Seed Starting tips.

It is about that time of year again! Gardening time but first you are thinking about starting you garden from seed indoors and then transplanting them into your garden outside. There are something’s you will need to know first like what type of plants can be started from seed, how to start them, and what to do to have them ready to stick in the ground.

            First let’s talk about what should be started or can be started from seed first.  Most plants can be started indoors or in a greenhouse (heated at night), but there are some plants you cannot start from seed indoors and then transplant into your garden they are: any greens like collards, turnips, lettuces and beans are always better to just start in your garden after last frost due to damage of roots these plants are better not to transplant and will do better starting right from your garden.  Now that being said just like some plants should not be started indoors or in a greenhouse there are some plants like tomatoes, and peppers should be started indoors mainly due to the time to get to mature and will help them do better in the ground by jump starting them indoors helps them produce more and faster and resist disease.

            Now there are something’s you will need to get before one starts planting and that is some seed starting tray’s, soil, seed, and maybe even seed heating pads to keep them warm at night. Then you are ready to start mixing your soil and plant some seed in the trays. Try to keep them between 60-70 degrees to get the best results.

            Time to put them in the ground before you do that especially if you have them indoors is to begin to harden them which allows them to get use to the sun and outdoor temps. When doing this do it slow at first bring the plants out and set in the shade and as each day passes for about a two week period continue to give them more and more sun, which allows them to adapt to the sun and outdoors once this is done and the last frost has happened one afternoon after the hot part of the day put them in the ground give some water and watch them grow.

Information on me.

Here is a little information on myself. I am starting a backyard nursery which I hope to grow into something big one day. I do have a lot of knowledge on growing things I have grown plants most of my life and over the last four years have really gotten back into it. I plan to blog at least once a week if not more next week I will blog about seed starting. The name of my nursery is called Nature’s Island in New Market Alabama I will start selling at farmers markets and side of the road at first and one day hope to have my own store front. Thank you for reading this blog please continue and ask questions.

Garden Fever

We all get garden fever form time to time which is where we cannot wait to get out and gardening and yes it is like cabin fever in the winter. I find myself falling victim to it too here in Alabama we have had a mild winter so I want to plant now, but  I know we will get hit by spell of cold air a couple of times between now and spring.

            Now you may not be able to plant but there is something’s you can do to get ready and will help you be organize and ready to get started. I call it my three P’s to getting ready for spring gardening they are plan, prepare, and pick. No matter what type of garden you have container, raised beds, a regular garden spot or flower beds there are things you can do in winter to be ready for spring.

            First plan, which includes planning what type of garden you want, what type of plants you want to grow, and how you want to lay your garden out. I myself believe this step helps keep me organize one thing I do every year is draw a diagram of my garden so come next year I will not plant my crops in the same spot as the year before ( crop rotation).

            Second as a boy scout says be prepared. Preparing can include learning how to improve your technique, getting your containers, garden spot ready or even building your raised beds for your spring garden. Preparing your soil is important too you can compost in the winter, which will help replace what your garden took from the soil the year before.         

            Finally picking what you want to plant. This can include picking what seed company to use, or where you plan to buy your plants from come spring.

Remember have fun and enjoy gardening it is fun and a great way to relive stress, eat healthier and save money.

Going Green

Thats right this blog is going Green as in I will be talking about gardening. Over the last four years I have went back to a love of gardening which when I was young a kid I loved to dig up things and plant pick flowers and things from our veggie garden. So stay tuned.