Our garden was a success last year and we are very eager to start one this year. In the spirit of saving money and getting a jump start on the season, I am starting some seeds indoors.
I really wanted to go out and buy some organic, locally grown/raised seeds. But, as I was gathering supplies in the garage, I found many leftover seed packets from years past. None of these seeds are coated in obvious fertilizers so, in the spirit of being frugal and less wasteful, I am going to try to use up these seeds. I am sure that I will need to supplement with some new seeds or varieties (some of the packets are four years old) and I will buy those seeds from our local co-op.
I am going to try to record the process here and in my gardening log. My goals are to grow more food this year, spend less money doing it and have more fun!!
My mother-in-law saved plastic egg cartons for me, which I am using to start the seeds in. I started by cutting the tops off of the containers. These could be used for lids, but I think that they will be too heavy and will not allow any sunlight in.
Then I poked drainage holes in the egg cartons with a straight pin. These holes (see photo) turned out to be a bit too small after I tested the drainage, so I poked holes again with a toothpick. Ah Ha! This is the perfect tool. It can also be used to make tiny holes for your seeds later on.
I took a great seed starting class earlier this year through our Parks and Rec Department and the teacher mentioned that whatever container you use to start your seedlings must be able to be sanitized. This can be achieved by soaking the pots/containers in a 5% bleach solution. This is why I needed plastic egg cartons!
After letting the cartons dry, it is time to fill them with a good seed starting mixture. Not potting soil or dirt from your garden. I got this nice sized bag from May’s Greenhouse in Bloomington.
So far, I have spent $4.80 on my gardening project. Next, we plant the seeds!