I’m not a expert gardener, but I’m getting started. I’ve watched a lot of utube videos about starting with seeds. Several experienced gardeners have also started putting a small fan near the seedlings mimics the wind and helps the plants be stronger. Food for thought.
Glad you're getting going! It's all about trying things, noting your successes and correcting your mistakes. It's a learning process....always! I like the fan idea. Just realize that those pots can dry out pretty quick. You need to watch them close if you have a fan. Thanks for stopping by!
I might try to get some of the seeds closer to the lights. I noticed the cabbage family got a bit leggy. I'm going to see if they grow slower (and stronger) if the lights are closer. Thanks for stopping by to watch!
Holly and my wife Brittney both deal with the same problem. Doing our planting in the kitchen. 😂 Some channels you can just tell you will enjoy listening to whatever they have to share. This is one of those. New subscriber and glad to find y'all (we're in TN and y'all is in our dictionary.)
Hi Tim! Welcome to the channel and thanks for the very kind words! Brittney and Holly are good women to put up with our indoor gardening! For us, it has to do with the cold. We need to extend our season as much as possible. I bet you get an additional month of gardening than we have. Thanks again for joining us and please add your comments! We'd love to hear more from you! Take care!
Like you I now use bigger pots for most things. I use 3 1/2 inch round pots, an under bead storage box as a tray. I leave one pot in the corner empty, this allows for easy watering of the tray. Just poor water into the empty pot.
@@TheOldSwedesFarm no supports, the under bed storage box has slightly higher sides than the pots. And like you my 24 pots fill the space so no room to fall over. My box also comes with a clear lid so makes a great cover till things germinate. 🌱🌱🌱
@@catsmother4556 Perfect! I wondered if the round pots would all support each other (like the square). How do the clear lids hold up over several years? Our trays did not come with lids but we keep the trays in a warm area til the seeds sprout. Thanks for checking in!! Have a great week!
@@TheOldSwedesFarm as my trays and lids are intended to be under bead storage I am sure the plastic is not uv stable and will eventually become brittle and break. As I only use them for a couple months a year they are lasting well several years in.
Seed starting is one of the best things about spring! This is a great how-to guide! I did get a heat mat for my peppers and sweet potatoes this year and I do think it helped…the one that I have has a temperature adjuster though to keep it from getting too hot, plus I have my pots in a self-watering tray so they aren’t touching the heat mat directly. Baking the soil while they try to germinate would definitely not be helpful!
I had heard some horror stories about heat mats so I backed off. So far, the sun has been doing a good job. The tomatoes just sprouted today! Thanks for watching Jennifer!
I like the idea of bigger pots with the exception being tomatoes. I find up-potting and burying the stems is great for kickstarting growth as their stems shoot out new roots when buried.
I just hate disrupting the plants. I can see your point and might look into it for this year. I usually end up burying my tomatoes quite deep when I get them to the garden. Thanks for stopping by to watch and comment. Cheers!
I was going to say that when you transplant the tomatoes into their final spots, you can strip the lower leaves and initiate the same root growth at that point as well. I'm with the Old Swede, I'm so over constant transplanting disruption. I just had a whole batch of lettuce seedlings that I germinated paper towel method die after meticulously transplanting into the small cell trays.
Yes, this makes sense! Thank you for sharing. I love seeing how everyone starts seeds and I'm in the process of learning the best way for me. I can't wait to see you starts going into the gorgeous garden of yours!
You're going to do great! Small spaces can get hot, so watch the plants and make sure they stay moist. It's easy to have them dry out. Keep us posted on how you do!
We started a month earlier than last year. I want to grow nice peppers this year and we just don’t have a long enough season otherwise. Never had luck with heat a mat, I use that for growing sprouts. 😂 Great video. Good luck.
I can't get the plants in the ground until the end of May. This is about as early as I can go without them getting too big (and fragile). When can you get your plants in the ground? Have a great weekend!
@@TheOldSwedesFarm in the ground the start of June but we take them out to the green house for the daytimes only starting in late April. The natural sun and heat with the protection from wind etc is so awesome!
We started seeds too. I’m experimenting with the dwarf tomato project seeds. Wow, those little buggers are gems, the stalks are as thick as my thumb. I’ll try and send you a pic. We plant in the kitchen too and use a chopstick, it’s okay Holly 😊 Thanks for the video, I so enjoy them!
I want to try some of those dwarf tomatoes too. I'll go look for them. They look like they put out a lot of fruit for their size. Great idea with the chopstick! I'll let Holly know I'm not the only one using the kitchen! Cheers Melissa!
Lol a SAFEHOUSE for plants!!! Or it could be the HALFWAY HOUSE too. Hehe I have basically the same lighting and shelving set up. But I do use heat mats and absolutely love them because tomatoes and peppers germinate in 3 or 4 days vs weeks. I have my lights on them as soon as they are planted. Not necessarily because they need it, but because that bright light reminds me to tend to them. When they germinate, the heat mat gets turned off. I've found a wonderful seed starting medium that has worm castings and bat guano in it. I don't like using seed starting mix because it has no nutrients in it. Seedlings tend to die off quickly if you just use seed starting mix. I dislike up potting stuff too. I will do it tho for some things. Happy Growing!!!
I saw someone really cook their soil (with a mat) so I've used the sun to work for me. I like your idea for the worm castings. With the mix we have, I've never had issues with plants dying. Glad we agree on the no up potting! Have a great week!
I don’t like to up pot either. You gave some great tips. Your butternut and spaghetti squash still look good. Thanks for sharing how you start your seeds. I think we all need to grow something this year.
