It's official, I can't wait anymore I'm going to plant inside

[1MrsMagoo]

I planted the seeds for my spring garden transplants Wednesday. That will make the plants about 6 weeks old for my average date of last frost on March 10th: I figured about a week till they sprout. Hopefully, the weather plays ball with me and we don't get too much rain around that time...and the temps are favorable too (I know I want way too much huh?)

Anyway, I have two 3 tier cedar plant stands we built. Each has 6 lights and can accommodate 15 trays of plants and then is wrapped on three sides by Mylar. I planted 48 eggplant seeds from 5 different varieties, 184 pepper seeds from 24 varieties (bell, sweet Italian, banana, and hot), and around 220 tomato seeds from 24 varieties.

Tomorrow, I am going to plant cabbage, lettuce, spinach, and some other things in my raised box gardens. Those are easy to cover if it gets too cold.

 

[stone_family3]

I've been saving some yogurt cups up to plant in as well as a few water bottle containers. Think I'm going to start with some herbs and maybe a tomato plant or two. I'm also going to root around in my garage for a 5 gallon bucket to start some carrots.

 

[chickenbusiness]

This is why I have a greenhouse ... so I can grow during those dark days of winter ... However, even I, with broccoli, cabbage, kale, and celery growing like wild fire have all my seed packets laid out planning and organizing. We even moved compost into two of the raised beds yesterday so I can get some lettuce and spinach planted. As soon as I find some starting soil my tomatoes will be going in too.

What I want to know is how other people don't get this same itch and yearning to plant and grow things?

Hello
I am in NC. What can I start to plant here? Where would I find this information? Thank you for your help. No greehnouse but I do have a garage although it can get cold in there.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

Last year was my first year gardening and I did it all inside. Living in the city I have more indoor space than outdoor unfortunately. But the exciting part is that the weather plays no factor and I can grow year around.

This year I am also starting a small outdoor garden on the concrete slab that is my backyard. The greenhouse is almost complete. I think I am going to attempt to do an ecosystem with a tilapia tank. Is anyone else gardening in a small space? I would love to see your set up. I dream about dirt and trees someday.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

Hello
I am in NC. What can I start to plant here? Where would I find this information? Thank you for your help. No greehnouse but I do have a garage although it can get cold in there.

A lot of states have either a college, like Louisiana State University here, or the state Department of Agriculture that will put out recommendations for you. Here is a link to the one for your state...
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/ag-06.html

 

[erinszoo]

Quote:
Your county extension agent should have the info you need ... but know the info they give you will just be a guideline. I get laughed at every year because I plant my tomatoes out way before anyone else thinks I should ... but I always have tomatoes way before anyone else so I guess I get the last laugh. Most brassicas, cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale, etc will grow and even thrive in the colder shorter winter days. Anywhere in NC I would think you could grow these now. You may have to start seedlings inside or in a corner of your garage that you can heat up a little with a space heater or grow mat. You can also grow lettuce and spinach. If you cover a garden bed with clear plastic for a week or so in the sun it will warm the soil enough to germinate beets, and carrots. Also, peas and onions are cool weather crops. If you've lived in your area very long and know the weather patterns, trust your instinct. Protecting things that can't freeze after they are growing, is simple enough as long as you don't have long periods of hard freezes. You can just throw a blanker over them at night or cover them with some plastic sheeting or even use a 2 liter coke bottle with the bottom cut out. With the coke bottle you can leave the screw lid in place at night and take it off during the sunny days to keep the plants from baking.

 

[cmcanallen]

Well, starting my seed germination so early has come back to make me start everything else early. Everything's growing so well may have to plant early and build hoop houses to protect the plants from late frosts. Haven't decided if this is good or bad yet. That will be decided by how my husband takes me spending money....

 

[yinepu]

I went out to check on the critters a few minutes ago.. and found this:




nothing like a wildflower blooming in January to get your green thumb itching!

 

[erinszoo]

I went out to check on the critters a few minutes ago.. and found this:




nothing like a wildflower blooming in January to get your green thumb itching!

This made me smile today! Nothing like a flower in the middle of winter. Thanks!

 

[celticgarden]

You southern folks make me jealous

Here is how I get the seed starting job done.
1) I use 4 foot long cheap fluorescent lights. Mount them on stacks of books on an old counter that we have in the basement.

2) Sow seeds in peat pots or whatever. Germinate seeds in their trays upstairs where it's warmer than basement

3) as soon as things germinate and before they turn leggy, move them under the basement lights

4) plug basement lights into lamp timer to control light. On at 5am off 10 or 11 at night.

5) that leaves watering when needed.

I just haven't had any luck with windowsill seed starting. Oh, and I start my tomatoes early too! I use wall-o-waters (or generic type) to protect them for an early start.

Oh yes, and when the seedlings grow, add more books to the stack to raise the lights. Keep lights just a couple of inches above leaves.