Seed starting
Today is St. Patrick's Day.... I once read in a Martha Stewart Living magazine that she always starts her peas on March 17th. I'm not sure if this is still the case, but I will be planting some peas tonight. Sweet Peas that is.
Normally I start my Sweet Peas directly into the garden, these ones are special. They are favors for my upcoming Vintage Themed Baby Shower. Blue Streamers from Park Seed for a sweet little boy baby.
My plan is to start them in pulp pots.
I'm making 2 holes with my hole punch...
I'll add a little ribbon and hopefully, since I'll keep them indoors, they will have sprouted by the day of the shower.
Additional seed starting will be this weekend. I'll be planting 390 little, ittty, bitty impatien seeds. If you've never seen an impatien seed, it is the size of perhaps a grain of sand. Last year I used tweezers and it was much, much easier. These little guys are very, very slow to sprout and grow. They also need light to germinate so the easy part is you just place the seed on top of the soil. I start them inside too since they can't go out int he garden until at least May. This shot from last year... well they had been growing for a month in this picture... inside!
The marigolds, zinnias, cucumbers and pumpkins I will start in a few weeks, in the greenhouse. Since our growing season can be on the short side, I like to give these guys a head start. I've got a few new seeds to try this year as well as the regulars. This year I also got this cool little gadget to make pots out of newspaper. You fill them with your soil and when planted in the ground they compost/disintegrate naturally.
We'll see how this newspaper pot thing goes!
Normally I start my Sweet Peas directly into the garden, these ones are special. They are favors for my upcoming Vintage Themed Baby Shower. Blue Streamers from Park Seed for a sweet little boy baby.
My plan is to start them in pulp pots.
I'm making 2 holes with my hole punch...
I'll add a little ribbon and hopefully, since I'll keep them indoors, they will have sprouted by the day of the shower.
Additional seed starting will be this weekend. I'll be planting 390 little, ittty, bitty impatien seeds. If you've never seen an impatien seed, it is the size of perhaps a grain of sand. Last year I used tweezers and it was much, much easier. These little guys are very, very slow to sprout and grow. They also need light to germinate so the easy part is you just place the seed on top of the soil. I start them inside too since they can't go out int he garden until at least May. This shot from last year... well they had been growing for a month in this picture... inside!
The marigolds, zinnias, cucumbers and pumpkins I will start in a few weeks, in the greenhouse. Since our growing season can be on the short side, I like to give these guys a head start. I've got a few new seeds to try this year as well as the regulars. This year I also got this cool little gadget to make pots out of newspaper. You fill them with your soil and when planted in the ground they compost/disintegrate naturally.
We'll see how this newspaper pot thing goes!
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AND
Hey! I wanted to pop over and see what you were up to! Busy!! I love the idea of the sweet peas! I know my aunt always planted her potatoes on St. Patrick's Day...here in Indiana...you are supposed to plant them on Good Friday. I never seem to manage that though----Happy St. Patricks Day! I wish you great success with the seeds!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea for the shower. I wish I were coming to this shower--it’s going to be awesome!! Love sweet peas but I’ve never grown them before--are they pretty easy to get going? I can’t wait to plan them this year. Love the impatient idea and your newspaper pot maker--GREAT idea. Let me know how it goes :) Thanks for sharing with FFF!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Amy
I tried doing seeds last year..and all my tomatoes went all leggy and then I built myself a little green house and they all molded and died...I was so distraught!
ReplyDeleteOMGosh..I'm now following as I want to keep up on the sweet pea seed growth for your special baby boy..what fun. I'm not good with seeds but will see how well you do!
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Shirley
I so want to know how the newspaper pots work. I always see those little things and wonder about them. You'll have to give us an update.
ReplyDeleteI love your shower idea, I will have to remember this great idea!!! Thanks for sharing it....
ReplyDeleteHappy St. Patrick's Day!
Chris :o)
That's it...I'm off to buy Sweet Pea seeds this weekend. If you say so, and Martha says so, that's good enough for me. One problem though, my yard is pretty shady and the only luck I've had with Sweet Peas is in the sun. Any hints?
ReplyDeleteI think one of the first posts I read of yours was last year when you blogged about your impatient seeds. I was so very impressed b/c around here, people buy flats of impatients like crazy. The fact that you started yours from seed had me hooked. You have such a great set-up at Red Gate Farm to dabble in your passion of gardening and I can't wait to follow along and watch from afar! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the smell of sweet peas. I'm still working on planning out what I want to do myself (but I still have a month before I need to plant seeds, I've been told).
ReplyDeleteAnd who knows, maybe we'll be on our way back sooner than we think?
That's a neat idea for a baby shower. Happy gardening and have a nice spring weekend.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing your baby shower ideas with Cottage Flora Thursday's garden party! I love this & am so curious to hear how that newspaper pot turns out? Please do let us know! xoox
ReplyDelete~tracie
I like the idea of the newspaper pot - very clever and eco-smart!
ReplyDeleteI agree, the newspaper pots are very clever!
ReplyDeleteNewspaper pots! What a cool idea! I like your baby shower idea, too. I might borrow that.
ReplyDelete