Lots of good stuff. Really enjoyed the video. I also don't like up-potting. I use a 32-cell insert for a 1020. Each cell has a 2.5" x 2.5" x 3.5" pot in it and I mark each pot with painter's tape/marker 'cause there's 32 with lots of different varieties.
I can't agree more with you on up potting. Sounds like you've got a great process that is tried & true. I've only got four flats planted so far but I don't need too many this year. I'll probably only have about ten flats planted soon. Have a great weekend, Brent! Cheers!
Great video! I'm an Arkie married to a Swede. I also hate the up potting fiasco. I like your idea of the 4" pots from the start. While watching this video I had an a ha moment. Why not start tomatoes in a 4x4 pot that is deeper than normal? I know that I've seen them. Bootstrap Farmer maybe? I think I'll try starting them with a little soil and then add soil as they grow. Similar hilling potatoes. Might result in a tomato with lots of roots with no up potting! Now.... Lights. I bought cheap led lights and mounted six on a rectangular piece of sheet metal. Then I mounted a small chain on all 4 corners. The chains is almost as long as my grow rack shelf spacing. Next I made four hooks from four chain links. These hang from the bottom of the next shelf up. With that I can adjust the shelves so that they are about1" above the plants. I'm in my second year with this set-up and it is working great!!! Love your channel. Just gave you a thumbs up and a subscribe. Keep them coming!
Interesting idea with the tomato. I don't know how far they want to set their initial roots. You can sure give it a try. Let me know how it goes. I plant them as you saw and then trim up leaves as they grow. I then plant them deep to promote more root growth. I am sure there are many ways to plant tomatoes! Keep me posted how you do!
Back to the chili plants, tomatoes, melons, squash and all kinds of other stuff. When I mentioned Richard and Holly ordering more chickens, Ruth asked “who.”. After my refresher ID- now we have a grower box of large size with, four Speckled Sussex, 2 Blue Plymouth Rocks, 2 Golden Wyandotte’s, 2 Lavender Orpingtons and 2 Red sex links! You guys are contagious but between poopy butt cleaning and seeing our seedling popping out in the room We are having a ball! Thanks for both of You showing instructing and laughing.
Cleaning poopy butt - what a fun task for every chicken owner!! Your group of chickens sounds like a good group! Keep us posted on the Sussex and Blue Rocks. We've never had them but been curious. We love seeing all the seedlings come up! It's such a fun time of year! Cheers David!
I love seeing how people start their seeds. I've always used the little mesh pods, but I must admit the up-potting is such a bummer! In AZ it was a must because they really saved water. But, now that water isn't an issue I think I might try the 4" pots! Those sound like they work great! Thanks for sharing! 😊💗
Up-potting stinks! I have never done it. The 4" pots are great. The link is below if you want to use the same pots and trays we use. Keep us posted on your progress Tammy! Cheers!
Thank you for a no-brainer guide to starting seeds! Some make it a real song and dance or a juggling performance. My biggest problem is that I don't have a great deal of room for starters. I have no basement or garage space. So, the living room/dining room it is.
It does take a bit of space to start the plants. Then the task is finding space outside to harden them off. Keep us posted on your success. We'd love to hear how you do. Thanks for the kind words about the video. I'm not a technical guy, so our videos are usually very simple. Thanks for watching and keep us posted on your progress. Cheers Abigail!
I am still dragging my feet on seed starting. But I'm soaking the soil tonight so maybe I'll put some in tomorrow. The 3' of snow in my garden and the single digit temps really make me wonder when spring is going to show up.
I'm hoping spring decides to show up. It's been so cool and we've still got two feet of snow in the garden! It's been a heck of a winter! Cheers Elise!
G'day Rich and Holly. I love making that muddy mess. 😁 I'm also shocked that you do not start individual carrots in individual pots inside! 😲 Kidding! That was really good guys. it's going to help people for sure. Nice one with the info on the lighting too by the way. All the best. Daz.
Thanks for stopping by to watch Daz! We appreciate the support! I can't imagine the number of pots I'd need if we planted carrots, peas and beans inside!! Have a great week!
You’re so methodical. I love it. What a great video talking about seedlings in a cold climate. We use larger pots also when we can. We decided to use starts this year but then it snowed today so why not start seeds. Lol
Like Betsy said, lots of options are good! I hope we're all done with the cold weather! We're over 50 today! It feels like summer! Keep us updated how the starts and seeds do. Cheers Lisa!
@@TheOldSwedesFarm just fyi: Steffie from Steffie's garden subscribed to my channel ,and I couldn't take it anymore. I taped an upload about my peppers, etc. that I seeded indoors a few days ago. (Didn't do video of winter-sown seeds yet, but I'm planning that also
I'd rather have the Possum BBQ'd! You are a full month ahead of us on planting dates. Sorry it is so wet. I hope all the severe weather has gone around you. Have a great Easter weekend, Russ!
Thank you for producing this video. Could you please answer this question, I am learning, how do you determine how many plants you “want”? in your case 9.
Great question. You need to look at how much of each vegetable you need. Last year we were planting for ourselves and a CSA we were hosting. We needed a LOT of veggies. This year we have less need since we're not running our CSA. Think about each vegetable and how much you need. Let me know what you need and we can figure out the plants. You can email me at oldswedesfarm@gmail.com. We can figure out what to plant. Hope this helps. Rich
I've seen some videos from down south. They are harvesting veggies and mine aren't even in the ground! You're correct about it being a whole different game! I need to push a LOT of growing into four months. Cheers Ammie!
I wonder what the difference is? I've always used potting soil. I always felt seed starter was the same soil but priced higher. Maybe I need to lay two bags together and compare the ingredients! Thanks for alerting me to this. I'll check it out!
