Starting seeds indoors

[TJAnonymous]

I ordered a smorgasbord of seeds of horse-friendly herbs and flowers that I'd love to plant in my pasture to create a medicinal, free-choice grazing area. However, most of these seed packets say to start them indoors several weeks before the last frost. I'm wondering what most people use to start a mass amount of seeds? I've purchased seed trays in the past but that can get expensive. Anyone have any ideas or experiences they mind sharing? I saw a YouTube video from one gardener who used egg cartons to create their own seed trays. I have plenty of egg cartons....so that is an idea, but I'd rather have feedback from others who have tried it first.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Depends on what you are starting and how long it will stay indoors. Egg trays won’t hold plants long. I use cans and plastic cup for tomato and pepper plants. You can also make containers using news paper or paper towel/toilet paper rolls. Do you have an window with a lot of light or enough grow lights for what you are starting? And seed starting mix?

 

[TJAnonymous]

I hear you on the garden seeds. I use Solo cups for my tree seedlings (apple, plum, pomegranate, and lemon). But in this case, the flowers/herbs I am planting are:

Valerian
Yarrow
Echinacea
Fenugreek*
Catmint
Peppermint
Chamomile*
Oregano
Calendula*
Nasturtium
Dandelion*
Marshmallow*

Some of these (marked with *) recommend direct sow into the soil. The rest suggest starting indoors ahead of time. Just curious what others are doing...

 

[TJAnonymous]

Depends on what you are starting and how long it will stay indoors. Egg trays won’t hold plants long. I use cans and plastic cup for tomato and pepper plants. You can also make containers using news paper or paper towel/toilet paper rolls. Do you have an window with a lot of light or enough grow lights for what you are starting? And seed starting mix?

Forgot to mention....I have a south facing sunroom that gets pretty good light. I also have grow lights out there as a supplement for seedlings.

I usually mix my own soil. I have in bulk - peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, pine bark chips, compost, peat humus, and clean topsoil. I will typically mix up whatever I need based upon whatever the seedling needs.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

I’ve always started nasturtiums outdoors without problems. I would not put any of the mints in ground they are invasive and are very hard to kill.

 

[TJAnonymous]

I’ve always started nasturtiums outdoors without problems. I would not put any of the mints in ground they are invasive and are very hard to kill.

That's actually what I am hoping for.... I'd love for them to spread down a hillside that I have which is next to impossible to mow because it is on the backside of my pond. Right now I have lots of other weeds and buttercup that come up there now. I'm going to spray 2-4D a week or so before I plant the seeds hoping to kill the weeds. However, I expect my goats and chickens will also LOVE being able to graze on the mints in addition to the horses.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

That's actually what I am hoping for.... I'd love for them to spread down a hillside that I have which is next to impossible to mow because it is on the backside of my pond. Right now I have lots of other weeds and buttercup that come up there now. I'm going to spray 2-4D a week or so before I plant the seeds hoping to kill the weeds. However, I expect my goats and chickens will also LOVE being able to graze on the mints in addition to the horses.

Just be warned that they may spread farther than that unless you put a barrier up. Also please be considerate of any neighbors nearby as it could spread to their land too. Beyond that, I wish you good luck and mint that only spreads as far as you like!

 

[Sally PB]

@TJAnonymous, where are you located? It helps to know what state/part of the country people are in for their climate.

I will be starting 50-60 tomato plants this year. Last year I used toilet paper roll tubes and that worked very well. They hold together long enough, especially if they're in some kind of container to help hold each other up. By the time I planted them, the roots were coming through the cardboard, so they were ready to grow out into the soil. They don't take a lot soil to fill up, so what I mixed up on my own was plenty.

I wish I had your south facing room...

 

[TJAnonymous]

Just be warned that they may spread farther than that unless you put a barrier up. Also please be considerate of any neighbors nearby as it could spread to their land too. Beyond that, I wish you good luck and mint that only spreads as far as you like!

Thanks for the words of warning...I do appreciate your feedback. Luckily there isn't really any chance of them crossing into a neighbor's property. In the area where this will be planted, the two closest neighbors are a funeral home and a medical clinic. Both have parking lots...no landscaping remotely near my property except for the thick tree line which is WAY out of control right now. That's actually something I like because all the foliage blocks the view between my property and the funeral home. (Don't get me wrong...I don't MIND funeral homes. My husband was a funeral director for 20+ years and still has an active embalmer's license.)

 

[TJAnonymous]

@TJAnonymous, where are you located? It helps to know what state/part of the country people are in for their climate.

I will be starting 50-60 tomato plants this year. Last year I used toilet paper roll tubes and that worked very well. They hold together long enough, especially if they're in some kind of container to help hold each other up. By the time I planted them, the roots were coming through the cardboard, so they were ready to grow out into the soil. They don't take a lot soil to fill up, so what I mixed up on my own was plenty.

I wish I had your south facing room...

I'm located in central Arkansas, right on the border between Zone 7b and 8. And I can relate about the south facing room. In my old house, I had few windows and none that were south facing. The south facing sunroom was one of the biggest reasons why I chose to buy this house.... I also have a big 9' bay of windows in my living room which ALSO faces south....

50-60 tomato plants? Holy toledo...that's a LOT of tomatoes.... Do you run a restaurant? Sell them at the market???

I've never heard of using toilet paper rolls before this thread. How do you keep them from disintegrating when you water the seedlings? With 4 people living in our household, we go through a lot of TP...ha ha. I used to save the rolls and fill them with dryer lint. Makes a good firestarter when you go camping. I even dipped some in leftover candle wax to "waterproof" them for long term storage. But never thought to use the rolls for my seeds.....