Urban Homesteading: Starting a vegetable and herb garden
Planting a garden is super easy, and can be done even if you have no yard, and just a small space with some sun. I can’t even keep houseplants alive, and last year grew enough vegetables to keep me stocked for about four months straight in a single 12×5’ vegetable plot! If you’re thinking, “WHOA! This is way too hard for me, I don’t think I can manage this.” It’s okay, I’ll be gentle…
How to start from seed
I’ve got a lot of seeds I haven’t used up from the past two or three years, and I promised myself I wouldn’t buy more until I’ve used what I’ve got. With such a variety of ages and sources, there’s no telling what will make it to harvest, especially with the older seeds. But it’s either throw them away or throw them in dirt to see what happens. Here’s my general plan of attack for starting anything from seed…
Use applesauce cups to start seedlings
Start seedlings in freshly-washed and lightly-bleached applesauce cups. Simply punch some holes in the bottom for drainage. They do not use much soil and can be reused.
Gardening preparation check in: have your garden dreams dried up yet?
Yo, hopeful gardeners! Check in! How’s everything looking with your starter seedlings?
If you haven’t already, it’s a good time to look at your babies and see who’s past the germination deadline without showing any green. Some of my seeds have a very long germination time (10-14 days) but once two weeks is up and I haven’t seen any proto-leaves, those little things are quickly replaced with new seeds.
This year I’m planting a bigger variety of plants than I ever have before. I’ve started most of them already (all that I had toilet paper rolls for!) because I have a feeling we’re in for a warm spring. I don’t think I’m going to have to worry about frost as late as I have in years past — so I’m kind of starting all my stuff at once. If I’m wrong, well…then I’ll just start again. I’ve been late in planting seeds in the past, and everything turned out all right, so if I end up starting something late because I THOUGHT it was already covered, it’s not the end of the world.
Dangers at home, Jayne Cobb, and moving supplies in this week’s reader photos
What up! On Mondays we start the week with a few photos from the Offbeat Home Flickr pool and Pinterest, and send you off with interesting links: revamping Chuck Taylors, new zines to read, and more.
How buying heirloom seeds defends our habitat from invasion
IN THIS POST: Where do seeds come from? Why are seed banks important? Where can I buy heirloom seeds in my area?