We have sprouts!

I am absolutely amazed.  We only set the seeds in the starter kits on Tuesday afternoon.  I was sure I did most everything wrong:  I didn't cover the seeds.  I only had one heat mat (2 kits fit on it, but I had 4 kits.)  My light system wasn't installed (though I finally purchased one a the store yesterday.)  I haven't watered yet.  In fact, worries about underwatering are what got me peering closely into the kits this morning.

And there they were: cabbage sprouts were coming up.

And on even closer inspection, I could see the beginning of downward rooting on the marigold seeds too.

I think I have to remove the covers after the seeds germinate -- so later today I might move the sprouted pellets to a cookie tray.  But I am worried that I am moving too quick -- maybe I should wait for true leaves first.  I will have to read up on the process during naptime (the kids' naptime) and make a decision soon.

We started our seeds

So I still don't have soil in my raised bed and it is already March 2. No problem. The kids and I sowed our first crops in pellets today. Hopefully the soil will be in the bed by time our veggies need to be planted.

Turns out the Burpee "ecofriendly" seed starting kit I bought was really easy to use. A little over 4 cups of warm water turned the dry pellets into dark, moist 2 inch seed beds in about a minute. (In my mind that process would have taken hours. In fact I got the first one started before naps even though we didn't start 'planting' until after my kindergartner returned from school because I was worried that the pellets wouldn't be ready for the seeds.) On a side note, Burpee claims that the trays and lids are made from plants. They feel like plastic. How is that possible?

In the end, I would say that starting seed pellets was not the least stressful task to take on with kids. At first, none of the kids seemed to understand what 'plant a row' meant. But we made it through. Each kid got their own seed (spinach, beets, fennel) and 10 pellets (2 rows) to plant -- then I did the rest (chard, peas, and flowers.) I am still not sure if I got it right. Are you supposed to cover the seeds with something? I did my best to get the seeds down in the center but so far have left them to their own devices.

Finally, I am proud to say that my garden window is being used for its intended purpose for the first time. Up until now it has been largely used as a dish drain.

So as behind as I feel in the planting department, I am now started. Looking forward to seeing some sprouts soon!

Newspaper seed pots

When I bought my epimediums yesterday, the grower said to plant them immediately.  Well, I need to remove some sod before I can plant and today is to be dedicated to getting my big raised bed into the ground -- so I am going to plan B, temporary repotting.  I remembered seeing these cute little paper seed pots in Organic Crops in Pots by Deborah Schneebeli-Morrell and I found out how to do them here in this video with Willi Galloway.  The basics (fold paper, roll, smoosh into pot shape) look like this:

And perhaps most important for me on a Saturday morning ... it is a kid friendly project.  Kids 4+ can help with the folding and rolling.  Kids 2+ can fill the pots with soil.

Unfortunately for me, these 3 inch newspaper seed pots were no where close to big enough to housing the epimediums (hairy roots, sticks, and green shoots -- perhaps these are rhizomes?)  So we ditched the pots in favor of an available box. 

We put in some potting soil, layered in the epimediums, and covered with more soil.  I figure this will buy me at least the week it might take before I can remove the sod and prepare the bed.  Veggies first!

My only concern with my repurposed box solution is the roots might grow together since they are so mature(though I did try to keep a layer of soil between each epimedium.)  But I think both the repurposed box and the newspaper pots could be used as future seed starting methods once I get started with my edible garden.

Anyone use newspaper seed pots or a repurposed box with words of wisdom to offer?