When did you start planting the seeds? When and HOW did you transplant to the ground. I started last year late April and when I transplanted tot he garden outdoor, all died :( Do I need to climatize the plant in a shade 1st??????
Sorry you lost your plants. I'm working on a video about hardening off the plants. There is a "middle ground" for the plants. I bring them outside to our outdoor chicken coop. In the coop, they are protected from the chickens! It also gives the plants a chance to have wind on them and indirect sunshine. If you put them in full sun, they will get too much light and burn up. We've all lost plants to bringing them out too quick. I hope this makes sense. If not, let me know how else we can help.
Hello dear friend 😊❤️ It's a lovely very interesting video sharing ❤️📷 It's great 😃 Thanks for sharing this with us giving another a big Big like thumbs up 👍👍👍👍👍👍 See you again take care God bless you continue 🙏🙏🙏🕊️ Keep intouch ❤️🤗
Love the Hoodie Rich :))) It's good to hear the excitement in your voice. It's pretty easy to tell you're stoked for spring:) Totally agree that fluffy texture is the most important component. That window is perfect to start them. Solid plan for your situation, we have such a short growing season we need to start much more inside. If we had a greenhouse, it would be a huge help. Cheers J&C 🌱👍🌱 Btw there used to be a Foster Lager Pub here in Victoria:)
Ha! You saw the Foster's can on the counter. I thought we had hidden the clutter (we put the bacon grease in the can). We need to grow seeds, or we'd spend a fortune on plants. Pennies per plant versus dollars. Thanks for stopping by and watching! We appreciate the support!
That is a great overview! I do like the heat mat for peppers, but I don’t find it helpful for anything else. I’m excited to see your garden again this year. I hope you have a great week! -Cady
I'm not an expert on this question but I'll give an opinion. I believe that starting mix has a fertilizer mixed in, to promote growth for a certain amount of time. Potting mix is a loose potting material for plants, etc. Just an idea/opinion. The 4" pots are incredible. I have a link to the pots/trays in the description. These work great! Cheers!
I have lights but running out of room! So trying winter sowing techniques shown by another uTuber. Put in cut milk jugs, tape them closed (remove cap, for the most part), and put outside. This for cool weather stuff, like brocc, spinach and on and on.
I've got a link to the lights in the description. If you can find some shelves, these lights work great! Over the long term, they pay for themselves with all the extra produce you can grow!
@@MissBetsyLu Betsy - I've never tried this. I don't know where I could put these. We had so much snow that I couldn't get down to the ground. With my ground fabric, I also have certain spots I want specific plants. Maybe I need to come up with a plan to try this next year in a limited area. Cheers!
Great video. I wish I had more space in my yard for veggies 🥦 🥕. I live in Hamilton ON so I think I’m zone 5B? I don’t have grow lights and am trying to grow flowers from seed for the first time (zinnias, lupines and snapdragons). Wish me luck…😂
Keep us posted on how the flower seeds go. Maybe you could mix some veggies in with the flowers! I've heard of people mixing in peas (or other veggies) with flowers. The peas provide extra nitrogen for the flowers and you get some fresh veggies! Good luck with the flowers! Cheers!
@@jamesolson6613 I fear we're going to have a tough March/April. Mother Nature still has a few storms left! Take care and stay in touch. Keep us updated on how your garden is doing!
Thanks for stopping by and watching! Several years ago we spent time with friends in Eglisau, Switzerland and drove all over Switzerland. What a beautiful country!
I have pulled pepper seeds in the past. The squash, and some other plants, can cross-pollinate. I just don't want to run the risk of having a cross breed. Seeds are cheap. #Peppergate2023 threw me for a loop this season. Nothing was what it was supposed to be. I'm trusting that they will get their act together and the seeds will be accurate next season. Hope that makes sense.
Start the herbs indoors! We didn't start them at the same time as we needed room for all the veggies. The herbs will do great if started indoors (in the Upper Midwest). Hope this helps. Cheers Ashley!
Great tips! Great advice! I can't wait to see how everything develops! Last year it was amazing! I planted a lot of peppers this year, hoping to catch up with you guys 😂😅, lol!! Very exciting to start planting again! Have a blessed week 😊!!
Some of the sprouts are doing fantastic and some are slow. It'll be fun to watch the garden develop and also to watch your garden grow! Get those peppers growing!!!
I made a comment on our Sunday Live that I really have a hard time getting cauliflower to grow and produce good heads. I just don't know what is wrong (variety, starting too late (or early)). I do OK with broccoli but not cauliflower. Start broccoli indoors in March and bring outside to plant in early May. It should be fine. Let me know how you do this season.
Four years ago I made some big mistakes. I started in February (12 weeks before end of frost) and I put them in direct sunlight. I fried most of the plants. Adjusted my plans and had huge success the past couple years. Big pots are essential. Uppotting is too much time and risk to the plants. Keep me posted on how you're doing this year!
@@MissBetsyLu Hopefully, if we make mistakes, we can recover in the same season! It's hard up here where we have such a short growing window! Cheers Betsy!
I'm in Scotland, it's just showing a little warm out along with the storm we are having.. 90mile an hour winds and a horrid flu didn't stop me from potting up 20 tomato plants in the greenhouse. I got 100 Scots pine seeds pre chilling in the fridge. The world needs the growers. Keep it up!
Not sure I've really got any training. I'm a ham operator (see some of our other videos). I've picked up some tips and things over the decades. I'm not really a technical guy but know enough to be dangerous. Cheers John!
