Has Anyone Started Seeds for Garden?

[DVC Sadie]

I was just wondering if anyone has started seeds for their garden? If so, what have you started or planning to grow this year?

 

[chocovrdmicears]

I used to..I am in NE so I always started mine on St. Patricks Day. I like a few different tomatoes, a few types of peppers, green beans etc..But it became to much bother. Then I started buying a few plants at our local nursery and it saved me some of time and effort. Last year I didn't feel like doing it so I just bought my veggies at a local farm stand. I like that way best

 

[loud-frog]

Ahhh - green plants in the middle of winter. Last year was the first year I started my own plants from seed with success. I purchased a good size grow light that made all the differace in the world! I will be starting tomatoes, brussel sprouts, eggplant, onions and peppers inside. I also bought wave petunias and some other flowering plants to trythis year. I can't wait. It is what gets me through the cold dark winter!

 

[janni518]

It's a bit early for me but we will be doing green beans, snap peas, green peppers, cukes and zucchini. Flirting with the idea of pumpkins. We grow things that are fairly prolific as we allow the wildlife to have their share. I've actually had better luck starting from seed in the ground than transplanting seedlings.

Don't bother with tomatoes as we get a steady supply from dfil.

 

[Mkaz]

Oh my. We just started our seed list for this year. So far we have:

tomatoes
peas
pole beans
carrots
zucchini
acorn squash
spaghetti squash
corn
pumpkins
asparagus
pumpkins
potatoes
lettuce

Plus we are starting a new crop of strawberries. We haven't had them since we moved six years ago. Boy do I miss that crop. We also have some fruit trees on our property. Can you tell we love gardening?

 

[shortbun]

We have a neighborhood meeting this weekend. We grow co-operatively because we each have limited space. We share. We don't usually start our seeds growing til late February or early March. I still have all my herbs from last summer. I put them in pots this year and brought them into the sunroom. Fresh herbs are the BEST in the winter when you don't have to pay for them!!!!

 

[worm761]

I know that this is probably a dumb question...but...how do you start plants from seeds? I have been reading some websites and they show them in baggies and talk about germinating. I have no idea. This is my first year. I bought some seeds. I though you just put them in the dirt and water/fed them, then plants grew. Apparently I am wrong. Do you guys have any advice for a newbie?

 

[carter_amy]

I ordered a new greenhouse for my hubby for Christmas. He is still waiting for it to come. Our old one was 6x8 and the new one is 8x10. We love to grow our own flowers and veggies, but I think that it is a lot of work and not easy. There are a lot of factors involved. We also heat our greenhouse until the warm weather comes to Pennsylvania.

 

[DVC Sadie]

Thanks for responding, everyone. I love reading about other peoples garden planning and enjoy seeing everyones lists.

When its cold outside I love to curl up with my seed and plant catalogs and just sit and dream of the summertime.

 

[DVC Sadie]

I know that this is probably a dumb question...but...how do you start plants from seeds? I have been reading some websites and they show them in baggies and talk about germinating. I have no idea. This is my first year. I bought some seeds. I though you just put them in the dirt and water/fed them, then plants grew. Apparently I am wrong. Do you guys have any advice for a newbie?

Not a dumb question, at all.

Lowe's or Home Depot sells those little mini greenhouses that you can start seeds in quite easily. Some seeds can be directly seeded into your garden but other seeds need to be started in flats (mini greenhouses) so they can get a head start on the growing season.

 

[swilshire]

We buy most of our plants from the local HS FFA. They are very inexpensive and good quality.

I have a black thumb, but I've been bugging DH for years to try growing tomatoes indoors in the winter. He finally gave in a planted some seeds for me about a month ago. I have them in front of the window in my office at work. They are doing great.

He also threw in some pepper seeds. We thought they weren't going to come up because the tomatoes were about 4 -5" tall already and no sign of a pepper plant. I went on vacation and had two little pepper plants when I got back (one of the girls watered for me while I was gone). Two more have appeared this week.

If nothing else, it's fun to watch them grow.

Sheila

 

[Dokietoes]

Don't forget the "Walls of Water" so you can plant those tomatoes and other plants outdoors as early as March.

 

[momz]

we have recently started growing some herbs in a hydroponic system my husband built. We are going to try to grow a tomato plant this way as well. I harvested by first bunch of basil and made some fresh tomato basil soup the other day. It's really a lot of fun, and the plants grow very well this way. Plus, no dirt or bugs!!!! All this in Indianapolis in the winter time. As another poster mentioned...the grow light makes all the difference.

 

[flying_babyb]

I want to do tomatos and some grass but I have to grow inside so its a battle between me and my cats. GRR

 

[Ashley Kees]

Here's my list: (as you will see, I plant so I can make red sauce and salsa without going to the grocery store! )

Tomatos (beefsteak in ground containers, cherry in hanging baskets)
Jalapenos
Bell Peppers
Red onions
Green onions
garlic (cloves, not seeds, but I assume they still count)
lettuce
cilantro
thyme
oregano
basil
dill
peppermint
lemon balm (melissa)
chamomile

*I also have a lemon tree I planted three years ago from a seed I got out of a grocery store meyer lemon. It's about 2 ft. tall now that I've pruned him, and looks great. I have him in a 10 gallon container, and when you rub the leaves, they smell just like lemon pledge. Amazing! I don't expect to see fruit for about 6 more years (if that) but the leaves are so pretty and fragrant!

I would love to do more, but I'm in an apartment, so all of them are containers. I am lucky enough to have a 10*10 ground floor south facing flat that opens up onto a MASSIVE field, so I get the required amount of sunshine. We near about live on that patio in the spring and the fall!

Most of my seeds I harvest myself. I am hoping to start worm composting this year. DH is tickled to death that I asked for 2000 red wigglers for Xmas!

Good luck this year, everyone!

 

[Ashley Kees]

I want to do tomatos and some grass but I have to grow inside so its a battle between me and my cats. GRR

Whoa... grass like, grass or grass grass? Wink wink nudge nudge know what I mean??

 

[Princess_Michelle]

.

 

[flying_babyb]

Like grass, off the lawn. If i wanted the other grass I would contact my moms ex, who got busted with 200 plants.

 

[janni518]

I also have a whole bunch of wildflowers to start this year. Our yard has finaly recovered from all the construction and I need to replant my beds.

 

[greens_in_WA]

Last year was my first, and it was a cold spring and summer here in the NW. I think I have my planting boxes too close to a fence also, as I don't think anything was getting enough sun. My tomatoes and peas did ok, but my corn and pumpkins were pathetic. I tried to do brocolli, but it came out really funny... weird funny. The kids had fun with the carrots though, and I got a little bit of lettuce and spinach out of the adventure. Hopefully, we'll have a nicer spring.