Seed starting.

13 years ago

I just posted this in another forum, someone was wondering about leaving seedlings for a week while on vacation. I thought it might help others who are starting their seeds.
I have a weekend house that I just started my seeds in. I've been doing this for 5 years now. I leave on Sunday eve and return on Friday eve. I start my seeds in Jiffy peat pellets and line them up in plastic trays with covers. I put about an inch of water in the bottom of the tray, cover them, put them in a very sunny window (gets about 7-8 hours of sun) and leave. I usually start about 50 of these pellets and maybe one or 2 of them will get some rot from too much water and/or dry out, but that happens over the course of a month. If you just need to leave them for even a few days, add some water and cover them (I've even used clear plastic wrap pulled tightly over them). Works like a dream.

This post was edited by ekling211 on Mon, Mar 11, 13 at 12:12

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Comments (7)

ceth_k
13 years ago
Is one day really enough time for gardening? Guess not everyone has a backyard garden huh.
ekling211
Original Author
13 years ago
2 days, I garden on sat and sun. Have elaborate watering system set up. Works very well.
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digdirt2
13 years ago
Unusual approach. The problems with using peat pellets and leaving the cover on over germinated plants aside, your approach wouldn't work at all for me but I'm glad it works for you.

Enjoy your garden.

Dave
edweather USDA 9a, HZ 9, Sunset 28
13 years ago
Hummmm.......kinda like the 2 day approach. Seems like my garden frimly has me held hostage 7 days per week. :-)
ekling211
Original Author
13 years ago
I'm sure you 7 day a week gardeners have a MUCH more beautiful garden then I do, but I have had some great success. I also didn't mention that I have a greenhouse I made, so after they sprout, I plant them in small containers and move them in there in mid April.
I have a sprinkler set up that goes off 2x a day until I move them out into the garden. I know some find my approach bizarre but I have about 80% success rate like this.

This post was edited by ekling211 on Tue, Mar 12, 13 at 15:03
NilaJones
13 years ago
Wow, that is the cutest greenhouse ever!! Are the doors new, or salvage?
ekling211
Original Author
13 years ago
everything is salvage. I scoured windows and doors for months. There are about 8 stained glass windows on the sides.