Starting Your Seedlings Indoors

Spring Dreams...

Greenhouse resting on my radiator with coleus, 3rd year calla lily and caladium bulbs. 

Can't wait for spring to arrive?  Well, start your spring garden indoors.  This year I had great success using the 72-count Jiffy peat pellet greenhouse.  I simply followed the directions that were included and before I knew it I had seedlings galore!  I lost a lot of seedlings to nasty "damping off" using seed starter mix.  I didn't experience that with the peat pellets, as they change color when dry- no over watering.  Soon I found myself transferring the fast growing seedlings into styrofoam cups.  You know, the kind that you purchase at any general dollar store.  Fill the cup with a quality potting soil, punch a hole in the bottom for drainage and you and your seedling are off to wonderful beginning.  

February (Verbascum)

 Let There Be Light...

March

May

Make sure that you provide your seedlings with adequate lighting.  I kept the light just a few inches away from the seedlings for about 14 hours a day.  I adjusted the light as the seedlings grew taller of course.  Now,  I could say that I used some elaborate set-up, but I'm going to keep it real with you.  I used full-spectrum light bulbs that I purchased from a big box store, borrowed a few desk lamps from around the house and my seedlings did not know the difference.  Look at them grow!  I won't tell them if you don't.  Being urbane does not mean breaking the bank and being urban doesn't mean that you can not enjoy a beautiful garden.  In my precious but limited space,  I'm looking forward to enjoying a few hollyhock, verbascum, zinnia, perennial mixed daisies, rudbeckia, coleus, coccineum, morning glory; plus tomato, cucumber, bell pepper and spinach in containers... yummy!  Please check out my other posts and let me know what you've got growing.