Thanks for joining us here on the Farm! I'm glad you got some value out of our video. Keep us posted on what you're going to be growing this season. Check out our video on our Seed Swap. Join us for some fun and a nationwide seed swap!! Cheers!
HERE is an innovative idea>>> A weed farmer in California (where else?) scavenged a few BROKEN commercial refrigerators from a scrap dealer. He fixed the inside light, cut the cord to the compressors and uses them for seed germination. He places his seed trays inside on growpads & the insulation to keep the refer cold, keeps it warm. WOW. Starting refer in a refer. Whoda thought? Reuse-Recycle-Repurpose just like any good hippie would. !
We have almost all of the plants in the ground. The ground is still a bit cool so we'll wait a week to get the pumpkins and squash in the ground. How is you planting coming? Thanks for stopping by to watch Crystal! Cheers!
I guess I didn't say it in the video but we use Miracle Gro Potting Mix. We've always used it and it works amazing. I've never used a formal seed starter. Cheers!
@@TheOldSwedesFarm I use the MG moisture control potting medium vs. the regular potting mix. I find that it is a slight upgrade, especially for starting seeds.
@@TheOldSwedesFarm i think we all should be growing food,, because the government an walmart don t like it,, i am growing a ton of food an giving it to the food shelf.
@@DanaBellefeuille We all need to be growing food. I grew way too much a couple years ago. I ended up bringing over 60 pounds of peppers and a bunch of eggplant to the food shelf. They were overjoyed! I brought more food over the next month and local people had fresh produce, thanks to us. We're growing additional food this year to give to the food shelf. Thanks for stopping by Dana!!
Starting your seeds indoors? We hope a few of the ideas here will help you have lots of great plants, ready to plant!! Give us your feedback!
I’m not a expert gardener, but I’m getting started. I’ve watched a lot of utube videos about starting with seeds. Several experienced gardeners have also started putting a small fan near the seedlings mimics the wind and helps the plants be stronger. Food for thought.
Glad you're getting going! It's all about trying things, noting your successes and correcting your mistakes. It's a learning process....always! I like the fan idea. Just realize that those pots can dry out pretty quick. You need to watch them close if you have a fan. Thanks for stopping by!
That lighting system setup is perfect 👌 I keep my lights 30 inches away from my seedlings and never had an issue.
I might try to get some of the seeds closer to the lights. I noticed the cabbage family got a bit leggy. I'm going to see if they grow slower (and stronger) if the lights are closer. Thanks for stopping by to watch!
Hey Rich & Holly
I'm a first time gardener and hoping for a good harvest. Thanks for the great tips and support.
I hope this helps you. Keep us posted how your garden does. If we can help you, drop us a note. Cheers!!
Holly and my wife Brittney both deal with the same problem. Doing our planting in the kitchen. 😂 Some channels you can just tell you will enjoy listening to whatever they have to share. This is one of those. New subscriber and glad to find y'all (we're in TN and y'all is in our dictionary.)
Hi Tim! Welcome to the channel and thanks for the very kind words! Brittney and Holly are good women to put up with our indoor gardening! For us, it has to do with the cold. We need to extend our season as much as possible. I bet you get an additional month of gardening than we have. Thanks again for joining us and please add your comments! We'd love to hear more from you! Take care!
Like you I now use bigger pots for most things. I use 3 1/2 inch round pots, an under bead storage box as a tray. I leave one pot in the corner empty, this allows for easy watering of the tray. Just poor water into the empty pot.
Great tip! Are the pots held in place with supports in the tray? I've always used the square pots. Thanks for stopping by!
@@TheOldSwedesFarm no supports, the under bed storage box has slightly higher sides than the pots. And like you my 24 pots fill the space so no room to fall over. My box also comes with a clear lid so makes a great cover till things germinate. 🌱🌱🌱
@@catsmother4556 Perfect! I wondered if the round pots would all support each other (like the square). How do the clear lids hold up over several years? Our trays did not come with lids but we keep the trays in a warm area til the seeds sprout. Thanks for checking in!! Have a great week!
@@TheOldSwedesFarm as my trays and lids are intended to be under bead storage I am sure the plastic is not uv stable and will eventually become brittle and break. As I only use them for a couple months a year they are lasting well several years in.
Seed starting is one of the best things about spring! This is a great how-to guide! I did get a heat mat for my peppers and sweet potatoes this year and I do think it helped…the one that I have has a temperature adjuster though to keep it from getting too hot, plus I have my pots in a self-watering tray so they aren’t touching the heat mat directly. Baking the soil while they try to germinate would definitely not be helpful!
I had heard some horror stories about heat mats so I backed off. So far, the sun has been doing a good job. The tomatoes just sprouted today! Thanks for watching Jennifer!
I like the idea of bigger pots with the exception being tomatoes. I find up-potting and burying the stems is great for kickstarting growth as their stems shoot out new roots when buried.
I just hate disrupting the plants. I can see your point and might look into it for this year. I usually end up burying my tomatoes quite deep when I get them to the garden. Thanks for stopping by to watch and comment. Cheers!
I was going to say that when you transplant the tomatoes into their final spots, you can strip the lower leaves and initiate the same root growth at that point as well. I'm with the Old Swede, I'm so over constant transplanting disruption. I just had a whole batch of lettuce seedlings that I germinated paper towel method die after meticulously transplanting into the small cell trays.
Yes, this makes sense! Thank you for sharing. I love seeing how everyone starts seeds and I'm in the process of learning the best way for me. I can't wait to see you starts going into the gorgeous garden of yours!
I can't wait to see them outside too! We just need to get rid of a couple feet of snow! Thanks for stopping by Dawn!
I’m a beginner. I have a small space (balcony) so I’m very nervous but excited. This was super helpful!
