It doesn't feel like it, but this is really only the second season that I'm vegetable gardening in earnest. Clearly I am still learning, and there are many firsts that I'll go through. For example, starting seeds.
Inside.
In March.
We are about 10 weeks before being frost free. I know for others, down south USA or in Britain for example, spring has sprung. But today, it was snowing here. At least I can start some seeds, or try to anyway. The microgreens didn't turn out so well, so I'm not completely confident in my success. But for the price of a single plant, I can start multiple plants. I like that.
All winter I've been reading different gardening books, and one that did a good job of showing how to start seeds with not a great deal of effort is The New Victory Garden book by Bob Thomson. While he uses 4" pots, I'm going to recycle some plastic tubs from cottage cheese and yogurt. The idea to split them is my wife's. So she gets the credit for that.
Here we are with the tubs. They were thoroughly washed.
Measure down 2.5 "
Cut while connecting the dots.
One tub + one lid = two potting buckets
Drill holes to allow drainage (and wicking)
10 pots done
Fill with seed starter.
I've got tomatoes, eggplant, broccoli, peppers, celery.
Planted and sitting in a bath - we'll see if it wicks up by morning.
Once moist they go on a heating pad until they germinate.
So we shoud have spouts in a bit of time, then they'll move into the sunny south window. Follow along, it should be educational.
Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!
The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener
Inside.
In March.
We are about 10 weeks before being frost free. I know for others, down south USA or in Britain for example, spring has sprung. But today, it was snowing here. At least I can start some seeds, or try to anyway. The microgreens didn't turn out so well, so I'm not completely confident in my success. But for the price of a single plant, I can start multiple plants. I like that.
All winter I've been reading different gardening books, and one that did a good job of showing how to start seeds with not a great deal of effort is The New Victory Garden book by Bob Thomson. While he uses 4" pots, I'm going to recycle some plastic tubs from cottage cheese and yogurt. The idea to split them is my wife's. So she gets the credit for that.
Here we are with the tubs. They were thoroughly washed.
Measure down 2.5 "
Cut while connecting the dots.
One tub + one lid = two potting buckets
Drill holes to allow drainage (and wicking)
 |
10 pots done
Fill with seed starter.
I've got tomatoes, eggplant, broccoli, peppers, celery.
Planted and sitting in a bath - we'll see if it wicks up by morning.
Once moist they go on a heating pad until they germinate.
So we shoud have spouts in a bit of time, then they'll move into the sunny south window. Follow along, it should be educational.
Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!
The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener
I like the way you did the pots. I wish I had thought of that since I have way too many butter dishes.
ReplyDeleteWe had a lot too becky, We were going to throw them in the recycle bin, but the DW had the bright idea. She's a keeper!
ReplyDeleteLike the idea of re-using the plastic tubs, but I hope you didn't buy new foil trays to stand them on!
ReplyDeleteCan you give me more details of heating mats? Did you get them online or at a garden centre? I wonder if they are available here...
Hi Mark, the foil trays I reclaim from office catered lunches else they end up in the recycle bin or worse, the rubbish. I use them for cookingon the grill, and all sorts of things.
ReplyDeleteThe heating mats are $29 for a flat size, a three flat was 70 as a garden center and i found these so the prcice was right. They can get wet, but don't immerse them. The raise the temp by 10-20F over ambient room temp.
David, thanks for the info on those mats. I'm tempted to get some. Do you think they would be OK to sit on a bedfroom windowsill - I mean, would the heat damage the paintwork or anything?
ReplyDeleteMark, They get warm, not hot. I don't think it would be a problem. and my mistake they were 19 USD for a flat size
ReplyDelete