Starting seeds in a ‘Flea Market’ way
The trend to start from seed is hot, hot, hot, right now and our Flea Market Gardeners are right in the swing. Growing plants from seed is not always an easy project, and over the years we have learned the following techniques to make sure seeds get a healthy start. Many ideas call for recycling,…a good thing!
Jeanie Merritt organizes her garden plans during Winter
1. Keep records for better planning
2. Store seed properly in paper or unsealed plastic envelopes.
Sue Langley’s wintersown seeds
3. Give seedlings plenty of room
4. Press seeds down to make direct contact with the soil
5. Prevent disease by providing good drainage
6. Cover trays with plastic wrap to keep the moisture level constant
7. Keep seeds warm to encourage germination
8. Turn seedlings occasionally to keep stems strong
9. Feed them well by planting in a seed starting mix
Sue’s snow covered seed boxes, one month later
10. Acclimate seedlings to direct sunlight or try wintersowing
“Who plants a seed beneath the sod,
and waits to see, believes in God.”
Brenda Black’s seedling trays indoors
Brenda Black says, “I live up here in Washington state; still to cold in the mornings to plant, however, I do have some of my little seedlings just waiting to go out…”
Brian Stephan’s recycled seed rack
Brian Stephan says, “I Recycled an old shelving unit into a seed starter rack and planted 22 different veggies today, including 14 different peppers, for a total of 300-350 seeds. Since our lows are only getting into mid to low 40’s here in Arizona, if I can capture enough daytime heat, I shouldn’t need a supplemental heat source; otherwise a small ceramic heater should suffice.”
Debbie Groff-Childs tells us, “I started my Herb Garden in my kitchen garden window today.”
Di-Ellen Davenport’s raised beds and ‘cold frame’
Di-Ellen Davenport small seed starting area
Di-Ellen Davenport “My seed starting nook between chimney and fence…”
Jeanne Sammon’s seed packets ready for sale
Jeanne Sammons,”Seed Harvest! This is my basket that I prepared for Farmer’s Market last Fall … I love ‘Hollyhocks!’ And since I can’t plant seeds yet, I thought I would share my basket!”
Jeanne Sammon’s ‘blank slate’,…a gardeners dream…
Jeanne Sammons says, “ Our veggie garden was roto-tilled on March 28th! At the post is an old, old wagon wheel and can you believe Roses with leaves already! Plus, the Raspberries there and the old Barnwood Condo birdhouse. Daylilies also along the edge (tall already) and a couple sprigs of Asparagus! And of course, good strong growing ‘weeds’…best species around! I’m going to plant a few onion sets and as someone posted ‘planting tips’ and said when “When dandelions bloom, it’s time to plant potatoes!”
Lark Kulikowski’s wintersown seeds
Lark Kulikowskig tells us, “What can I say except, I am an avid WISCONSIN gardener. Hee hee!
Shirley Fox’s photo, a unique solution…a metal desk topped with a raised bed box.
How fun is this desk to work at? Shirley Fox’s photo shows a very unique way of starting seeds in a ‘raised bed.’ She says, “An old metal desk as a stand for a raised garden bed in a garden I visited over the weekend. This desk had been discarded outside her gate.”
How I save seeds…..giggle
Are you a TRUE gardener? Do you have a napkin or paper wrapped pack of seeds in your purse? “I swear officer, I didn’t take these from the restaurant planter…”
Saving seeds in a small packet
Guess what those seeds were wrapped in,…can you see? A big leaf! Dried and brown by the time I fished it out AND I have NO idea what seeds these are.
Read more:
Don’t you love this? Anticipation!
8 Comments
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the ideas here! My seeds were planted 3 days ago, on the baker’s rack on the back porch. SOOOO excited to see spring come. Have a great week!
Love all the ideas and that desk with the raised bed on top would be so perfect, especially for those who can’t bend easily because of back issues. And there are drawers to store your tools, dirt etc. Thanks for the inspiration. I’m off to buy some potting soil so I can start mine today.
(yes, I’ve been procrastinating)
I’ve never ‘winter sown’ … that just blows my mind seeing those recycled containers covered in snow! So I think I’ll give it a try w/a few of the seed packets I usually sow directly into the ground! Great article, Sue L, & lots of ideas! TFSharing!
I’ve been saving my plastic salad boxes all winter and I’m also saving toilet paper rolls. I’m going to fold over the ends of the rolls, then fill them with soil and put a seed into them. I’ll keep them in my min green houses- the salad box. I’ve never tried this but I saw it on pinterest so I thought I’d try it.
I like the Idea of desk with plants on top. I have lot of plastic at backyard now I know what to do with it. Thanks for sharing..
Isn’t this a great idea? I hope to talk my hubs out of his old metal desk and trade him for some delicious veggies…
Squirrels are driving me crazy ! How do keep them from making holes next to my plants and flowers? I hate to cover them in wire, it takes the natural beauty away… All my flowerbeds have about 4 inches of mulch so at least they don’t get too deep into the dirt to reach the roots. I’ve tried sprinkles of all kinds of stuff recommended but nothing works ! They are really terrible pests !
Is there any way that chicken wire would help screen them out? Lay it on the ground around your plants and over top of the pots like a dome. They usually don’t want the plants but the acorns and grubs in and on the soil. Others have used cats, deer sprays, like Liquid Fence and feeding them peanuts as a bribe. Good Luck!