I bought the deep 4-cell packs from you, and they are fantastic!! I was glad I bought 8 of them. I REALLY like the fact that you aren't requiring your customers to purchase the Bootstrap Farmer products in large quantities! Thank you for that, Luke. I should have planted my onion seeds the way you did. This is first time trying onions from seed, so live and learn. I already made a note of that for next year.
I see. That’s what the difference is. I bought from bootstrap the week before he announced. I wondered why ppl didn’t just buy from bootstrap directly. Bootstrap is great if you want a lot. I don’t mind having a bunch of trays or cells.
Luke, do you have a series on strictly container gardening for those of us not allowed to dig? I’d love to see what soil and additives recommendations as well as soil testing.
First time Gardner here! I started broccoli, cabbage, luffa’s, kale and some lettuce last week and I’m finally seeing some little sprouts! I really hope my first raised bed works out this year! I dabbled last summer after I saw some potatoes that I had thrown out in the trees had actually started growing like 3 feet long! That’s what started me in gardening lol. Those first potato’s I dug up were so tiny (a few about the size of a lemon) and felt SO AMAZING! Seed starting mix I get is always hydrophobic and I always soak in water, vigorously stir until combined and soak again before using.
Congrats on your new garden.! When I make a large batch of seed starting mix in a big plastic tote I always put a few drops of Dawn dish detergent in the first gallon of water that I add to it. The Dawn acts as a wetting agent and it gets rid of the hydrophobic issue and allows the soil to become wet. I heard this info from a professional grower of heirloom seeds.
To those looking for amazing seed starter without having to spend money on Promix as it can be very pricey over time (weed grower). You can make leaf mould if you’re in a area that has lots of foliage. Or even go around your city and pick up those bags of leaves people leave for the city. mulch em up throw em in a pile let em break down and you’ll be able to scoop it all up throw it in a tote and it makes an amazing seed starter it’s light but holds it’s moisture content. Has some nutrients for the seedlings but not too much. Where as both coco and peat are 100% inert and don’t contain any food for your babies.
Wtf😂. Your kidding right? Yeah bring that in ur house and you'll bring in the aphids mites and pathogens like powdery mildew etc. Your indoor weed garden.... toast within a month full of pests n pathogens. Tbh it sounds like you have absolutely no idea what ur talking about. This video is about starting seeds early indoors not how to ruin an indoor weed grow
I'll never understand why no one grows White Tomesol. Exquisite, balanced, big flavor. A couple years ago it gave me the best tomato I've ever had in my life.
I'm a believer in Promix and could only find 2cuft compressed packs at Menards. The 'grade' of promix makes a difference whether it has debris or not. I still love the 2cuft All Purpose mix for being able to lift it and for all my plant starting. I bought and used the Bales of promix and think they weigh 60lbs dry and fill a smaller car trunk. The box hardware store Promix all purpose has bits of woody things in it. It is a nice mix but you MUST sift to have only finer light mix for seed. I have picked the surface of my freshly sowed seeds to take out 1/4 inch little woody bits.
My MIGardener cells & trays arrived yesterday! I have some other cells that I love for their water-wicking pads that slowly water from below, but it's harder getting seedlings out without mangling when it's time to pot up. Looking forward to the bigger holes in the bottom of the cells and the air-pruning slits in my new MIG cells! How about combining water-wicking pads into the MIG trays? That would be perfect. 💚
I bought all of my seeds from you this year and many supplies. Very much appreciate you and your channel! I’m in Mi as well, it makes it so much easier to get gardening advice from my zone, as a very new gardener. Thank you for all you do!!
I'm grateful for this channel and the new ideas and guidance I've found here. This is year three of my restarted gardening. I'm loving it with new information each year, successes and failures. There's so much information available online to improve my garden fast. I've started rinsing out my protein shake bottles and watering my plants with it. I had seen UA-camrs using baby formula. It did remind me of the Little House on the Prairie books. Laura used milk to feed her prized pumpkin.
Hi Luke. I see you are sold out of bootstrap. Are you planning to get more in this year? Love your videos and you are my number one seed company. Thank you for what you do!
Calabrese broccoli is very productive.. If you fertilize it well. 1 .large head, then 4 heads about 5 inches each in diameter, then if you protect it from bugs. You can get a lot of 1 inch heads of broccoli 🥦
As a new gardener I really liked this helpful video. Thank you for the list of vegetable and flowers we can sow indoors this month. Looking forward to more videos like this one.