You're going to do great! Small spaces can get hot, so watch the plants and make sure they stay moist. It's easy to have them dry out. Keep us posted on how you do!
We started a month earlier than last year. I want to grow nice peppers this year and we just don’t have a long enough season otherwise. Never had luck with heat a mat, I use that for growing sprouts. 😂
Great video. Good luck.
I can't get the plants in the ground until the end of May. This is about as early as I can go without them getting too big (and fragile). When can you get your plants in the ground? Have a great weekend!
@@TheOldSwedesFarm in the ground the start of June but we take them out to the green house for the daytimes only starting in late April. The natural sun and heat with the protection from wind etc is so awesome!
We started seeds too. I’m experimenting with the dwarf tomato project seeds. Wow, those little buggers are gems, the stalks are as thick as my thumb. I’ll try and send you a pic. We plant in the kitchen too and use a chopstick, it’s okay Holly 😊
Thanks for the video, I so enjoy them!
I want to try some of those dwarf tomatoes too. I'll go look for them. They look like they put out a lot of fruit for their size. Great idea with the chopstick! I'll let Holly know I'm not the only one using the kitchen! Cheers Melissa!
@@TheOldSwedesFarm lol - poor Holly !
Lol a SAFEHOUSE for plants!!! Or it could be the HALFWAY HOUSE too. Hehe
I have basically the same lighting and shelving set up. But I do use heat mats and absolutely love them because tomatoes and peppers germinate in 3 or 4 days vs weeks. I have my lights on them as soon as they are planted. Not necessarily because they need it, but because that bright light reminds me to tend to them. When they germinate, the heat mat gets turned off.
I've found a wonderful seed starting medium that has worm castings and bat guano in it. I don't like using seed starting mix because it has no nutrients in it. Seedlings tend to die off quickly if you just use seed starting mix.
I dislike up potting stuff too. I will do it tho for some things.
Happy Growing!!!
I saw someone really cook their soil (with a mat) so I've used the sun to work for me. I like your idea for the worm castings. With the mix we have, I've never had issues with plants dying. Glad we agree on the no up potting! Have a great week!
I don’t like to up pot either. You gave some great tips. Your butternut and spaghetti squash still look good. Thanks for sharing how you start your seeds. I think we all need to grow something this year.
I'm hoping that a lot of new gardeners give it a try this year. If I can help someone get some plants in the ground, it's a win! Cheers!
Lots of good stuff. Really enjoyed the video. I also don't like up-potting. I use a 32-cell insert for a 1020. Each cell has a 2.5" x 2.5" x 3.5" pot in it and I mark each pot with painter's tape/marker 'cause there's 32 with lots of different varieties.
I can't agree more with you on up potting. Sounds like you've got a great process that is tried & true. I've only got four flats planted so far but I don't need too many this year. I'll probably only have about ten flats planted soon. Have a great weekend, Brent! Cheers!
Great video! I'm an Arkie married to a Swede.
I also hate the up potting fiasco. I like your idea of the 4" pots from the start.
While watching this video I had an a ha moment. Why not start tomatoes in a 4x4 pot that is deeper than normal? I know that I've seen them. Bootstrap Farmer maybe? I think I'll try starting them with a little soil and then add soil as they grow. Similar hilling potatoes. Might result in a tomato with lots of roots with no up potting!
Now.... Lights. I bought cheap led lights and mounted six on a rectangular piece of sheet metal. Then I mounted a small chain on all 4 corners. The chains is almost as long as my grow rack shelf spacing. Next I made four hooks from four chain links. These hang from the bottom of the next shelf up. With that I can adjust the shelves so that they are about1" above the plants. I'm in my second year with this set-up and it is working great!!!
Love your channel. Just gave you a thumbs up and a subscribe. Keep them coming!
Interesting idea with the tomato. I don't know how far they want to set their initial roots. You can sure give it a try. Let me know how it goes. I plant them as you saw and then trim up leaves as they grow. I then plant them deep to promote more root growth. I am sure there are many ways to plant tomatoes! Keep me posted how you do!
Back to the chili plants, tomatoes, melons, squash and all kinds of other stuff. When I mentioned Richard and Holly ordering more chickens, Ruth asked “who.”. After my refresher ID- now we have a grower box of large size with, four Speckled Sussex, 2 Blue Plymouth Rocks, 2 Golden Wyandotte’s, 2 Lavender Orpingtons and 2 Red sex links! You guys are contagious but between poopy butt cleaning and seeing our seedling popping out in the room We are having a ball! Thanks for both of You showing instructing and laughing.
Cleaning poopy butt - what a fun task for every chicken owner!! Your group of chickens sounds like a good group! Keep us posted on the Sussex and Blue Rocks. We've never had them but been curious. We love seeing all the seedlings come up! It's such a fun time of year! Cheers David!
I love seeing how people start their seeds. I've always used the little mesh pods, but I must admit the up-potting is such a bummer! In AZ it was a must because they really saved water. But, now that water isn't an issue I think I might try the 4" pots! Those sound like they work great! Thanks for sharing! 😊💗
Up-potting stinks! I have never done it. The 4" pots are great. The link is below if you want to use the same pots and trays we use. Keep us posted on your progress Tammy! Cheers!
Thank you for a no-brainer guide to starting seeds! Some make it a real song and dance or a juggling performance.
My biggest problem is that I don't have a great deal of room for starters. I have no basement or garage space. So, the living room/dining room it is.
It does take a bit of space to start the plants. Then the task is finding space outside to harden them off. Keep us posted on your success. We'd love to hear how you do. Thanks for the kind words about the video. I'm not a technical guy, so our videos are usually very simple. Thanks for watching and keep us posted on your progress. Cheers Abigail!
