So this is what my seed starts and transplants currently look like. The transplants were so small that I was able to actually scoop them out with a spoon, roots and all, and I think that all of them are going to make it just fine. I haven’t noticed any signs of distress, with the exception of the one I didn’t get planted deeply enough and even that one might be okay. I also have the half dozen eggshell planters and I am trying the winter sowing technique I saw on Pinterest in the milk jug outside with some hollyhock seeds. Two separate pins linked to the same technique basically. One from A Garden For the House, (I checked out some other stuff on this site and it was really good information) and another from another site called The Herb Companion (which I haven’t yet had time to check out more thoroughly with the exception of her piece on winter sowing, but I do plan to.)
I think that those are all the starts I am going to try this year. In the past I have had trouble with starting seeds indoors and have found that my seeds do better when I let God take care of them (outside) instead of relying on myself to remember to water, and get them sunlight. I am hopeful though that this year, I will get better results than I have in previous years. I have definitely done more research (about dampening off specifically).
This is awesome Katherine . I like ur gardening section so to get to the Obove picture I need this kit seeds a d soil what types of seed and soil. Then what do I do? Just dump everything I there or is there a skill to it. Umay have already logged abt it just point me …..
Veera,
I used the planting kits at Walmart – about $4.50 each (18 pk.) and I put two kinds of soil in, Premium Seed Starting Jiffy Mix and Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Soil. I put a touch of Miracle-Gro at the bottom and then a layer of Jiffy Seed Starter, where I put the seeds, then I added a touch of Miracle-Gro on top. As the seedlings have grown, I have added additional Miracle-Gro, especially to the tomatoes, and buried part of the stem in it.
For seeds, I have started several that are warmer weather seeds like tomatoes, cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon and pepper plants. I find that I usually have to buy these plants because we don’t have a long enough growing season to start them very successfully outside. So this year I am trying this seed starting method. I am not sure it will work yet, it is all a grand experiment. In the past, I have tried to start seeds inside and been disappointed. They have had the dampening off, which is a fungal infection that kills seedlings and just lays them flat. Or my children have knocked entire trays of seedlings onto the floor, thereby destroying them 🙂 I am hopeful that this year I will have better luck and I will keep you posted. To address the dampening off, I am watering lightly with a mixture of 1 T. 3% hydrogen peroxide in a quart of water – this is supposed to prevent “dampening off.” Not every day, but every couple of days. I am also watering from the bottom for the other watering periods, rather than the top. Set the plants in an inch or so of water and let them soak it up from the bottom. Let me know if you have any other questions. Good luck! I hope we both get healthy plants!
Hi Katherine. Thanks so much for the tip. I think a trip to walmart is due. 🙂
Some more dumb questions:
what brand of seeds do you use?
How many seeds in a pot?
where do i put them? brightest part of the house?
How do i know what is a warm weather plant? cilantro, red/yellow bell peppers?
warm means they need more time to grow in sun?
If i can grow even i plant successfully i will be so proud.
thanks again
love ya Veera! Of course you can grow at least one plant. I use whatever brand of seeds. Doesn’t really matter unless you are concerned about GMO (genetically modified) seeds and if you are I can point you to the list of seeds to avoid on another really good gardening site. I use a bigger, plastic pot. That way the plant will have room to grow and I won’t have to transplant. Those trays are still at Walmart – I just got another one this weekend and they are working very well. If you plant more than one seed per pot you will either need to destroy the extras (just keep the healthiest looking one) that come up or transplant them when they are still small into their own pots.
Definitely put them near a sunny, south facing window or under a grow lamp, if you want to invest in one. Yes, warm means they don’t handle cold weather. Some plants like lettuce, onions, beets, broccoli and peas can handle cold temperatures – they can be planted directly outside in the spring. It is about time now – okay especially if you cover them on freezing nights. I planted mine early in the hope that it wouldn’t be too cold of a spring and I may need to replant some of what I put out. Any sort of frost will kill warm weather plants like tomatoes, all the peppers, beans, etc. I am not sure about cilantro. I haven’t started mine yet, but I put that in a container on the back porch a little bit later. The warm weather plants do best in our climate being started inside. The packets will tell you how early to plant before the last frost date, which, in our area is between May 11 and May 20 usually. But basically, you can start them now. Or if you don’t want to start them at all, you can buy plants from Costco (they usually have beautiful tomatoes sometime in May) or D&B Supply. They have had the best prices I have seen in the past.