Thursday, February 10, 2011

Seed Starting!

Happy Thursday fellow garden lovers! ♥

I love seeing so much excitement in the garden blog world this week about seed starting! It is making me want it to be spring even more! :)


















I am planning on growing most of my plants from seed this year, verses last year when I purchased a lot of seedlings from gardening stores.















Reasons:
*Saving $$
*Unique varieties
*Classic heirlooms
*Avoiding Monsanto
*Gratification! :)

Currently planted are:
*Purple Basil
*Peas
*Calendula
*Orange Pepper
*'Summer Feast' Tomatoes
*'Garden Candy' Tomatoes
*Italian Eggplants

Even though they are sunbathing near bright windows and windowsills, I have a slight uneasy feeling that they really need is some kind of grow light system. There are 2 things holding me back from this:

1. Cost
2. Where to put it?

Discovering that I truly enjoy gardening, I guess I would not mind investing in something that would last me for years. So the biggest barrier is really where I would put it... I am somewhat of a 'neat freak' and don't want to necessarily look at it all the time. I would love to hear your thoughts/ideas on this...

Are you starting seeds indoors? If so, what are you growing? And, do you use any sort of lighting system?

6 comments:

  1. I'm starting seeds inside (for the first time). So far I've only planted peas, but I have plans to start tomatoes, peppers, squash, some herbs... you name it. I did buy a lighting system. Funnily enough Boston doesn't get tons of light in the winter - especially through 3 feet of snow. I got this one off Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-2-Foot-Start-Light-System/dp/B0006856EQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297454907&sr=8-1) and it's worked out really well. I also got a heat pad to go under it but only because we keep our apartment around 60 degrees.
    Can't wait to see what you go with.

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  2. Potted Farm- Thank you for the recommendation! I am going to look more into it when I get home from work tonight. :)

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  3. I'm planning to direct sow some lettuce seeds tomorrow in my little square foot garden area which is a raised bed. I have so much mulch in my regular planting beds that direct sowing of most seeds doesn't work too well. Last year I tried "winter sowing" and was pretty successful.

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  4. Dorothy- Good luck with the "winter sowing!" :) I need to look into planting lettuce again! I am planning on being more successful than last year...

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  5. Potted Farm- I've ordered the grow light you recommended! :) Can't wait for it to arrive in the mail!

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  6. exciting! can't wait to see your sprouts!

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