Spring fever is in full gear! Seed Catalogs have arrived, orders have come in and it’s now time to start those seedlings. After we get through this post, explaining how to germinate your seeds, we’ll step right into tending your seeds.
Seed Starting Supplies
- Jiffy greenhouse
- Starting Mix
- Seeds
- Soil Thermometer
Before you fill your peat pots with starting mix, you will need to wet your mix with enough water to start the germination process. What I do is wet it enough so that when I squeeze the mix, some water drips out. Not soaking wet, but just damp enough.
Once the pots are filled, place them in the jiffy greenhouse and put it on top of your refrigerator or any other warm spot away from a draft. In order to germinate, the seedlings need a damp, and warm environment.
What about my extra seeds? You can freeze your extra seeds for about three years. I simply put the seed packets into baggies, put them into an envelope and place them in my freezer.
You’ll want to leave your seedlings alone in the greenhouse until they start to sprout. Once a few have sprouted, prop the lid open and leave them until all of the seeds have sprouted.
One thing to be aware of is trying to avoid your seedlings from getting leggy. This happens when you leave them too long during the germination stage and they start to “reach” for a light source.
As soon as all your seedlings have germinated, move them under your light source. You can then either put them in a sunny location near a window, preferably a south facing window, or you can put them under lights to start the growing process. My husband made me an awesome setup in the basement using ordinary shop lights with fluorescent bulbs.
Next week, we’ll dive into tending your seedlings. As I’ve learned, seedlings can be very finicky especially when your growing in your basement under lights 😉
So until then Garden Soldiers!! Let’s Grow Our Own!!
Part 1: Ordering Seed Catalogs
Part 2: Understanding the differences between Heirloom, Hybrid, GMO, and Organic Seeds
Part 3: Planting Zones, Frost Dates, and Planting Calendars
Part 4. Understanding Succession Planting
Part 5. Spring Time is Near! It’s Time to Start Those Seedlings!
Part 6. Growing Seeds Indoors Under Supplemental Lighting
Part 7. Tending your seedlings
Part 8. Methods of Urban Gardening
I am going to blog my suggestions here. I was going to post a comment, but it was getting realllllly lengthy 🙂
I am trying to improve my gardening skills this year, so thanks for the help!
Heh, I bought those same Amish paste tomatoes! 🙂
HEY! There's dirt in my popcorn bowl!
Love the idea of garden soldiers!
I am getting excited about starting my seeds. Thanks for the tips. I have not been as successful as I would like to be. And sometimes my seed plants don't seem to grow as well as the ones I buy.
I love your site. I am intrigued, as we have just begun to 'grow our own'. Planning a spring garden right now for my Mom after having a successful organic summer garden. Oh, and congrats on being on the Top 9 on Foodbuzz!
I am proud to say…I have planted pots and pots of herbs…THEY ARE ALL SPROUTED!!!!! YEAH!!!
Now, I just want to get my garden to start growing, but it has been a little cold in FL this yr….
Hopefully, it warms up soon..
So excited! Can't wait till next week!
I love this series! Now I just need to get moving with my seeds.
I'm waiting for my seeds to arrive! Then I will have to get a container for them to be in for the next 6 to 8 weeks until it's warm enough for planting (which is around the first week of May in Boise). I am so excited, I will be following your gardening series all summer long. Good luck with your planting and growing too! 🙂
May God Bless!
Ok, your basement setup is seriously awesome! I need to try germinating indoors…makes me nervous…
Hi, we just had a community garden meeting and some other members present suggested you as a graphics person … ? I was wondering if you would be willing to work up something like a logo or icon for the garden? Maybe something that incorporates the Des Moines Community Garden image used on the information page? http://www.ci.des-moines.ia.us/departments/PR/Comm_Gard/images/CG_logo.gif
I know completely out of left field but I thought I would throw that out there and see how you felt about it.
Thank you,
Donna
Hey Donna,
Would love to help out! Feel free to send me an email at [email protected].
Just received a note about another gardening meeting this coming Sunday! Will be there for sure 😀
Diana
I'm going to be hosting a "Gardening" carnival/meme starting Thursday. I'd love for you to link up and share what you know. I'm a novice gardener and figured this would be a great way to learn how others vegetable garden. Thanks!