It never ceases to amaze me when I see the first green poke through the soil in a seed tray.
I ordered my tomato plants from Stout Oak Farm, a local organic farm. They are grown in their heated greenhouses, and at $3 a piece, it is a bargain to swing by and pick up several healthy 2′ plants ready to take off as soon as they are planted.
But, I also wanted to start some annuals, lettuce for Herbert Menninger, the grands’ pet rabbit, and see if I could get some Schwartzbeeren seeds started so the berry picking season would last longer. These berries make what my husband would tell you is the best pie in the world especially since he grew up with his Mom making all things sweet with these tiny black berries.
Normally, I use a four-shelf metal rack on wheels, two lights on each shelf with everything covered in emergency silver blankets to keep the light and heat in. I didn’t want to go to that much trouble this year for a couple of trays, so I bought two plant brackets with clamps from my local Walmart for $7.95 each, attached them to a table on my porch, hung one set of lights, covered it with a blanket, and I was done.
I planted up my two trays last Wednesday and on Sunday I had some seeds already sprouted. Happy dancing here.
This summer I’m going to recycle those plant brackets and use them for hanging baskets on a picnic table.
So, is seed starting a spring project for you, do you prefer to buy plants, or do you frequent your local farmers’ markets?
Happy Monday from cold, gray, rainy New Hampshire. The only gardening being done here is under those lights and in my dreams. 🙂
This is really interesting Judy. On Gardener’s Question Time (a popular BBC radio show here) they were advocating the use of LED grow lights to get seedlings going. I had always assumed these would be very expensive and were only for professionals. Obviously the latter must be true if you are using them (!) so I’d be interested if you have any more tips and pointers for buying and using them. Are they on a timer or lit all day?
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Hi, Dan. These are shop lights I bought several years ago at a local hardware box store with one warm and one cool light. I do have them on a timer which makes it very easy. The biggest tip I have was from a local tomato grower, Dr. Tomato. He built boxes out of foil backed styrofoam insulation. He would put his trays in these huge boxes and put the lights on top. This kept all the light and all the heat inside. I had no interest in building and storing boxes so tried these $4 emergency blankets they sell to carry in cars or give to runners to warm up. They do exactly the same thing by reflecting the light inside and keeping everything warm so you don’t need a heating pad underneath. I have one blanket laid over the top of the table and one laid over the top of the brackets with the sides enclosed with a clip. Makes a perfect little incubator and goes up and comes down quickly.
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With food gardening I start with seeds, but I do tend to buy plants as well. (Like marigolds for the borders.)
This year I am attempting my first flower seedlings, having always bought plants. I’m pretty excited!
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There just is something fun about dropping those little seeds in the soil and watching them grow. Plus you get to do it when you can’t be outside which keeps your gardening interests piqued. 🙂
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I agree!
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I am starting just about everything from seeds this year–veggies, flowers, and herbs. They all are thriving, even without grow lights or a heat mat. I’ve been able to move the earliest crew out to the cold frame to make room for planting more indoors. Nevertheless, we are overrun with seedlings!
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Sounds like a wonderful problem for a gardener. 🙂
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How fun to start everything from seeds. I’ve had a little luck with this, but not much. We use egg cartons and a light in our garage, but we’re just not attentive enough, I think. Best wishes. Wish I lived next door to you!
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If you did, I’d share. 🙂
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Does Herbert ever play outside in a “bunny coop” or get to visit the garden? How kind of you to grow his food! I wondered if you had a “lettuce bed” that he could just get out and munch and crunch in. My grandkids were doing a series on botany in their home-school program and built a lighted grow box with cardboard, foil etc. It was very successful. Best of luck with the berries.
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I grow lettuce and carrots for Herbert. He loves them both especially the tops of the carrots. 🙂 I have a small mesh pen that folds up that was intended for a puppy, but it works perfectly for him. So, when I’m working outside in decent weather, I bring him out with me. He just stretches out and sniffs. He loves it. 🙂 Your grandkids sound like they have all the skills to become good gardeners.
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Herbert is very cute. Best wishes with your seedlings – I have a feeling your garden will be flush this year from all your hard work. Wish the weather would clear up for you and starting warming the ground.
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Herbert is cute. 🙂 Yes, warmer weather so I could turn the pellet stove off would be greatly appreciated.
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That’s too cold for me!
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We’re mostly limited to veggies here, although my wife starts some flowers from seed in her garden to attract pollinators. She runs a mix of plants and seed, and further mixes between mail-order and local growers. It sounds complicated, but she’s been perfecting it over time. Please don’t ask the price of an average tomato – I don’t want to know, because they are so good.
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Sounds like she has a plan that works for your family. That’s right – never ask the price of that home grown tomato. Safer that way. 🙂
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Or that hand-crafted piece of furniture.
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This made me laugh:”The only gardening being done here is under those lights and in my dreams.:-)” Same here in gray, chilly, wet central Maine. But, Judy, it smells like spring out there. Soon, soon!
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Glad I could provide a chuckle because we New Englanders always have to maintain a finely tuned sense of humor when it comes to our weather. 🙂 The birds are everywhere and chirping up a storm. They know it is spring, but the weather just hasn’t caught up yet. The pellet stove is still roaring.
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I know! It’s still so chilly. But the forecast is for warmer weather in a day or two.
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We do both..not always sucessful, but keep trying.
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Seeds are indeed a miracle…
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Sadly, I don’t have very much space to attempt anything like plants from seeds. I rely entirely on nursery plants. Even then, my gardening talent is very limited and I’m just excited if most of it survives the summer 🙂
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Well, if you have a good gardening center near you, and they offer advice, you should be in pretty good shape. Don’t forget to water. 🙂
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I’m actually starting to learn to ask lots of questions!!