An FYI for those who like to start onions from seeds like MIGardener (and me). You will need to FEED your onion starts fairly early on, because there is little to no nutrition in store bought potting soil, unless it has added chemical fertilizers.😱 Because the onions are planted in a thick matte, any plant food in the growing medium is quickly depleted, and needs replacement fairly soon. This will give you fat, strong, robust onion starts that transplant quite easily and thrive quickly. I use a chicken manure tea (homegrown), and add a little homemade calcium acetate (from crushed eggshells and vinegar), and a bit of epsom salts (magnesium). I DO NOT look down on anyone who would choose to use something like Miracle Grow, however. It is easy to use and quite effective. For potting up my seeds, I add mushroom compost and worm castings to my coco coir, peat moss, perlite and vermiculite mixture. This gives the mix some added, slow-release nutrition (think firewood) to complement the water-borne nutrition (gasoline). Homemade potting soil is fun to make, and can be tweaked to suit your needs, by the way.
Good dates to remember for cool loving crops and flowers. 6-8 weeks before your last frost plant out seedlings. Start seeds, depending on method and crop, 4-12 week on average, before that date depending on seeding method and crop. So if your last frost is 4/30, start spinach indoors Feb. 5, transplant out 3/9 or so, when 3-5 inches tall. I used 3/4" soil blocks. So 12 weeks before last frost I started them. Hardened off for a week. There are many variables 8:17 each garden has different nances. Warm crops 2 weeks after last frost. Have fun! Grow bigger😉
Came across your store while driving with my mom last yr and I’m super excited to see my dahlia seeds starting to grow. I never knew you could get dahlia seeds. I have many more seeds bought from your store and I have to say I love them. All tht I’ve planted are sprouting
So i live in zone 6b. I started Brussel sprouts in the early fall in my aerogarden. Then i planted them in the fall, before first frost. They were very slow growing. If the was was predicted to drop to -10, we covered with tarp and frost cloth. Now that the weather has been cooler and not cold. The plants are getting bigger and starting to put out the sprouts. The plants are still a lil small. We will see what happens. I stared my onions the same way. When i stared research , I learned from MIGardener and Epic. Just a lot to separate.
Definitely gonna try that blend Luke, I've heard alot of greenhouse pros use the Promix HP w/ mycorrhizal fungi. Must be a good reason for it. Gotta listen to the pros.
I live in South E Michigan. I planted Green & purple brocolli from seed 2 weeks ago in 2 liter soda bottles. They germinated yesterday! 🥳😀. Get those cold weather crops going!!!! 💚🌿
I've grown almost all the tomatoes you're growing this year - it's fun to watch and be like oh I know them! Like old friends 😂😂 Love the German Johnson, you're gonna be so happy to have it back in your garden. Similar ones to that are Delicious and Rose. My fave is still Abe Lincoln though! It's weird though your picture of it looks different from the tomatoes I get which have a slight oxheart-y point at the tip.. but also mine are HUGE like 2 pounders, and the pics always look almost slicer-size.. not sure why that is!
Luke, the self blanching Cauli last year was delicious! Grew into a soccer ball size! And fast! 💜 I used rubber bands once I saw that little ball starting.
Fellow Michigander here and I'm totally feeling the same as you and thinking I might be able to get some things out earlier this year than I did last year. Spring fever is in full gear! Thanks for this video. I'm starting more things this year than I ever have and it's nice to see I'm on track starting the right things at the right times.
I have been salivating to get my already sprouting dahlias going in our little greenhouse. Now you have me jonesing to do the veggies too. One point of advice I learned last year with peas: the harvest window is pretty small. If you harvest them even slightly too late they are tough and taste gross. If you harvest them right as they plump up though, the taste is amazing.
I make my own soil mix but I’ll have to see what all the hype is about with promix and happy frog. I add mycorrhizae powder when I pot up and transplant. I should consider doing that for starts too. 🤔
Dear luke, if your bowling with those fingers you may want to try the middle, ring and thumb instead! 😉 also thank you for all the knowledge youve given me over the years! Ive been a follower long before you started your seed business and ive always enjoyed how comprehensive your videos are. If i wasnt in California i would have already applied to work for you! If theres any seeds you need more grown of, id be honored to help! Tomatoes are my jam, but im open to anything! -Danielle
Luke I have some organic seed starter mix. Do I need to add trifecta in it? I saw that you moistened the mix first. I really appreciate your help through these videos
I'm taking your advice with the large amount of seeds planted and then divided once they get started. I know of people that buy plants from stores with multiple plants in one pot to separate at home. They count how many individual sprouted plants are in a pot and buy the one with the most. I've bought herbs with 12 sprouts in a $3 starter pot.
