Seed Starting Containers

-
Starting seeds is as much science as art and I'm still learning how to use science to perfect the art of the perfect seedling.
If you have any tricks, I'd like to hear them.
Continuing to plow ahead, here is what I'm doing now

The seed starting containers are
blueberry boxes that were well washed. The bottom of the container is filled with sterile potting soil for annuals. Seed starting mix is put on the top and then seeds are planted in rows. Then, more sterile seed starting mix is put on the top according to the needs of the specific seeds.
Once the seedlings emerge, the top has to be lifted. The same identification tag of a plastic knife written with paint in a pen stays with the container.

Another method that's good for some seeds is to use a thoroughly cleaned Styrofoam egg carton. Several holes are punched in the bottom of each cup for drainage. The top of the egg carton was cut off to use as the saucer to catch the drips.

Some seeds come up well and others disappoint. Arugula and chard are going gangbusters and are about to set their first true leaves. The spinach I planted in a 72-hole container did not germinate very well. Less than half of the seeds germinated.

What works for you?


Oh, and yippee, Blogger is functional again. Thanks Google.

Comments

The Diva said…
Hi Molly,

I really like your blueberry containers. I need to save some before next spring. I've used everything from egg cartons to egg shells to start seeds, but what I have trouble with is hardening off. I always forget and leave the little seedlings out in the garden, and their either fry or freeze.~~Dee
March 11, 2008 at 4:47 AM
Molly Day said…
My only complaint about the egg cartons is the cups are so shallow.

The blueberry boxes work better because they have holes in the bottom and the top.

I just ordered two cold frames from Harbor Freight and Tool - on sale right now and fairly low cost shipping.

Hopefully that will help with the hardening off.

I should take a photo of our current hardening off scheme. It's pretty primitive.
Martha
March 11, 2008 at 6:22 PM
Anonymous said…
I use newspaper pots that I make from the local newspaper.
It's quite easy to do, and only takes a few minutes per pot. I compost the pot when the seedling is planted out into the ground.
Thanks for your blog!
March 21, 2008 at 4:23 AM
Anonymous said…
Hi Ben -
Would you please tell me how to make those paper pots?

Either you can describe the process or tell me where to find the directions.

They seem so sensible.

Do the bottoms get soggy before you plant them in the ground? That's the only thing I was concerned about.

Thanks for stopping by the blog. I always wonder if anyone is reading it.
M
March 21, 2008 at 6:44 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Moldy Tulip Bulbs

-
Image
Moldy tulip bulbs are a big disappointment when you are hoping to fill a bed or some pots. It is not that unusual for their skins to have a bit of penicillin mold but these are beyond that tad bit stage. Mold penetrating tulip bulb  Mold on emerging tulip bulb growth  So, what to do? The plant references say to throw them out and buy new ones but I already spent $22 for 50 of these white tulip beauties. First, they got a soak in 1% bleach solution in the kitchen sink in the hope that the bleach would stop the mold from continuing to grow without killing the life force in the bulb itself. After a good slosh around, I wiped them off to see how much damage was beneath the blue and black.  This tulip bulb is soft to the touch and there is little chance it will thrive in the soil. This basal root on these have been ruined by mold. The final step I took to try to salvage part of them  was to spray them thoroughly with fungicid...
Read more

Propagate Begonia Stem Cuttings in water - Cane-like Angel Wing Begonia

-
Image
Propagating by stem cuttings is just about the easiest way to make more begonias for next summer's garden. During the fall, I regularly trim off 3-node long cuttings and put them into the growing pots where they take root. Now that cold weather has arrived, I root the stem cuttings in a vase of water. It's a great way to produce more pots of Begonias for next summer's garden. Water the plant well the day before. Take a cutting about 4-inches long, with 3 nodes, from a healthy stem. Use a perfectly clean container. Rinse the container with a drop of bleach if you are uncertain about its spotlessness. Remove all but the top leaf or two. There should be no leaves in the water. The cutting should  have a healthy leaf node at the bottom. Don't leave a stub below the node. Place the cutting into the water, and place the container out of the sun. In a couple of weeks, you will see new roots beginning to form. Check the water periodicall...
Read more

Create Nesting Areas for Birds and Wildlife

-
Image
From the website, Choose Natives , this lovely and instructive article helped remind me to continue to increase the amount of habitat and nesting that we provide in our garden. Many, though not all, are native or considered to be native in Oklahoma. So, I did a little research on each recommended plant and provided a link to more information. You'll see the plant name in italics - those are my links for your edification. Here's the post Derek Stoner, Project Coordinator for the Delaware Nature Society, helped restore the 860-acre Middle Run Natural Area by “intensive habitat management”, including planting 12,000 trees and shrubs.  His lecture, ‘ Native Plants for Nesting Birds: Connecting Flora and Fauna’,  given to a group of enthusiasts at the Millersville Native Plant Conference   in Pennsylvania, focused on his observations. Here are Derek’s landscaping recommendations for attracting birds: Plant shrubs in clusters (“habitat circles”) that will c...
Read more