"experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted." -randy pausch

Thursday, March 24, 2011

start your seeds

another day of underwear,
lucky charms in the toilet bowl (targets my friends, targets),
and a load of laundry in my washer.
phew!
this is the hardest thing i've ever done.
i feel like i have changed as a person.
and grown as a mother.
just as i was about to call it all quits again,
brennan shocked my socks off and finally figured out what i've been trying to teach him for the past 48 hours.
we're not 100% there,
but man, we're making progress.
BIG progress.
and so is my garden.
it's time folks,
time to start those indoor seeds.
this i have never done.
a gardening virgin.
deflowered???
or just flowered.
that just sounds so wrong.
and so right, lol.
pun intended?
HA!!!
so dannie came over to show me how to get things going.
it was really simple.
i had made it out to be a much more complicated process in my mind.
so get to your local home depot or wherever you see seed packets, and get your seeds started indoors.
a great indoor activity for this weekend.
and from what i've heard,
you can keep some in pots for the entire growing season if you don't have a place to plant.
leroy at home depot told me he always had a garden,
even when he lived in apartments.

you will need: seed starting soil, little egg crates if you don't want to buy the ones they sell at the store, seeds, and if you want to get fancy, buy a gardening tool for potting. i got mine for 99 cents at home depot.
my only seeds that need starting indoors are the bell peppers and tomatoes.
everything else can wait until the frost is gone.
this is what my gardening friends and family experts have told me.
bless them.
and my great ideas. 

STEP 1:
wet soil, and mix it,
so it looks like...
well, like manure:)

STEP 2:
put soil into your trays about 3/4 of the way, and label which seeds are going into which trays. i did one tray for peppers and one for tomatoes. 
(b/c we had little helpers we had to go back and take some soil out, and put some more water in, but they loved helping so it was worth it!)
the crates will need something to sit in for draining water as you water them indoors over the next 4-6 weeks.
i used the top of a small plastic organizing bin.

STEP 3:
poke your finger through the center of each compartment to leave a small hole for the seeds to go into.
then drop 2-3 seeds into each hole (check the packet of your seeds to see if 2-3 seeds per hole is right).

STEP 4:
cover with dirt to the top.
dannie told me to use a spray bottle to water them until i see sprouts coming up.
then to water them with the faucet.
she also said not to over water.
and something about the leaves looking funny if i've over watered.
we shall see if i encounter that!
no idea what i'm doing.
so if you don't know what you're doing,
start not knowing what you're doing with me.
and we can start learning what we're doing together:)
washing machine is dinging.
can't wait to see these puppies grow!!!

6 comments:

Kindra said...

Best thing EVER!!!! I think getting your child potty trained it's as big of an accomplishment for Mama as it is for the child! Good job Mama!

James Hansen said...

I would LOVE to start my own garden one day! And I am clueless in how to get started! Maybe by the time that day comes, you'll be a pro and I can go to you for all you wisdom :)

Susan Anderson said...

Good luck with your garden. AND your potty training!

=)

T!FF said...

Good work my friend!! That's exactly how I start mine! Good work on the potty training too! I'm sure I'll be asking for your advice on that topic in a few years. You're a good advice giver. ;) I'm excited to see your sprouts! I'm starting my seeds today, if Paxton allows...

Jennifer Lucita said...

I like that Leroy at Home Depot always had a garden - even when he lived in an apartment. I'll have to research which veggies/herbs I can grow indoors because you (and Leroy) have motivated me to start my garden. I've wanted to for a long time but thought I couldn't since I live in an apartment. Thanks for giving me the kick in the pants I needed ;) I'm excited to learn with you (because I too know absolutely nothing about gardening)... :)

Amy said...

I love that you posted instructions. Seriously, I need all the help I can get! Can't wait to get started this week.