It seems hard to believe, but in about a month or so (depending on where you live), it will be time to start seeds indoors.
Photo by joaobambu
Seed starting, for the uninitiated, is pretty simple. By sowing seeds inside, in the warmth of your home, you can get a month or two head start on the growing season, which also means you have more time to garden. When your neighbors are just starting to toss a few seeds into the ground, your plants will already be 4-6 weeks old.
I plan on starting one set of edible plants inside, and then another set of the same edibles a month or so afterwards so that I can have “waves” of veggies coming ripe at different times. Or at least that’s my plan. I’ve purchased cucumbers and eggplants made for container gardening, Green Zebra and cherry tomatoes, peppers, chard, fennel, herbs…
I’m interested to hear your plans. What seeds have you already purchased? Which do you have your eye on? When do you plan to start? Are you going to do anything different this year or trying any new techniques or products?
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I sowed 16 different tomatoes on 80 soil blocks last night. My plan was to sow 8 weeks before the last frost and keep them warm indoors with help of a heating mat. Well, I’m yet to purchase a heating mat.
I also planted eggplant and peppers but not nearly enough. I’m delaying that insane seed sowing session for a few more weeks.
Hi Fern, although I really enjoyed growing tomatoes and eggplants last year I couldn’t keep up with the watering. I may do just one vegetable container this year. Thanks for the link to the eggplants made for container gardening.
Adriana — Whoa! You’re going to be eating tons of tomatoes!
Louise — Have you considered using a soil additive that helps your dirt retain water?
Even I am planning to get the container cucumbers and eggplants from Renees. I may wait till March for sowing indoors as we usually have last frost date somewhere middle of May. In addition to these I may plant some grape tomatoes, roma tomatoes, herbs and some flower varieties.Still I have couple of months to plan
Fern, did you order the seeds from Renees recently, I mean are they mailing seeds to be grown for 2009?
We start ours in March and we usually try several new varieties of heirloom tomatoes. We’ve not made any seed purchases yet though. I grew an heirloom variety of cherry tomatoes in a five gallon bucket year before last; had it out on the back porch where we could get at them quick. You’ll love ‘Green Zebra’ we grew them this past season, they’re sweet, but not too sweet. Ours got about as big as a baseball, we don’t use chemical fertilizers, or any natural fertilizers through the season. I reckon you could get them bigger if you wanted to fertilize with weekly watering.
mmmm waves of veggies. It helps having a sunny position to give the seeds the best change of life
And go the green zebra, i have one almost ripe on my balcony. Luck with the planting
Sarada — Frosts in May? Say it ain’t so! I ordered the Renee’s seeds on sale recently. They were leftover seeds from this season, so they should be good for this upcoming season, but not after that. At 50% off, I thought it was worth it!
TC — I’m curious, why don’t you use any natural/organic fertilizer?
Prue — Yes, almost all veggies need full sun. I’m looking forward to seeing picks of your Zebra!
I’m probably just start some tropicals this year and not do the edibles and ornamentals this year.