“Judge every day not by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you sow.”
-Robert Louis Stevenson
Here at Chiot’s Run I start all of my vegetables and many of my herbs and plants from seed. I do this not only to save money, but because enjoy doing it. It’s a great way to help get through those long cold dark winter months here in NE Ohio. I also enjoy the wonder that comes from seeing tiny seeds grow into big beautiful plants.
Another reason I grow everything from seed myself is because I want to know what goes into my food. There isn’t an organic greenhouse around here from which I can purchase organic seedlings. That means that the ones I buy are coated with chemical fertilizers and insecticides, which is not OK with me when it comes to my food, or any other plants in my garden.
Last spring I did a Seed Starting 101 Series on my blog with ten in depth posts dealing with the different aspects of seed starting. I won’t re-post them here because the comment section of each post is filled with fabulous information from other seasoned gardeners. If you have never done it and are looking to give it a whirl head on over and read through this series. If you start all you plants from seed and are an expert head on over and add some advice to the comment section.
The Seed Starting 101 Series
Why Start from Seed
Getting Started
Containers
Soil Mix
The Needs of Seeds
My Workflow
Diseases and Problems
Hardening Off
Transplanting
Learn More Each Season
I’m also giving away 3 packs of Renee’s Garden Seeds on my blog, head on over there and comment on this post to enter this drawing (contest ends midnight 1.27.11). It’s a great way to get into seed starting if you’ve never tried it.
Do you start your own plants from seed?
I can also be found at Chiot’s Run where I blog daily about gardening, cooking, local eating, beekeeping, and all kinds of stuff. You can also find me at Simple, Green, Frugal, Co-op, and you can follow me on Twitter.
I am so ready for seed starting! It’s time to sterilize all my equipment and draw up plans for the garden this year. I try to grow everything from seed, if possible, but inevitably something catches my eye at the fruit stand or the farmer’s markets.
I never did get around to using my coldframe for edibles over the winter – life has been to hectic. Instead I’ll be using it to start onions from seed and get an early start on lettuces and broccoli.
Great list!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by snarkyvegan and Xan Nelson, Susy Morris. Susy Morris said: Blogging about my Seed Starting 101 Series over at NDiN today: http://t.co/PmypRQO #growfromseed #startyourown #organicgardening [...]
I start all my own seeds. It makes the winter so much shorter! Thanksgiving then Christmas then Seed Starting (ask me which is my favourite)!
I have little tiny heads poking out right now! Spring comes fast on the west coast! Especially in a greenhouse – okay, I cheat a little….
Will Allen is here! All the way from Milwaukee! 3 days of listening to his stories and his work. Totally inspired are we! This whole gardening thing is not a fad: it is a movement – a revolution that cannot be stopped now. I’ll post more later: wonder what he’ll say today….
Thanks so much for the link to Seed Starting 101! This year is the first year I’ve started seeds indoors since I was a kid, and I’m a little nervous that they’ll actually germinate.