TIME TO START OUR VEGETABLE GARDEN INDOORS NOW!

Winters are always so long and I get frustrated when I can’t start my summer garden because of it. Gardening is such a fulfilling and enjoyable hobby. I must add rewarding, because it rewards you with fresh produce to eat, flowers that makes you happy and also deter pests, like Marigold’s flowers.

I started some seedlings in January. So far my peppers have sprouted nicely and are onto their second set of leaves. I have not started jalapeno and tomatoes from seeds yet and I will probably do it this week.

These are some of my gardening pointers that I want to share with you.

1. I start collecting seeds from ripen tomatoes and pepper varieties that I like, allow them to dry for a week or two, place in a tight container and label them with type of veggie/flower and date the seeds where placed in the container.
2. I also purchase a seeds starter; a soilless mixture labeled to start seeds. (don’t get potting soil for this purpose.)
3. I always have tiny pots that I re-use every year for this purpose, I clean them and fill them with the soilless mixture, add water until the mixture is soaked, wait until it drains, stick my finger to make a small hole to hold my seed and then add my seeds. Usually not more than 4 or 5 because they will have to be transplanted when rooted and strong enough and you don’t want to disturb the roots.
4. Then I cover the pot with plastic wrap to keep it moist and place the pots in light but not direct sun.
5. Also, if you do not have the small pots at home, you can use containers such as Styrofoam eggs containers, small clean yogurt cups, anything that is small as long as you punch small holes in the bottom to allow the water to drain.
6. After that process, my seeds will start to sprout soon (some are procrastinators, smile) and at that point, I remove the plastic wrap and wait until they have at least 3 sets of leaves before moving them to the garden (if it is warm enough in my zone).

Hope that this post encourages you to start your own seedlings at home and enjoy them!