Starting Tomato and Flower Seeds (Using Cupcake packages!)

Oh, how I love starting seeds!! It gets me all psyched up and ready for spring!! I finally started my tomatoes today. I had the coolest idea! I am a first grade teacher and we party a lot- birthdays, holidays...any excuse for a cupcake! I decided to put those cupcake boxes to a new use. I used a large thumb tack to put drainage holes in the bottom of each well. I then placed the container into an aluminum pan I bought at my local dollar discount store (2 for $1). I LOVE how that top just snaps right down over the container!

On my last post I was using organic seed starter mix, but this time I FINALLY found some pellets at a local hardware store for 19 cents each. After using HOT water to fluff the pellets I placed my tomato and pepper seeds inside. (Yes, I m starting more pepper and eggplant seeds. I just don't like the looks of the ones I started in the last post. Maybe they will surprise me, but better safe than sorry.)

*Before planting in your garden, remove that netting from those pellets. It's just too hard for those roots to spread out if you don't.

In the large cupcake container I started Aunt Ruby's Green German, Amish Paste, Pink Brandywine, and Bonnie's Best- all heirloom from Baker Creek.

The above pic is a mini cupcake box containing pellets and two plastic fruit cups (the kind mandarin oranges come in.) My daughter takes the oranges to school and I beg her to save the cups for me. I have her save her yogurt cups, too. (Bless her heart...) I covered the fruit cups with produce bags from the grocery store. (They are thin enough to let in some light, but still keeps in that humidity.)

In this one I started tomatillos, Jujube Cherry, more Brandywine, and Bonnie's Best.

In the last mini cupcake container I started more peppers (Orange Bell, Emerald Giant, Golden California Wonder, and Tam Jalapeno- also from Baker Creek). The round container (formerly a feta cheese container) contains eggplant.

I decided to start some cat grass for Phoebe, our cat. Supposedly it will keep her out of my other plants. Knowing Phoebe, there is no telling...

These (above) are tiny snapdragon seeds I saved a couple years ago. I'm not sure what the germination rate will be, since they are older. We'll just have to wait and see.

I also started more marigolds to guard my garden and basil to plant with my tomatoes. Basil is supposed to enhance the flavor of tomatoes. Marigolds are distasteful to many garden pests. (They add a nice splash of color, too.) Along with those, I started some large zinnias, bachelor buttons, and cosmos. Starting seeds is so much cheaper than buying flowers at the garden center. These were from saved seeds- either my own of those shared from friends.

Here are a few seedlings that have sprouted from that last planting.

The cosmos above are too leggy. My fault- I didn't catch them in time. I am trying to correct the issue with more mix, but I don't know that it will help. (They are in a sour cream container with drainage holes poked in the bottom, I used the lid as a tray.)

Above are tiny celery seedlings started in a styrofoam egg carton. I took off the lid and used it as a tray, covering it with a produce bag. It's a little late for these, but I'm going to try placing them in a cooler spot and see how they fare. You never know until you try. That's part of the fun.

These are dwarf marigolds, also in an egg carton. I agree with another blogger who said the cardboard egg containers are no good for this. They turn too mush way too soon for planting. They just can't hold up. I am NOT a fan of styrofoam, but if is making it's way through your door, you might as well make it work double duty.

I finally drug out my seed rack last night and my husband hooked up the lights. My rack is a metal shelf I purchased a few years ago from a local store. (To see how we made the rack, click here.) During the rest of the year, my seed rack doubles as a storage rack. (I am big on multi-tasking. Can ya tell?)

If you haven't started your own seeds, it isn't too late to start. It's easy and fun! Always buy from a reputable dealer and avoid those GMO's!! (Google that if you are unfamiliar.) You can find dealers who have signed the non-GMO pledge online.

Happy Planting!

Seed Ordering Time

I've said it before, and I will say it again. The only thing that gets me through the winter sometimes is making plans for spring. The snow has melted, but it is rainy and cold. I've spent part of the afternoon going through my seeds- taking inventory, making a wish list. The catalogs are rolling in, and I pore through each one like an addict. OK, I AM an addict. Ha!
Just making my list and adding to my order at rareseeds.com has made me feel better. I feel hopeful. I feel happy. I can do this...Only 6 more weeks, right?

Starting Seeds

This is actually my Saturday blog. As it turns out, Saturday was so busy and exhausting I am having to write this on Sunday morning. My little one and I started our cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower seeds yesterday. Since she brought home her Pre-K class mascot, Elmer the Elephant, for the weekend, we recorded the process with the camera for Elmer's book. She was so excited! I had planned on starting some herb seeds also, but one of my orders has not come in yet. I'd rather do it all at once.
We used seed trays yesterday, but I also use fast food trays, pie pans- you name it. Save the produce bags you get at the store. They make a great cover. Still- seed trays work very well and you can re-use them for several years. You just have to clean them with a bleach and water solution each year before you use them.