The big thing I messed up this year was not noticing plants that did not germinate. I had 16 trays of 10 by 12 growing in 2 inch pots...so over 500 2 inch pots to keep an eye on. Amongst all the growth, I failed to see about 3 dozen pots that failed to germinate...even with 2 or 3 seeds per pot. This means I am now playing catchup with some plants that are now at the limit of their viability.
I’m confused. I’m in the same zone as you and was going to buy the red onions you show, but the website says they’re short-day onions. But aren’t we in the long-day zone?
I bought some of the bootstrap farmer trays and I have to say they are the best of the best!!! Can't believe how good they're made. Wow!!! Will be buying loads more for my grow stations for next year
I planted carrots, parsnips, and peas out in the garden the other day during that warm spell. In my winter sowing containers I have most of my brassicas and alliums popping up. And a couple flowers. I have a grape and raspberry plant coming soon. And my seed potatoes just shipped. VERY excited for this coming growing season!
I want ALL your onion tips! I have to start onions in January and I still struggle to get bulbs bigger than 1 inch! I'm in zone 6b/7a acidic soil. Supplement with gardentone. What am I doing wrong!?
“Have to, have to, have to pre-moisten your seed starting mix.” I have & do pre-moisten, but there is another avid gardening UA-camr with lots of followers, who is almost as adamant about not pre-moistening it, and I could not get him to explain to me why he does not believe seed starter mix should be pre-moistened.🤷♂️ He filled the insert trays, level-full, then watered it with a small watering can such that the seed mix level dropped to a little more than a quarter inch, placed his seed(s), then level filled the cells again & watered again with the small watering can such that the mix was just below the top of the tray cells. After placing the seed(s), and adding some additional moistened seed mix, I spritz it until it is a little more than just moist. I then put a dome or plastic wrap over my tray or small container, checking it daily until the seeds have started to appear through the mix. The cover comes off & the container is put under grow lights. I just struggle with the idea of putting dry seed mix in the insert tray cells & then watering them, afraid of getting the seeds too wet…but it seems to work for this other UA-camr.🤷♂️
I watch several channels, epic garden next level. Garden and Michigan garden and even Laura answers garden questions. And I have never seen anybody. Oh and gardner scott and I have never seen Anybody say that dry is better because everyone else says that a gonna lose volume when you water and your seeds could spill out or move from where you put them. Sounds like you're doing it the right way.
@@lyndelgado6138 The majority of gardening UA-camrs I watch suggest pre-moistening the seeding mixture, but a couple of them, now, have not pre-moistened. I would be concerned about shrinkage in the planting cell and ensuring that you don’t water too much would seem to me to be a challenge.🤷♂️ I am definitely for pre-moistening.
I'm not a UA-camr, but I do start a lot of seeds every year. I find it really difficult to get the dry seed starting mix to actually get damp all the way through if I start it dry. It really never gets wet no matter how much you water, and your seedlings suffer from it. So 100% pre-moisten your mix.
@@ninahannum1894 It would seem to me that, if you start out with dry seeding mix whatever you are starting seeds in, the mix is either too dry or too wet. I like to moisten it in an amount you will be using for a tray or multiple trays I am planting at the same time. This way I can mix the water in, by hand, and get a better idea of the desired moisture by adding a little more water or more mix before putting in the tray cells or seeding pots.
please try the Portuguese Kale, aka Tronchuda Kale, it is sweet unlike most kales...more like a cabbage, but with open leaves, goes all summer in my Z4b (or maybe they changed it to 5?) garden, we set out seedlings in late May and can harvest leaves early July thru late Oct, a wonderful kale, we don't grow any other kale, even the Lacinato is bitter compared to Portuguese/aka Tronchuda.
FarmTek has some really sturdy cell trays and packs for a great price for the quantity! If anyone plans on growing mass quantity’s of vegetables. That’s where I purchased last year and will again.😊
I am a bit worried about starting my Brussels sprouts in March. I have some that are germinating now but in central NC, I'm worried that they (Catskill) will bolt in the heat before they produce anything. I guess I'll experiment but I'll definitely try them again in the fall.
