Earlier we started seeds in egg cartons and then made our closet into a grow room! “i’m helping”-che Now, it’s time to give the roots some more room with transplanting. You’ll need: larger containers, old plastic pots, peat pots (these are easy for transplanting outdoors) compost container soil seedlings water friend (puppy dogs really enjoy [...]
It’s time to get out the old shop light and convert the closet into the grow room. Here’s a list of the materials you’ll need: hanging florescent shop light that can be moved to adjust height full spectrum florescent bulbs (or you can get specific plant lights, they’re just more spendy) table you don’t mind [...]
Over 50 years in the making, that’s an heirloom. With open pollination (by wind and winged friend), these plants are allowed to breed naturally and return year after year as gardeners and farmers select from the most hardy and disease resistant of the crew. For years, our seed companies have fixated on the large mega-farm, [...]
If you are into saving seeds and planting heirlooms, you may want to look into becoming a Seed Saver Exchange Member. Seed Savers Exchange is a nonprofit membership organization whose mission is to protect North America’s diverse, but endangered, garden heritage by building a network of people who are committed to collecting, conserving and sharing [...]
In his makeshift greenhouse of an old egg carton, this little seedling emerges!To start your own, look here!
It’s about the 8-10 weeks before the time you would want to transplant, so start some of those seeds. I’ve chosen bee balm, salvia, eggplant, and bell vine. You can use an old egg carton as your container. poke holes in the bottom of each egg container moisten soil stir it with either a toothpick [...]
The great thing about buying seeds is you get so many possible plants from one package, but you never can use them all in one season (unless you are lucky enough to have a huge garden). So…how long are they good for? Check the date on the package near the lot number. If there’s no [...]
Today in Chicago, it’s 9 degrees outside. And nothing helps you get through these cold months like thinking about your 2011 garden! Seed catalogs are easy to order online, usually free, and a great way to help visualize. My favorites this year are Select Seeds (they specialize in heirlooms), Seeds of Change (organic seeds with [...]