 She loves to pour on the water and watch the pellets fill up.(Note the class mascot in the background.) I know some would argue that it is better to use a tray of mix. For me, however, all that thinning is a waste of time. And time is something I don't have much of these days. Time is a precious thing around this house. I've tried the other way and, for me, this is just easier.

 She opened the top pf each pellet to make a place for the seeds.

 Next, I wrote on the markers and she added them to the pellets. Normally, I like the plastic markers MUCH better- and you can reuse them. However, I ordered new ones and they are still somewhere in FedEx land, so we had to use little woden craft stick markers. I don't like doing this, because the moisture can cause the writing to fade. I didn't have much choice in this case, though. I could have driven to the store to buy the plastic, but I stay on the road enough as it is. One thing I have learned from my parents and grandparents is to make the best of what I have.

Once we covered the tray, we took it upstairs to the loft room. Since the center section of our house is A-frame, we have one upstairs room that stays very warm. The floor is so warm that I don't even need a heat mat. We just place the tray on the floor out of direct sunlight and wait...
Now it is time to get ready for church. Hope everyone has a blessed day!

New seeds & New books!

My new seeds are starting to arrive! This is better than Christmas! I can't wait to get these babies into the ground!

This shipment came from Baker Creek (www.rareseeds.com). I am so ready to get started!

We are having to build a new grow rack this year. The old one has seen better days :/. I have an idea I am thinking of trying...hmm...

more to come.....

I've been reading this AWESOME book:

I got his book on Amazon. It is spiral bound and it is really a workbook. You write in your last frost date, and work from there. It tells you what needs to be done each week as far as seeds, new plants, last year's stock, gardening equipment, etc.

I am also keeping these handy:

My grandparents (great grands, etc.) firmly believed in the signs. I do, too. I will probably devote another blog to that subject alone. However, my parents, (who worked outside the home) also came upon this issue: Suppose that, according to the signs, you should plant beans on Tuesday-Thursday this week. Unfortunately, you have to work late those days. What do you do? You plant them on Saturday or whenever you can. You do the best you can, when you can, however you can,, Then you pray, have faith, and let God do the rest.

That's the way it is with everything in life, really. Isn't it?

Seed Shoppin'!

I've never been  a fan of winter (except for when it snows). I'm more of a spring, summer, and fall kind of girl. During those seasons I can be outside moving and doing. But winter...well, winter is just... (sigh) a time of waiting. One thing I love about January, though- it is also a time of planning. I'm already making plans for my flower beds, planning to redo an old herb garden, and best of all, planning the vegetable garden! January is the time for seed shoppin'!
I got out my seed box today. My mom and my grandmother taught me to store my seeds in the freezer, and I really feel their way is the best. Unfortunately, my freezer is pretty full. (Come to think of it, that isn't really what I would call unfortunate...) For the past couple of years I have had to settle for an airtight plastic container with a few desiccant packs added for keeping out the moisture. The packs are pretty easy to come by- they pack them in with every pair of shoes or coat you buy these days. You know- they have those little beads in them and they say DO NOT EAT. Which makes you wonder..... but  I digress...  Back to the seed box- First thing I have to do is figure out what I already have and what I need to buy.  I didn't  save as many seeds as I should have last year. (My grandmothers would be very disappointed in me, I guess.) It looks like I am going to have to buy some tomato, bean, and corn seeds at least. And I can never resist buying a few new things- just to try for the fun of it!
My all-time favorite seed company is Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (www.rareseeds.com). Their seeds are 100% pure- no hybrids or GMOs here! ( I can save that rant for another blog.) Everything I get from them is WONDERFUL!  My other favorite is R.H.Shumway's (www.rhshumway.com). I look forward to my seed catalogs coming every year. It's the first sign that spring is coming!
 I'm a seed lover- a garden lover. I can't go in the local garden center without buying a couple of seed packs. When we go there as a family, we automatically split up. David and Haley head for the baby chicks and I head for the seeds and plants.  (Never mind that our original  purpose for the visit is usually to buy feed.)  Eventually David and Haley venture to the plants (and I pass them on my way to view the chicks). When we leave we have a couple plants, a couple packs of seeds, a box of chicks( or keets)...and (oh, yeah) the feed.
Shopping for seeds is the best part of January. The seeds are a promise- a sign of hope- spring is on it's way!