I am still dragging my feet on seed starting. But I'm soaking the soil tonight so maybe I'll put some in tomorrow. The 3' of snow in my garden and the single digit temps really make me wonder when spring is going to show up.
I'm hoping spring decides to show up. It's been so cool and we've still got two feet of snow in the garden! It's been a heck of a winter! Cheers Elise!
Great information, Rich and Holly. Hey Rich, I was noticing your squash, can you do a video on how to store it and get it to stay fresh all winter
I like the idea. I may film something now and combine it with footage when I harvest next summer. Thanks for the idea!
G'day Rich and Holly.
I love making that muddy mess. 😁 I'm also shocked that you do not start individual carrots in individual pots inside! 😲 Kidding! That was really good guys. it's going to help people for sure.
Nice one with the info on the lighting too by the way.
All the best.
Daz.
Thanks for stopping by to watch Daz! We appreciate the support! I can't imagine the number of pots I'd need if we planted carrots, peas and beans inside!! Have a great week!
Well done here my friends awesome share and channel
See you again stay safe and healthy enjoy the weekend 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🥰🥰
Thank you for watching and commenting! We appreciate your support! We'll check out your channel too!
You’re so methodical. I love it. What a great video talking about seedlings in a cold climate. We use larger pots also when we can. We decided to use starts this year but then it snowed today so why not start seeds. Lol
Lol - aren't options grand ?
@@MissBetsyLu yes!
Like Betsy said, lots of options are good! I hope we're all done with the cold weather! We're over 50 today! It feels like summer! Keep us updated how the starts and seeds do. Cheers Lisa!
@@TheOldSwedesFarm just fyi: Steffie from Steffie's garden subscribed to my channel ,and I couldn't take it anymore. I taped an upload about my peppers, etc. that I seeded indoors a few days ago. (Didn't do video of winter-sown seeds yet, but I'm planning that also
So how do you like the Creamed Opossum? Folks around here like to plant the garden around Good Friday. Not this year. We are wet!
I'd rather have the Possum BBQ'd! You are a full month ahead of us on planting dates. Sorry it is so wet. I hope all the severe weather has gone around you. Have a great Easter weekend, Russ!
Thank you for producing this video. Could you please answer this question, I am learning, how do you determine how many plants you “want”? in your case 9.
Great question. You need to look at how much of each vegetable you need. Last year we were planting for ourselves and a CSA we were hosting. We needed a LOT of veggies. This year we have less need since we're not running our CSA. Think about each vegetable and how much you need. Let me know what you need and we can figure out the plants. You can email me at oldswedesfarm@gmail.com. We can figure out what to plant. Hope this helps. Rich
Finally, advice from up north. It’s a whole different ballgame up here.
I've seen some videos from down south. They are harvesting veggies and mine aren't even in the ground! You're correct about it being a whole different game! I need to push a LOT of growing into four months. Cheers Ammie!
People swear by seed starting mix vs potting soil... good to know it works great with just potting mix.
I wonder what the difference is? I've always used potting soil. I always felt seed starter was the same soil but priced higher. Maybe I need to lay two bags together and compare the ingredients! Thanks for alerting me to this. I'll check it out!
When did you start planting the seeds? When and HOW did you transplant to the ground. I started last year late April and when I transplanted tot he garden outdoor, all died :( Do I need to climatize the plant in a shade 1st??????
Sorry you lost your plants. I'm working on a video about hardening off the plants. There is a "middle ground" for the plants. I bring them outside to our outdoor chicken coop. In the coop, they are protected from the chickens! It also gives the plants a chance to have wind on them and indirect sunshine. If you put them in full sun, they will get too much light and burn up. We've all lost plants to bringing them out too quick. I hope this makes sense. If not, let me know how else we can help.
Hello dear friend 😊❤️
It's a lovely very interesting video sharing ❤️📷
It's great 😃
Thanks for sharing this with us giving another a big Big like thumbs up 👍👍👍👍👍👍
See you again take care
God bless you continue 🙏🙏🙏🕊️
Keep intouch ❤️🤗
Thanks for stopping by! We appreciate your support and kind words about our video. Have a great week!
Congratulations, you already started! For us here is still a little bit early. For sure your veggie garden will be wonderful!👍
We're hoping this season will be as productive as last year! Thanks for stopping by! Cheers!
Love the Hoodie Rich :)))
It's good to hear the excitement in your voice. It's pretty easy to tell you're stoked for spring:) Totally agree that fluffy texture is the most important component.
That window is perfect to start them. Solid plan for your situation, we have such a short growing season we need to start much more inside. If we had a greenhouse, it would be a huge help.
Cheers J&C 🌱👍🌱
Btw there used to be a Foster Lager Pub here in Victoria:)
Ha! You saw the Foster's can on the counter. I thought we had hidden the clutter (we put the bacon grease in the can). We need to grow seeds, or we'd spend a fortune on plants. Pennies per plant versus dollars. Thanks for stopping by and watching! We appreciate the support!
@@TheOldSwedesFarm the Foster's can took me back to the good old days 👍
@@clivesconundrumgarden Fosters.....Australian for good old days!
@@TheOldSwedesFarm 😁🍻🍻
Lots of great sowing tips Rich and Holly! Keep us posted on how things grow!
They're sprouting! We're off & running for the season! Cheers!
That is a great overview! I do like the heat mat for peppers, but I don’t find it helpful for anything else. I’m excited to see your garden again this year. I hope you have a great week! -Cady
I guess I use the sunny window as my heat mat. I saw someone use one, and it baked the soil. Never tried it after seeing that. Have a great week Cady!
