Hi! This is what I did this year- peat pellets in a tupperware lid, with the tupperware over it while the seeds were germinating. I didn't use any kind of heat source and 95% of my seeds still germinated. I found the growlight bulb on ebay for $5. My little plants friends are starting to get root bound but I'm moving them into the garden this weekend. There are 2 kinds of tomato, 4 kinds of peppers, celery and some mint.
Very ingenIous, Court!
Just remember that mint can be invasive, so you might wanna put it in a container.
The celery and mint are going to wait a couple more weeks before they go outside, and I have pots already set aside for them. I told my 3 year old daughter that she gets to be the boss of the mint. I just hope it survives now. :)
My mint jumped out of the ceramic pot I had mostly buried, to keep it from spreading. Sent little runners right over the edge and away it went! LOL Smelled good when DH mowed that area, but it really got to be a problem. At least it counteracted the stench on the mower from when he went over some garlic chives that someone planted long ago beneath the grape vines. :)
Court, that mint will TAKE OVER the universe if you plant it in the ground! Plant it in a hanging basket or it'll send out runners everywhere!
Mint just took over a small town near here. :)
I had to move to get away from the lemon balm at my last house. But again, at least it smelled good.
I plant my indoor seeds in four plastic egg cartons with the lids removed and with a small drain hole in the bottom of each egg cell. The egg cartons are filled with Jiffy Mix and they're super-glued down on pieces of 1/2" plywood for easy handling. This system has worked very well for me for several years now.
Hey Ozark --- how do you get the seedlings out when you're ready to transplant..??..
I used a similar container -- a plastic one with an attached lid that protected apples that I bought at Costco. I just had a hard time getting the soil and seedlings out intact.
"Hey Ozark --- how do you get the seedlings out when you're ready to transplant..??.."
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Easy. I use a spoon that's got about the same curve as the egg-cells and carefully scoop the whole balls of Jiffy Mix out of the egg carton.
I generally plant 3 seeds in each egg cell. When transplanting, I scoop all three seedlings out along with the Jiffy Mix. Then I carefully separate the roots and transplant each one into a 3" square plastic flat container filled with damp MiracleGro Planting Mix. I transplant tomatoes as deep as possible, and everything else at the original planting mix level.
Out of hundreds and hundreds raised, I've never lost a single seedling this way.
I use old Lowe's plastic trays (with small compartments or old planting trays with seed soil. Soak, plant, cover tightly and turn a small fan on low heat for superfast germination. (Peppers in 3 days vs 10-12). I then turn the fan on "blow" (no heat) & rotate plants outside on warm days.
Question: I'm killing lots of grass using black plastic. After a couple of weeks can I remove the plastic or should I place soil on the plastic and punch holes? Is the grass killed for good? Thanks
Bermuda roots lasts up to 5 years under plastic
smb12321 - it will depend upon what type of grass you have as to how easy/hard it is to get rid of. I doubt it will die in just two weeks under plastic. if you poke holes in the plastic, the grass will grow through the holes.
In my experience, the best way to get rid of grass is to remove it by hand. If your grass has underground runners, such as Burmuda, be sure to remove every piece of root, or it will grow back.
Burmuda will even grow in the dark of a covered container - been there, done that!
Don't put Burmuda roots, or any other grass roots that grow via underground runners in the compost - they will not break down there! Put them in the trash.
Thanks for the replies. I've decided that after a few weeks I will cut "squares" in the plastic, insert a large porous weed-free cover, add soil & plant. I did that for one large area but did not use the weed cover. Incidentally, those things are life savers. I've cut my weeding by 90%.
SMB12321,
I'm confused. You've laid down the plastic to kill the grass underneath. Are you building a raised bed (RB) over the area where you've laid the plastic? As in, a box frame of some sort that will hold your soil? Or, are you planting directly in the ground beneath that plastic?
If you're doing a RB on top, I would NOT remove the plastic.
How does this "large, porous weed free cover" work in the scheme?
Gymgirl,
I had followed your seedling and I just have to ask you this. Do you work? The reason is your plants are so healthy and you must put in a lot of time.
Regarding getting rid of weds, we rarely weed. Our mulch is thick and most of my beds are lasagna. belle
Did I read somewhere that mulch should not be added to tomatoe plants when they are young tender plants? Because I did it & I seem to have attrached cutworms.
Hey Belle,
Yes, I do work. Had to take a day off here & there during sowing and potting up season, but it was planned as part of my 2011 gardening calendar.
It has been rough, 'cause every day since December has been about growing seedlings, and prepping the garden. I started all over from scratch, which includes making my own soil for my eBuckets (Tapla's 5:1:1 container mix) . I'd race home and throw on gardening clothes to get busy with yet another bucket of pine bark and what not. It takes time to sift pine bark fines!
This past Monday, I went into the yard and slowly walked around checking containers for water needs. Everything was fine. Then -- for the first time, I just stood there and looked around, seeing all I had accomplished. And everything I intended to grow (for now) was in place. It was a peaceful, lovely sight.
And, I said to myself, "what a wonderful world --- oh, yeahhhhhhhhhh!" ^^_^^
This message was edited Apr 1, 2011 1:19 PM
I have been following and enjoying all the neat ideas from this thread as well. I've noticed eBuckets mentioned more than once and, pardon my ignorance, but could someone tell me what they are. Also I noticed a seed company on here and now I can't find it again, I think it was Jeffrey something, anyone??? I am looking to find some sweet potato slips. Thanks for any help offered.
Found Jefferys seeds online and ordered my slips but still wondering about the eBuckets??
This message was edited Apr 1, 2011 1:50 PM
Gymgirl
You must be a very organized person!! I know how it is to rush after work and work outside till sunset. How big is your garden?What do you do with all your veggies. I saw your seedling and it is a lot.
I finally finished clearing my veggie garden, hired someone and her husband came to help. Now I can relax and enjoy my vacation. Happy gardening !!! Belle
How
tkeith57
I'm thinking you're referring to Johnny's Selected Seeds, maybe?
http://www.johnnyseeds.com/
Gymgirl
You asked about the plastic I cut an area from the plastic. If the grass is not entirely dead, I use my handy pick. Fill in with layers of rotted leaves, compost, dirt ("raise the bed". I now plant. Then (Jeez Louise, this is tedious) I cut out a larger piece of weed stop mesh, place it OVER the whole thing and tuck the sides in under the plastic. Lastly, heavy mulch on plastic areas. Great results and NO WEEDS so far. My wife says I spend more time preventing weeds that it would take to simply getting rid of them. lol
regarding plastic cups. Sam's has 9 ounce. 200 for $8.00
This message was edited Apr 26, 2011 6:47 PM