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Well, you resourceful gardeners always find a way to make things grow – even in the gloom of an April winter! I saw it called “sprinter” on FB a few days ago!
And Kc found your picture online too! That was so cute!
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Sprinter – well, that about covers it. 🙂
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and PS….
LOVE the picture of Herbert M! Don’t worry little guy! Great-grandma’s coming with fresh, non-toxic herbs and greens!
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Isn’t he just the cutest little guy? He doesn’t bark. He doesn’t make noise. He just loves a little pet now and then. Well, and he does love his fresh veggies. 🙂
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I was always amazed at how quickly my tomato seeds would sprout with just a little warmth. I can’t believe that we lived so close to Stout Oak Farm and I never knew about it. Good luck with your plantings this year, may you have a bountiful crop.
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Are you growing veggies this year in your new homestead?
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No Judy, we have a postage stamp size yard at our new house. Thank goodness we have wonderful farms in our area that participate at our local farmer’s market every weekend throughout the year.
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Now, you can check all the local farmers and their crops out – exciting stuff. 🙂
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I was going to ask the same as Dan, having listened to the same radio programme, we tend to use more bottom heat here but the resulting moisture needs a lot of monitoring. I’ve read your answer Judy, thats very helpful.
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It is thrilling to see seeds germinating. The little kid in us says, “I did that!” and the adult says, “It’s going to look/taste wonderful!”
I haven’t started seeds in quite a few years, as I use so little and we are CSA members. We have a great local source that does a beautiful job with annuals at bargain prices and it is a pleasure to patronize his gorgeous efforts.
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What fun to see your seeds germinating, Judy! I always do some traveling during March/April, so I have never tried starting seeds indoors. I buy small plants in May and love to sow seeds directly in the garden in mid-May. Here in Zone 5b, we have been having nights in the 20s and several light snowfalls. This week will be sunny, so I will be raking and mowing for the first time this season. Springtime in the yard is always filled with surprises! ♡
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I’m going to be gone a week myself but thought with two trays I won’t impose too much when I look for a sitter. 🙂 I put a few of your seeds in there to see if they come up, and if I can successfully transplant them. Here’s hoping I get lucky. 🙂
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A few of my houseplants will be ‘vacationing’ elsewhere, so that we can get away. I’m just always worried about leaving tender seedlings. Great idea to start a few flower seeds inside! Hope they will grow happily in New England! I have chosen a spot in the garden to plant your seeds. Such fun to share, Judy! ♡
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We want to start growing from seeds, maybe next year, as this year is so busy. …it is interesting to see how it is done in your part of the world. I think gardeners in cold climates are immensely patient, but then the rewards are great!
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We’re either patient or crazy but we garden on. 🙂 Will look forward to hearing how you do it in your part of the world.
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We do have a cold winter, (by Australian standards) so I enjoy getting tips from hardy gardeners like yourself..
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In my fantasy world, I grow things from seed. In reality, I am lazy and disorganized and I buy everything at the nursery and plant it when the weather is nice enough. I do agree that starting seeds seems like magic . . . I’m just no magician!
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You are certainly a magician when it comes to making toffee. If we lived closer, I’d sure trade you some seedlings for some toffee. 🙂
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The toffee-holic! That would be a great trade, from my point of view!
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Bet Herbert Menninger is excited about your plans.
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I feel like I missed the boat this year and will probably buy plants, though I’d prefer to start with seeds where possible. I’m a beginner, so very glad to read about this topic on your site. It didn’t occur to me to go to an organic farm to get plants, rather than at the local Home Depot which I don’t really like to do. I will have to check out the local farmers once our farmer’s market starts back up in May.
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We all have to shop at stores that are available, but be aware that the box stores in most cases probably treat their plants systemically. As you are looking at a plant, you will notice that it will have a label stuck in the soil telling you the name of the plant and whether it needs sun or shade. Some may also have a label that says: “Treated with Neonicotinoids” which means when the bees take the pollen back to the hive, they are taking poison back which will result in loss of native pollinators. I would avoid any plants with those labels both for our pollinators and most importantly for yourself. A clerk at a box store won’t have any knowledge about whether the plants have been sprayed but at a nursery you could also ask if any pesticides (to kill living things), Insecticides (to kill insects), or herbicides (to kill weeds) have been applied to the plants. They will know the answer and you can make an informed purchase. 🙂
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Thank, Judy, I didn’t know this. Definitely no box stores for me when it comes to plants.
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I am loving Herbert!!❤️
I start with plants but who knows… maybe one fine day I will start some seeds!
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I buy plants. My excuse is that I travel a lot in March, April, and May, and it’s difficult to grow seeds when I’m away from home so much during that crucial period.
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Your local greenhouse would have to reduce staff if you grew all your plants at home. 🙂 I had to start my Mexican Sunflowers you suggested for pollinators because my greenhouse doesn’t carry them.
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One year I started everything from seeds ; last year I just bought the tomato plants at Home Depot but did the flowers from seeds….directly in the ground, though. HELLO HERBERT you cutie ! 🙂
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Herbert is really going to appreciate those fresh greens! Watching plants grow is so good for the soul. Really makes you appreciate nature.
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You said it, friend. 🙂
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I love the idea of recycling the trays. I also think starting seeds like this, indoors, makes it more certain that you will get production. If your seeds are’t starting, you can try some more or switch gears and get some different seeds. Also, our climates are so unpredictable in the north east!
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I am a good pot planting apartment dweller but am happy to say, as a young mother I planted rather large gardens of vegetables Later as a mother of teens, my ex and I created oases under trees with hostas and bird baths, houses and lake rocks in small groupings among the mulch. This meant late night takks and occasional kisses were out in the dark back yard and not at make our parties. 😉
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