Yah I was going to plant some Waltham broccoli until I saw that it took so long to mature. I’m in E TN and just planted the 45-50 day broccolis instead. I’ll save the Waltham for fall.
To store onions longer, store in pantyhose. Drop onion into the leg of the pantyhose tie off just above the onion and drop another onion in repeat till the hose is full in both legs and hang from a hook or nail in a cool place. I did make me last fall and all are still good.
Onion and garlic had a baby 😂😂😂😂 I love what you explained about onions and daylight. I’m assuming that’s the same with garlic? I haven’t had too much luck with garlic but I’m all in this season and I read that hard neck and soft neck grow better in warm or cold climates and that confused me but if it’s about the daylight that makes more sense to me.
Love your videos, I started gardening last year and you've been one of a handful of people I follow for tips. Do you have a video on techniques for improving surface sown seed germination? I started growing flowers as well this year and I've noticed my worst germination rates are surface sown seeds. Maybe because Colorado has such dry air I am not keeping proper moisture close enough to the surface.
Ok Luke. Normally your videos are pretty clear (maybe I’m thinking too hard). Are you multi sowing all of your brassicas? And are you direct sowing the herbs and flowers you mentioned-you weren’t super clear on that.
so.... I'm in CT. We are in what seems to be similar growing areas. I'd venture your warm weather starts a tad later than mine but not by much, my in-laws live in VT what would be right about your latitude so I'm fairly confident in that lol. My question is: You are growing mostly long day but the burgundy is a short day. Since we are right on that "division" of long vs short, could we conceivably have luck with both types? I've never done onions before. I'm assuming it's kind of like a horoscope sign... if you were born near the end or beginning of a sign, they call you a cusp and you're supposed to have some traits from the sign that you are close to! lol
Every time I started peas in the ground the slugs snails and night crawlers had a feast as they sprouted. I began starting them in a 10ft rain gutter. When they were about 3in tall, slide them into a shallow trence. Problem solved.
where do you get your coco coir? I have not found any in big box stores also so glad you partnered with bootstrap, 2 of my favorite companies right here. Now you just need to somehow partner with jess from roots and refuge and it be heaven!
I need to know that as well. I’ve just been using regular ProMix and compost. 🤷🏼♀️. Had great success with tomatoes last year, peppers were good but beans not so much. 😢. I did invest in a soil tester. Since it’s too early to plant outside yet, I’m getting containers ready to get my hands good and dirty, lol. Supposed to rain the next two days so an easy way to get watered in. 🎉
This video is so helpful! Literally exactly what I needed. How do you keep track of all this stuff in terms of dates and when to do things? Do you have a specific way of organizing your thoughts onto paper in any way or is it labeled on the plants or something else?
Where are you located. I’m zone 6b. Is my March the same as yours. Having a video of someone starting live is helping me the new gardener who is getting confused.
Hey Luke how far do I put my t5 florescent growing light above my newly planted seed . These are peppers and tomatoes that will have a heat matt thanks
Luke, I love your common sense approach to seed-starting. However, sometimes the directions on the back of a seed pack are contradictory to your advice. What’s the best action to take? Thanks, love the channel and your store
please show us the results of your Brussels Sprouts....I've tried for years to get any, no luck, am thinking these need a very long season without high heat, we have short season and with some heat. In 2023 I had a huge bed of B.S. (LOL) and they had beautiful leaves, but itsy bitsy sprouts. Meanwhile, huge heads of 3 varieties of cauliflower, bushels of broccoli, and Portuguese Kale, plus plus plus, but no Brussels Sprouts. I give up.
Starting in March:
Multi-sow..
-Beets 4:45
-Asparagus 7:00
Cold weather.. 8:50
-broccoli 12:25
-cauliflower 11:50
- cabbage 14:08
-Lettuce 13:08
-Spinach 13:20
-Swiss Chard 11:30
- Collard 15:05
- Kale 15:47
-Brussels Sprouts 16:09
-Tomatoes 16:52
- Onions 19:48
Honorable Mentions 23:18
-Peas 23:20
-Herbs 23:31
-Flowers 23:43
CHAPTERS LUKE!
I bought the deep 4-cell packs from you, and they are fantastic!! I was glad I bought 8 of them. I REALLY like the fact that you aren't requiring your customers to purchase the Bootstrap Farmer products in large quantities! Thank you for that, Luke.
