase of something

a cheerful gardener kneels down and carefully places tiny seeds into small holes in the dark earth. She gently covers each seed with a thin layer of soil using her hands. The soil is freshly prepared with neat rows marked out for planting. Small gardening tools lie nearby along with seed packets that have been opened. Other gardeners work on more established plots in the background with growing plants. A watering can sits ready to nourish the newly planted seeds. the beginning or initial phase of the growing process