I love the idea of starting with the 4" pots! I am going to do that next year. What is the difference between seed starting mix and potting mix?
I'm not an expert on this question but I'll give an opinion. I believe that starting mix has a fertilizer mixed in, to promote growth for a certain amount of time. Potting mix is a loose potting material for plants, etc. Just an idea/opinion. The 4" pots are incredible. I have a link to the pots/trays in the description. These work great! Cheers!
Thank you! This will be my first time and I live in a small house so won't plant much. How did you start your butternut squash?
Check out this video to see how we plant squash (and why). ua-cam.com/video/HJTlySnbn4g/v-deo.html Hope this helps!
thank you!@@TheOldSwedesFarm
Thank you. I love seed starting time. I’m indoor sowing now ❤
It's an exciting time of year. All the planning and seed hunting...... Let's get out in the gardens! Cheers!
Hopefully you have many 6-8 inches tall seedlings to transplant when the warm weather begins.
That's our goal. I really hope things work out. It's been such a long winter and we're ready to get outside!!
Great video. You are an excellent teacher. I really appreciate your straight forward approach to seed starting. Thank you!
Thanks for the kind words! It means a lot! If we can help in any other way, just let us know. Take care!!
If I had grow lights I would start sooner!!
I have lights but running out of room! So trying winter sowing techniques shown by another uTuber. Put in cut milk jugs, tape them closed (remove cap, for the most part), and put outside. This for cool weather stuff, like brocc, spinach and on and on.
@@MissBetsyLu great tip!!!
I've got a link to the lights in the description. If you can find some shelves, these lights work great! Over the long term, they pay for themselves with all the extra produce you can grow!
@@MissBetsyLu Betsy - I've never tried this. I don't know where I could put these. We had so much snow that I couldn't get down to the ground. With my ground fabric, I also have certain spots I want specific plants. Maybe I need to come up with a plan to try this next year in a limited area. Cheers!
@@TheOldSwedesFarm thanks!! ~jc
I'm going to try your method for a change because it makes sense. Thanks.
Give it a try and let us know how you do. We love feedback. Cheers Juan!
Great video Rich. You are going to have a great garden this year.
We're hoping to get a good start on the season and come out prepared. Thanks for stopping by and we hope you're doing well! Cheers!
This was extremely helpful for me, a very beginner seed starter indoors! Thank you!
Thanks for stopping by to watch. If we can help you further, don't hesitate to reach out. Good luck with the seeds and keep us updated! Cheers!
Some good, no-nonsense advice 👍🌱
Thank you for stopping by to watch. I've been called "no-nonsense" before!! Cheers!
Great video. I wish I had more space in my yard for veggies 🥦 🥕. I live in Hamilton ON so I think I’m zone 5B? I don’t have grow lights and am trying to grow flowers from seed for the first time (zinnias, lupines and snapdragons). Wish me luck…😂
Keep us posted on how the flower seeds go. Maybe you could mix some veggies in with the flowers! I've heard of people mixing in peas (or other veggies) with flowers. The peas provide extra nitrogen for the flowers and you get some fresh veggies! Good luck with the flowers! Cheers!
In our sun room my wife has already planted all kinds of southwest stuff like chili
I cannot wait to be using all our fresh produce to make salsa and fresh chili! Cheers!
Excellent video ..I’m in Minnesota as well
Thanks for stopping by to watch and comment! We're near Henderson. Can't wait to get some seeds in the ground! Cheers!
@@TheOldSwedesFarm Hutchinson here…been a strange winter
@@jamesolson6613 I fear we're going to have a tough March/April. Mother Nature still has a few storms left! Take care and stay in touch. Keep us updated on how your garden is doing!
Congratulations! You have a huge start! I hope your vegetable garden will be wonderful!
We've had a good start! Now Mother Nature needs to cooperate, and we can get a plan together to get outside! Have a great weekend, Alexa!
@@TheOldSwedesFarm Thanks a lot!
Awesome. A complete video covering each and every detail of germination. Thanks a lot 🙏
Thanks for stopping by to watch and comment! Cheers!
That is great overview. Thank you so much for sharing with us. Lot’s of love from Switzerland ❤❤❤❤
Thanks for stopping by and watching! Several years ago we spent time with friends in Eglisau, Switzerland and drove all over Switzerland. What a beautiful country!
Great Stuff! Can't wait to see those little sprouts popping up. Good luck!
The tomatoes just popped up. Waiting for other plants! We just need some heat outside!
Hello Rich, Have you ever tired harvesting the seeds from some of your crop for the following year?
I have pulled pepper seeds in the past. The squash, and some other plants, can cross-pollinate. I just don't want to run the risk of having a cross breed. Seeds are cheap. #Peppergate2023 threw me for a loop this season. Nothing was what it was supposed to be. I'm trusting that they will get their act together and the seeds will be accurate next season. Hope that makes sense.
I want to do this for next year. What about herbs, should those be started inside or outside?
Start the herbs indoors! We didn't start them at the same time as we needed room for all the veggies. The herbs will do great if started indoors (in the Upper Midwest). Hope this helps. Cheers Ashley!
@@TheOldSwedesFarm perfect thank you!
Great tips! Great advice! I can't wait to see how everything develops! Last year it was amazing! I planted a lot of peppers this year, hoping to catch up with you guys 😂😅, lol!! Very exciting to start planting again! Have a blessed week 😊!!
Some of the sprouts are doing fantastic and some are slow. It'll be fun to watch the garden develop and also to watch your garden grow! Get those peppers growing!!!
Yes!!!! I can't wait! You guys are a great inspiration!
