It's that time of year again! Everyone is getting their gardens ready for planting in about a month, (here in Utah, we have to wait until around Mother's Day to be sure there won't be anymore surprise frosts/snows). Last year, I got a ton of seed packets for free, and have been so excited to plant them!
Ever notice how quickly supplies for your garden add up? Here are a few tips for saving money while starting your seeds:
For a few weeks before you start planting, save your used milk jugs, toilet paper rolls, or any other container you can find around the house that easily disposable.
HINT #1: Toilet paper rolls can be planted directly into your garden along with the seeds!
When you're ready to plant your seeds, cut up your containers and lay them out on pans/etc that can be used for the drainage to seep (I used old pans, lids, anything I could find not in use in my kitchen - they can always be washed).
HINT #2: use as much of the container as you can - I got 2 "planters" out of every toilet paper roll and milk jug, and 5 out of a paper towel roll, and 3 out of a 2 Liter bottle.
Then drill holes in the bottoms of each "planter". Notice above how not all of my planters have bottoms - THIS IS OKAY, and you don't have to drill anything with them; just make sure there is something underneath the containers.
(As you can see, I also experimented with old muffin tins to see how they would work, even though I didn't make a way for them to drain).
Next, will each "planter" with potting soil, but not all the way to the tops.
HINT #3: I was able to get potting soil at the dollar store! SCORE! I just needed 1 1/2 bags (.5 cubic foot each) for everything you see here.
Then plant your seeds according to the packaging.
NOTE: This is NOT the final resting place of your seeds, so you can plant them closer than on the package, since you will be thinning them out later. In fact, I just sprinkled mine in the containers like seasoning. Just make sure they are planted at the correct depth.
Water your seeds daily, allowing the water to seep out the bottoms of the containers (they will soak it up throughout the day), and watch them grow!
NOTE: It is important that the containers have a drainage system so that the seeds do not literally drown in the water, but are able to drink it up continually. My muffin tins have no drainage system at all, and as such the soil ends up floating when I put just a little water in them. Things are still growing, but I have to water them a little differently to compensate.
HINT #4: Use a heat lamp to increase the growth rate. The picture below was taken only 4 days after planting the seeds (click to enlarge):
HINT #5: When placing your seeds indoors, make sure they have plenty of natural light through a window.
HINT #6: Place the empty seed packets in the containers you planted those seeds, so you don't end up guessing later!
As my seeds mature, and it comes time to plant them in the garden, I will have updates on what to do next, and how everything turned out in my experimental containers :)
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