| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Feb 15 2011 : 11:27:36 AM
Hi girls -
Does anyone have any recommendations for starting seeds? My DH calls me the "Al Capone of Green Thumbs." Last year, miraculously, some of my seedlings made it to the garden, but I had a real difficult time with them. I bought a seed starter tray/kit at the store to start some of them; others I started in some plastic apple holder trays I had from Costco. Everything started out okay, but I either overwatered and got some of those little flea-like bugs that ate my plants, OR I just managed to kill them off. I've seen those lamp-style starters in the catalogs, and have been wondering if that's a good idea - or even worth the money. I'd really like to try to start almost all of my seeds myself instead of buying plants at the farm store (which I had to resort to do with some last year).
I have saved a lot of seeds from my garden last year, too, which I was really excited about; but a friend of the family was here a couple of weeks ago and said not to get too excited about them growing. He said with all the stuff they're doing to the seeds now, I'll be lucky if any of them sprout. Well, burst my bubble...I was so excited - this was the first time I've ever saved seeds! (You should see my collection - it's impressive for a Capone!) Here, I was thinking I was on my way to becoming Mother Earth or something! LOL! So, I guess another question is, should I just go online and buy organic, heirloom seeds and forget about my nice little stash I've saved, or should I give mine a whirl first? I just don't want to waste or lose precious time, and I'd really like to become a good seed saver, too!
Also, should I start them with the compost we've been creating out back in the yard, or should I just buy potting soil?
ANY recommendations, advice, insight - anything you'd like to share would be sooooo greatly appreciated! I'm like most of you - getting the garden bug. The air smells so fresh and spring-like after all those miserably gray, snowy days... My heart is leaping for the soil! I am eager to get something started soon!!!
Thanks so much!
Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| HDA |
Posted - Mar 27 2011 : 9:25:12 PM
Nini-I just thought I'd reply to your post too because I think the potatoes in the rubbermade container sounds like a good idea. I posted on this forum earlier because last year I had trouble with some critter eating my potatoes. It was suggested that I use a container & I have been picking my brain trying to figure out what to use. I think I just might use one of those rubbermade containers too! When I just read your post I remembered that I have a huge one in my shop that my sister gave me because she thought it was too big to move around once it was full of stuff. That might be the perfect "vessel" for my potato growing! It is huge & then the little critters can't feast on my potatoes!
Today I repotted my broccoli seedlings. Amazingly enough I have not killed them! ha ha. They seem a bit spindly, but I still haven't found a way to rig up additional lighting. So I'm still relying on the sun, which in Oregon likes to hide :) I'm still holding out hope though that they continue growing. They are about 3 inches tall now. They seemed to be overcrowding the seedling tray I started them in so I put them in some bigger pots. I'm a wimp though since I'm just learning how to grow seeds, so I only did about half of them in case they don't survive my transplanting, at least I won't damage them all!
I also planted some other seeds yesterday that I am now eagerly (poking my nose in multiple times a day in search of a sprout!) waiting for. tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, and a bunch of flower seeds. I hope something happens!
Anyway, I love reading about your seed adventures because I'm going through the same things & oh man does my husband think I'm a goof when I get so excited about my seeds! It is fun to know other people are excited by seedlings too :) good luck! |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Mar 27 2011 : 8:41:03 PM
Girls - thank you so much for your responses! I am sorry it took so long to respond!
TJ - no, I bought seeds and plants at the store and the nursery last year - neither organic NOR heirloom. I still have them, but haven't done anything with them thus far. Thank you for clarifying about the compost - to be honest, I had read somewhere that you can start potatoes directly in compost, so I wasn't sure about the other seeds. I'm going to give it a whirl in another week or so, using our compost and soil - we are going to grow these in big Rubbermade containers, the way Liz (woolgirl) suggested in another post.
Holly - I did end up buying a whole bunch of heirloom organic seeds - and am just sooo excited to get started!