Great video ! Any tips on broccoli and cauliflower I can not get them to grow !
I made a comment on our Sunday Live that I really have a hard time getting cauliflower to grow and produce good heads. I just don't know what is wrong (variety, starting too late (or early)). I do OK with broccoli but not cauliflower. Start broccoli indoors in March and bring outside to plant in early May. It should be fine. Let me know how you do this season.
Great video Rich, so much good information.
Thanks for watching Jase! Appreciate all your support!
Great info!!! Yes! Big pots! I am starting my seed inside now also and I am in Virginia! I have lost a lot of plants because I started to early!
Oh well. Live and learn. at least, can try again next season/year.
@@MissBetsyLu thankfully I learned this two years ago and plant later now 💕
Four years ago I made some big mistakes. I started in February (12 weeks before end of frost) and I put them in direct sunlight. I fried most of the plants. Adjusted my plans and had huge success the past couple years. Big pots are essential. Uppotting is too much time and risk to the plants. Keep me posted on how you're doing this year!
@@MissBetsyLu Hopefully, if we make mistakes, we can recover in the same season! It's hard up here where we have such a short growing window! Cheers Betsy!
@@TheOldSwedesFarm will do!! Learning from mistakes lead to success 😊
Summer like temps here
Wow! There is a chance of 60's over the weekend. That would be incredible! Cheers Dave!
Thanks for the tips my fellow gardener !
Thank you for stopping by to watch and comment! Cheers!
Lovely tips my friend 😊🌱🌱🌱 happy growing. I am going to learn loads from you
If we can help you in any way, please don't hesitate to ask. Have a great day!
Great work, Happy gardening !!
It's slooooowly getting warmer out. Spring is on the way!! Let's get our hands dirty in the garden!!
I'm in Scotland, it's just showing a little warm out along with the storm we are having.. 90mile an hour winds and a horrid flu didn't stop me from potting up 20 tomato plants in the greenhouse. I got 100 Scots pine seeds pre chilling in the fridge. The world needs the growers. Keep it up!
2 ads watching, great content amigo !! fully supported 18:48
Thank you for watching everything. We appreaite your support!
Selamat malqm
Thank you for watching and commenting! Have a great day!
Where did you get your electronics training?
Not sure I've really got any training. I'm a ham operator (see some of our other videos). I've picked up some tips and things over the decades. I'm not really a technical guy but know enough to be dangerous. Cheers John!
@@TheOldSwedesFarm I was the backup radio operator for K6MCA, Marine Corps BASE, 29 Palms, CA IN THE 1960’s. I was a Radar Instructor , otherwise.
@@johnclarke6647 That is awesome! Thanks for your service John! My Father was WWII Navy in the Pacific. My Son is in the Army right now.
How much water is in the tray? I'm afraid of watter logging.
I water from above, so I don't put water in the tray. I'm afraid of waterlogged pots too.
Great tips!
Thanks for watching and commenting! We appreciate you Becky! Glad there were a couple of helpful tips. Cheers!
New here, awesome tips. Thanks 😊🌱 Happy Growing
Thanks for joining us here on the Farm! I'm glad you got some value out of our video. Keep us posted on what you're going to be growing this season. Check out our video on our Seed Swap. Join us for some fun and a nationwide seed swap!! Cheers!
HERE is an innovative idea>>>
A weed farmer in California (where else?) scavenged a few BROKEN
commercial refrigerators from a scrap dealer. He fixed the inside light,
cut the cord to the compressors and uses them for seed germination.
He places his seed trays inside on growpads & the insulation to keep the
refer cold, keeps it warm. WOW. Starting refer in a refer. Whoda thought?
Reuse-Recycle-Repurpose just like any good hippie would.
!
People are always improvising! I wouldn't think to use an old fridge. Thanks for sharing the ideas!! Cheers!
Great video
Thank you for stopping by!!
Thank you!
Thanks for watching and commenting! Have a great week!
Lol its memorial day weekend, howd you do?
We have almost all of the plants in the ground. The ground is still a bit cool so we'll wait a week to get the pumpkins and squash in the ground. How is you planting coming? Thanks for stopping by to watch Crystal! Cheers!
How Exciting to get your seeds in the dirt!! 🌱
Finally! You're getting your veggies harvested so it's about time we get some seeds started!! Cheers Barb!
Really should use a seed starter soil
I guess I didn't say it in the video but we use Miracle Gro Potting Mix. We've always used it and it works amazing. I've never used a formal seed starter. Cheers!
@@TheOldSwedesFarm
I use the MG moisture control potting medium vs. the regular potting mix. I find that it is a slight upgrade, especially for starting seeds.
Plants don't like their what exposed?
I believe I was talking about roots and repotting plants. Some plants don't like their roots disturbed and exposed. Hope that makes sense. Cheers!
hmm think ur wife is pissed............lol u took the whole living room lol
Ha! She knows it is temporary and she knows all the tasty food we'll have a in a few months! If she is upset, so far she hasn't let on!! Cheers!
@@TheOldSwedesFarm i think we all should be growing food,, because the government an walmart don t like it,, i am growing a ton of food an giving it to the food shelf.
@@DanaBellefeuille We all need to be growing food. I grew way too much a couple years ago. I ended up bringing over 60 pounds of peppers and a bunch of eggplant to the food shelf. They were overjoyed! I brought more food over the next month and local people had fresh produce, thanks to us. We're growing additional food this year to give to the food shelf. Thanks for stopping by Dana!!
Challenge accepted 😂
We're glad you're joining in on the challenge! Keep us posted on how your garden grows this year! Cheers Karin!
Thank you!
Thanks for stopping by to watch!!