My Seed Starting Experiment

Inside real estate is at a premium when it comes to seed starting so I like to reserve it for my tomatos. If I could have a good tomato crop this year, it would be a miracle! I would love it!

I prefer to direct sow as many seeds as I can, but some just don't dig that!

I started Broccoli, Cauliflower and Celery seeds over the weekend.

I am kinda basing this experiment on what I read over on Mimi's blog.

Since our weather has been so unseasonably warm, I decided to lets these sit outside inside of take up prime real estate!



I have them covered with these crates so that the Farm Manager, Savannah, doesn't destroy them :)

And then I used an empty feed bag to keep them covered from the rain we had plowing through.

Fingers crossed this works well! I will be disappointed if I have to go buy plants from the garden center! They certainly wouldn't be the same kind of Heirloom ones I am trying to grow - that's for sure!

Has anyone else tried a method like this? Have you had success with it?



Starting my 2012 Seeds!

Yesterday I finally had some time to get some of my seeds started!

I started my Tomatos

[yes, I know, I have a problem...that is 6 different varieties of tomatos...plus one more not shown!]

And I also started my celery, broccoli and cauliflower.

I am trying something different this year with those three. I try to direct seed as many veggies as I can, but some just don't do well in my area unless they are started earlier indoors.

I was reading on the back of the seed packets for these three though, and it mentions the cooler weather and growing when it hits no more than 70* during the day and 45* at night. Right now, with this freak [nice] weather we are having, I can try this! I have the seeds now started and haning out on the patio. More on them later this week.

I also thought it was worth noting, LAST YEAR when I started seeds, it was the end of March.

Check out my post to see what the weather looked like then, as well as my little seed helper!

Now look at him this year...and we are outside on the patio doing the seeds. So much change all around from last years process! And here is to hoping that the cat doesn't jump on my seedling trays this year, seeding them upside down on the ground, to be runined before they can even make it out to the garden ;)



Baby Wipes Container 'Project'

I use the term 'project' for this lightly since it took a whole 5 minutes to do! But, what a genius idea I thought ... though I am sure someone else, somewhere, has already done it!

I decide to reuse these millions of containers I have been trashing to get some of my seeds started in. Let't check it out, shall we.

I filled it about half way or so with soil and then put my seeds in. Then I put a light covering of soil over my seeds.

Then, I misted them up nice and good :)

Here is what I LOVE about this container...it has an attached lid to help create a greenhouse effect. In late Winter and early Spring, our house is usually colder than most peoples ;) So this is super. And if I set it outside, it could be like a mini minature cold frame, no?!

Here is the other secret perk, a little window ;)

So, I will keep you update on how my seeds do in this container. For those wondering, I planted an Heirloom Cuc seed, Ruby Wallace's Old Time White. This is a white cuc that is good for making pickles and if you use white vinegar in your recipe, your pickles will stay white.

So tell me, what kind of containers have you reused to start your seedlings in?