Remember we talked about winter sown seeds? This idea of putting the seeds right out there in their own mini environments really appeals to me. It appeals to the part of me that loves to grow things, and it appeals to the part of me that's really, really cheap. I hope it works.
I don't like how hard and expensive it is to grow things from seed the usual way. I mean, buying plants is obviously expensive, but even though seeds themselves are a good deal, the means with which to get them to the garden are not.
Grow lights, shelving, peat pots, warming mats, insulating towers, blah blah blah… you could spend a fortune trying to save money growing veggies!
Also, my house has FIFTY-TWO windows, and no good southern exposure!! Why does the universe hate me so??
Some things seem to do great planted “as is”. I have good luck with beets, swiss chard, lettuce, and other cool weather seeds. But some are a problem, especially because the time to plant them — mid-May — is an extremely busy time with family activities — and promises to be even more so this year with Rosie's wedding, Suzanne's graduation, Will's graduation…oof!
With winter sown seeds, you use recycled containers, soil (cheap soil, not super special soil, although I didn't hunt for a bargain here because I was, as usual, in a rush), and that's it.
There is a forum on planting seeds early outdoors with a lot of people posting helpful pictures — pictures that make you drool and want to get out there right now!
I ransacked the recycling bin for materials. This leftover box with its plastic covering (not my purchase, I promise you!) seemed ideal for a mini-greenhouse, with a little tweaking.
I had been stockpiling a few cartons…and one thing that will be very handy is an enormously long roll of packaging plastic (the kind that's cells with air blown in — this is after the kids popped them all, of course 🙂
I'm just getting started, but I'm excited. Can you see in the first picture that the milk jugs have been sliced and then put back together?
I got one of those large sturdy re-usable grocery bags (this one was free from the store!) and put my big bag of soil, my clear plastic, and my seeds in there to keep handy for the next planting session.
I hope that you will do this along with me if you are interested! I'd like to know how it works for you. I'm a little worried that it won't work for me, but if it doesn't, I won't be out that much.
Thanks to Ann Kroeker for the link!
Jen says
I love this idea! I've never wanted to spend all that money on grow lights and whatnot, either. Last year I started some seeds in a sunny window and they did great, but my new house doesn't have many south-facing windows. I'm gonna start saving my milk jugs and other stuff and try this out!
Leila says
But — the amazing thing is, your plants aren't fooled into growing too fast! Since they are outside where it's still cold — well, I don't know what your outside is like — they grow just as they should and you don't have to worry about transplanting!Read the links! It's probably too good to be true 🙁
Milehimama says
Ha ha ha! I just did this!I started peppers and tomatoes in an egg carton (here, a flat of eggs comes in a cardboard tray with a clear plastic lid). I started basil and put a clear round tupperware over the pot!DIY cloches – why not?
Pippajo says
Hmmm, now, gardening has always been The Viking's domain. I just swan around pointing at the places where I want things to go and he hops around and does my bidding. He has had a vegetable garden in years past (mostly because I was sick and tired of paying through the nose for corn stalks and pumpkins come harvest time, but those crops never took) and I'm thinking it's just about time for him to start "itching" to get out there and dig. I'll have to show this to him.FYI, I'm thinking lettuce, peas, cucumbers, and, of course, tomatoes. No self-respecting New Jersey gardener can leave out tomatoes.
Songbirdtiff says
I just started some seeds last weekend. We rent our house so I'm not going to bother planting anything in the ground, but it will all get planted in containers on the back porch. I can't wait to see my little green sprouts! I love that you are doing this all super-frugal.
Kirby3131 says
I'm still stunned at the "52 windows" part. I can't get the 10 I have washed often enough as it is. LOLI never did get into the extra stuff that is required for starting seeds. I always just hoped they'd grow! Good thing I never depended on my veggies to survive.Your way looks like a lot of fun and took some creative forethought, too. Good for the brain. 🙂
Sharinskishe says
I love gardening. I love to plant and then watch them grow. I'm not too good at the harvest part. Got to work on that.I am so itching for spring and sowing time. But here in Utah we are a couple of months out, but I am going to do some winter sowing this year and protect them. I usually have volunteer tomatoes and I love them. I am glad for their life and that they came from the natural cycle. However their fruits are usually not like the parent, you know that engineering stuff, that's OK because then it begins a guessing game- what kind of fruit will we have?Thanks so much for the info and the links.Sharinskishe
Jessica says
Really late to the party here, but I just discovered your blog a few weeks ago and have been reading my way through the archives. I have thoroughly enjoyed your "teachings" and stories — it is truly encouraging and uplifting. Thank-you! I am much like you in gardening, and I found a website that will email you weekly what to start indoors, what to transplant, and what to sow outside, all depending on one's zip code/planting zone. It isn't mine, and I don't know if we're free to post such things, but here goes: <a href="http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/<br />Again, thanks so much for sharing your wisdom with us!Jess