Daily Archives: May 17, 2013

Getting a Head start

Standard

001 (2)

Hello All,

Well I have a special event for you next week. Yep it’s a secret until the end of this article in which I will reveal my master plan.

For this article it will be short and sweet. Actually I should have been teaching this about 4 weeks ago. Long story short I had a mix up in my order and I am now just getting my seeds but I am sticking with the plan regardless.

I wanted to show you that you can start your own seeds and grow your own plants instead of buying them from a nursery. That is if you enjoy and have the time to do this. I love my little babies and find it a blessing that I can start them by seed and transplant them afte the danger of frost.

Most people put seeds right in the garden memorial day weekend. That the old golden rule and it works but I like to give mine a bit of a head start. Usually 6-8 weeks.

I have invested in the these containers that I use year after year, they only cost approx. 3 dollars at Kmart and plants 72 plants!

You can gift some of the little guys to your friends! How fun is that?!

Garden projects 004

First you want to partially fill them with this media. It is Miracle grow and it expands to be about twice of what it looks like. It is a bit pricier but it has a lot of benefits.

Garden projects 001

It holds up to 50 % more moisture than regular dirt and it also feeds the plant up to 6 months. It special media also provides more air for the roots to grow quickly and establish a good foundation.

Add water to get the media to expand! 1 to 1 ratio.

Start putting in the seeds of choice. Usually I will put 2-3 seeds in a container because not all of them will grow and if they all do grow you can split them a part very easily. If they are larger seed like pumpkin or zucchini then I just put one seed in each compartment.

Garden projects 002

Once you have them all in place then I go to work and spread them over with potting soil, pack them down. Or as I say “Tuck them into bed”.

 Water them again to get them started. Then I put the cover over. Perfect for holding moisture in while they germinate. I use a grow light when it is still too cold to put them out doors. You can purchase them pretty inexpensively but if you have a good window that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight that is efficient enough.

001

 Voila! After a few weeks you will have this to plant in the next project! Garden boxes! I live in Clay. CLAY I tell ya…makes for a great foundation for the house but to grow anything in; it is near impossible!

So I have decided to make a Raised Garden this year. I plan to plant a wonderful vegetable garden. Our next project will be how to build a Raised garden bed! Hopefully in video form for the very first time. So everyone say a prayer for me; I am going to need it because I am just not the best with this fancy Media stuff. I am so excited to try this!

Who knows, maybe canning in the fall with Maria our expert in the kitchen. The sky is the limit with God’s Girls!

Have fun and Praise Him while you are planting.

 Have a wonderful weekend and blessings to all.

Girl Firday- Mischele Makhlouf