I ended up starting my first round of seeds indoors, using peat pots and MaryJane's potting soil recipe. I put the pots in those plastic crate-type carriers that I brought home from the nursery last year, covered the crate with plastic and then foil around that. I added the soil, planted seeds, watered well, and then covered with more plastic. We have a big picture window in our front entry, just below which is a nice big cast iron radiator. I put two of the crates on that, side by side, and sat the third on the mantle right next to it. I propped an office light on a big box over the trays on the radiator and have been rotating the trays every four hours (three times a day) under the light without the plastic on, adding a little water if the soil looks dry. I replace the plastic at the end of the 12-hour light cycle. Within a little over a week, I've already got seedlings sprouting - some are over three inches tall! I'm so excited! It must be MaryJane's potting soil mix, though - I am absolutely no green thumb! It'll be a miracle if these babies survive me! ;) I'm trying, though! I'm really trying!
As soon as the warm weather sets in, my husband has created a lighting system for me to grow seedlings out in the work area of his garage. I originally planned to just start the seeds out there, but the garage is detached and not very well insulated. We went from spring back to winter chill in the matter of a night, so I thought it'd be better to bring them in. So far, so good! :)
We have decided we're going to try a little roof gardening this summer, so I'm thinking I may just used the seeds saved from last year for that trial - just to see what happens, and keep the unused, beautiful organic heirloom seeds for next year. I'm also going to try to save seeds again this year - but probably only from the organic heirlooms.
Thanks again so very much for your input! The more the merrier! I'm not kidding - my garden needs all the farmgirl help it can get! :)
Happy seeding!
Hugs -
Nini
I'm so excited
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
| HollyMaker |
Posted - Feb 15 2011 : 12:20:28 PM
Hi Nini!
I really try and stick with heirloom varieties but sometimes I do go for the hybrids. I buy the cheap black seed containers and follow the directions for seed planting depth as closely as possible. I also have a grow light to start some things earlier as we get frost pretty late in the season here. I also never let them dry out completely. If you have a problem with overwatering, make sure that there are draining holes in the bottom of your pots and place the pots into a large rectangular flat tray (with sides) to catch the excess water. After a while, you will get the hang of it and will see when and how much water your plants/seedlings need. Sometimes, I will put a clear plastic dome over the tray of seeds until they have sprouted and it seems to help.
As far as soil goes, mine isn't great around here, so I always start my seeds with purchased soil. Starting your own seeds, doesn't need to be expensive and I think it's great that you saved so many seeds. I wish I had saved more from last year. I really wanted to save some heirloom Brandywine tomato seeds but I'm not really sure how (I think you have to ferment them?). I would still give your seeds a try and see if they come up. I'm sure the other ladies will pop in and give you great advice and happy planting!
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http://www.chartreuseproducts.com/hlennon.html Natural and organic cleaning products, bath and body, righteous reusables and more! |
| TJinMT |
Posted - Feb 15 2011 : 12:05:17 PM
Nini - wow, you've been busy!! How fun is that?!
The plants you saved seeds from - were those sold as organic, and are they heirloom? If they were any type of hybrid, you won't likely get the same quality veggies from the seed (if any at all). The organic matters because pesticides and chemical fertilizers put on baby seedlings can cause damage to their DNA.
If the answers to both were yes, then you're probably OK with your seeds!
Compost is NOT for starting plants - it is a high-powered nutritional boost! You should only use it, somewhat sparingly, with well-established seedlings. Best idea is to turn it in well to your garden beds or big pots of soil if you're container gardening. A little goes a long way, it's all vitamins and minerals and good healthy stuff, but can burn tender seedlings if it's too strong!
I'd start them with seedling mix potting soil - it's a very lightweight mix, lots of perlite and that sort of thing - baby plants don't need much fertilizer but they do need loose, small-sized growing medium. Lots of "potting soil" mixes are large chunks of bark and stuff mixed in, which wouldn't be ideal - so look for seedling mix if you can find it. Or use those little peat wafers, they're great! Just remember to carefully tear the wrapper off before you plant them once they're established and well-rooted, or they can become rootbound.
We're enjoying 50 degree weather right now!! wow, it's incredible... and below zero is forecast within a week - POUT!!!! Right now my greenhouse has a screen open to air out a bit! The kids and I laid in the sun in the living room like 3 biscuits soaking up the buttery sunshine... once they had exhausted themselves playing outside of course!!
~TJ of Green Willow Place
www.MyWesternHome.wordpress.com
"We make a living by what we get, but we build a life by what we give." ~Thomas S. Monson |
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