Growing plants from seed

(funny tag line)
I’m glad that you mentioned the names of the plants you are interested in because, yes, “massive indoor growing operation” can create a whole new image!!

so you want to steal some seeds from a neighbour’s plant?

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

No seed stealing here. The neighbours don’t have what I’m looking for. If you can believe it, I am considered the master gardener around here.

I found this little setup online http://www.veseys.com/ca/en/store/tools/indoorseed/sowgrow2 and it looks good for a what I need. At least I think it does. I’m not a fan of the little plastic pots though. I would rather have a more environmentally friendly option.

-- Former plant killer. Current plant damager.

Master Gardener—why didn’t I get some tips while you were here??? !!!

yah.. those plastic pots and trays don’t last long, well they didn’t for me anyway.
I’m pretty sure the other GT members don’t use anything so “artsy”. I can’t remember all the materials they recycled to start their seeds.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Those trays do the trick. I think you will note that the clear plastic lids should have little holes in them for ventilation, but the trays do tend to keep the humidity up for the seeds. I’ve used them under lights as well, if the bottom of the tray is warm. It helps to have several layers of lights to get that.

-- jroot

Why not,

Use those cells that swell when you add water. What you do is put two seeds in each, you never disturb the roots because you plant the whole thing and the roots grow out.

I had a good year that way using Calendula Officinalis (Old fashioned Marigolds.)

-- "I am the way the truth and the life - no one comes to the father except through me"

just make sure you rip the netting when you plant.. I didn’t on some last year and in the fall the pellet was still all intact. Plant didn’t grow very well.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Good tip with the netting. I think I might have to try those.

My daughter’s kindergarten teacher used them for the standard bean growing project. We spent many weeks tending to this little clump of soil and nothing ever came up. Turns out my daughter didn’t plant a bean in it so we were just carefully nurturing a clump of soil.

-- Former plant killer. Current plant damager.

To save on pots all together you should be able to direct sow Impatiens and Lobelia if you have an early frost date…If not I use egg cartons or any little containers around the house…Larger jugs are good for setting flats of seeds.

You can also purchase little pot makers for use with old newspaper. Or as shown in this video, you can simply do it with a glass.

-- Xploreorganics, 5b Canada, LFD 06-20

I prefer to use the little peat pots because I can get more plants started in a smaller area.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

Thanks for the video Xploreorganics! I’ve seen the tools to make newspaper pots but why buy one when I have the perfect glasses in my cupboard.

As for direct sowing… I’ll have to check that out. These are destined for balcony boxes. I’m wondering if there is a difference for temperature. Meaning that a container might be more apt to freezing than the ground, or vice versa.

-- Former plant killer. Current plant damager.

Thanks for taking the time to find the video Xploreorganics!

..But

Oh my!

That way in the video looks way to much work. Growing anything should be a pleasure and stress free. It looks so hard work.

I think the pellets are a truely wonderful invention. I water the pelllets first and in seconds they start to ‘grow’, never had any not do that yet. I then put in two seeds and away they go. There will always be the odd pellet that does’nt but to ensure 100% success and no wasting of funds then follow MsDebbieP’s tip on cutting the net but be careful or it will fall apart.

-- "I am the way the truth and the life - no one comes to the father except through me"

If you have kids get them to do it…hehehe.

-- Xploreorganics, 5b Canada, LFD 06-20

Quoting Xploreorganics
If you have kids get them to do it…hehehe.

Yes. Every step of the way get the kiddies involved in gardening, they are the future gardners and teaches them about life cycle (seed to flower/vegatable) and the kiddies would get great satisfaction being involved at each step of the way.

Too many kiddies just can’t find things to do more so at holiday times…gardeeeeeeeeen..lol

-- "I am the way the truth and the life - no one comes to the father except through me"

Love the newspaper pots. Will try using them next spring. I ran out of pots this year. Mind you I still have plants waiting to go into the gardens. LOL But they are all perinnials, so they are really growing nice roots. More surprizes for next year.

-- There is always room for one more plant!!

Thanks for the video X!
What a nice way to recycle! Lots of work, yes..but during those long winter evening as you are dreaming of gardens and flowers, get ready by rolling your newspaper pots!!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

lol love the bean story.. for some reason it just doesn’t surprise me!!
And what did our cute little girl decide to do with her bean instead of plant it?

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

I also find that if kids are involved in a veggie garden they will eat things they would never eat from the supermarket. When my friend kids come to visit they love harvesting and eating their own fresh salad straight from the garden…the parents are amazed that their kids are eating spinach, red lettuce, carrots and radishes!

-- Xploreorganics, 5b Canada, LFD 06-20

Great idea newspaper pots…loved the video…we dont buy newspapers, no time to read them, plenty of news on the tv. I do use the peat pellets that swell when wet though.

-- Derbyshire------- English Countryside

I really agree that getting kids involved makes a big difference in what they will try. We don’t have any veggies but my daughter loves munching on fresh herbs. Cilantro is by far her favourite. I barely have any left. Even the neighbourhood kids have been trying them. The neighbourhood kids even like to help weed and water the garden.

I just have to gush for a minute here… I really like our neighbourhood. There are some of us here who really like to involve the kids in what we are doing. The kids helped me paint a cabinet for my front porch. They helped another neighbour paint his front steps. They help with the gardens. One neighbour taught some of them how to make sushi. And none of it is coerced. The kids want to help and learn. Sure it might’ve been easier for me to paint the cabinet myself and it might’ve looked perfect, but it was a better experience for all of us by painting it together. Sure my neighbour could’ve made things easier by not letting the kids help him make sushi, but the kids had fun and ended up trying something they probably wouldn’t have tried otherwise.

-- Former plant killer. Current plant damager.

Jeesh, I was wondering why I kept hearing voices, – sweet voices at that. :) Then I discovered the video half way up the discussion. LOL

I have made a fair number of these paper pots in the past. One can use old planting pots as well, as the form for building the pot.

Thanks for sharing, Xploreorganics.

-- jroot