I should have planted my onion seeds the way you did. This is first time trying onions from seed, so live and learn. I already made a note of that for next year.
I'm still waiting on the 6 cell packs I ordered. Anxious to try them.
I see. That’s what the difference is. I bought from bootstrap the week before he announced. I wondered why ppl didn’t just buy from bootstrap directly. Bootstrap is great if you want a lot. I don’t mind having a bunch of trays or cells.
Did you notice if the price of the Bootstrap trays was any less than other places?
Made in the USA 🇺🇸!
Those bootstrap farmer trays are something else. Worth every single penny and then some.
Yes! I love mine!
Hey Luke, have you ever thought about mixing up your own starter mix and selling them in bags? I’d buy it. Thanks for being awesome!
Luke, do you have a series on strictly container gardening for those of us not allowed to dig? I’d love to see what soil and additives recommendations as well as soil testing.
The lure of wasted tray space leading to sowing too much of certain things... PREACH.
First time Gardner here! I started broccoli, cabbage, luffa’s, kale and some lettuce last week and I’m finally seeing some little sprouts! I really hope my first raised bed works out this year! I dabbled last summer after I saw some potatoes that I had thrown out in the trees had actually started growing like 3 feet long! That’s what started me in gardening lol. Those first potato’s I dug up were so tiny (a few about the size of a lemon) and felt SO AMAZING!
Seed starting mix I get is always hydrophobic and I always soak in water, vigorously stir until combined and soak again before using.
Congrats on your new garden.! When I make a large batch of seed starting mix in a big plastic tote I always put a few drops of Dawn dish detergent in the first gallon of water that I add to it. The Dawn acts as a wetting agent and it gets rid of the hydrophobic issue and allows the soil to become wet. I heard this info from a professional grower of heirloom seeds.
Quick tip to rehydrate soil is taking a aloe branch and blending with water. Aloe helps water move laterally and helps soil that's gone hydrophobic
Luffas
This is the first year having a garden really glad I found the channel
To those looking for amazing seed starter without having to spend money on Promix as it can be very pricey over time (weed grower). You can make leaf mould if you’re in a area that has lots of foliage. Or even go around your city and pick up those bags of leaves people leave for the city. mulch em up throw em in a pile let em break down and you’ll be able to scoop it all up throw it in a tote and it makes an amazing seed starter it’s light but holds it’s moisture content. Has some nutrients for the seedlings but not too much. Where as both coco and peat are 100% inert and don’t contain any food for your babies.
Wtf😂. Your kidding right? Yeah bring that in ur house and you'll bring in the aphids mites and pathogens like powdery mildew etc. Your indoor weed garden.... toast within a month full of pests n pathogens. Tbh it sounds like you have absolutely no idea what ur talking about. This video is about starting seeds early indoors not how to ruin an indoor weed grow
Have you ever heard of snail rolls for starting seeds? What do you think about that process.
I'll never understand why no one grows White Tomesol. Exquisite, balanced, big flavor. A couple years ago it gave me the best tomato I've ever had in my life.
Could you talk more on starting beets and root crops indoors? It seems like a very interesting idea I’m just curious more information on the process
Love your enthusiasm about each vegetable you are growing. And, of course your incredible knowledge! Thanks
Thanks Luke!!
Welcome!
I'm a believer in Promix and could only find 2cuft compressed packs at Menards. The 'grade' of promix makes a difference whether it has debris or not. I still love the 2cuft All Purpose mix for being able to lift it and for all my plant starting. I bought and used the Bales of promix and think they weigh 60lbs dry and fill a smaller car trunk. The box hardware store Promix all purpose has bits of woody things in it. It is a nice mix but you MUST sift to have only finer light mix for seed. I have picked the surface of my freshly sowed seeds to take out 1/4 inch little woody bits.
I’m here first but I’ve been getting the itch to just plant like crazy this year!!
Yay! I'm So Ready 🎉🎉🎉
Thanks Luke for sharing your knowledge of seed starting! I love your videos and have learned so much from you! Happy gardening!❤
My MIGardener cells & trays arrived yesterday! I have some other cells that I love for their water-wicking pads that slowly water from below, but it's harder getting seedlings out without mangling when it's time to pot up. Looking forward to the bigger holes in the bottom of the cells and the air-pruning slits in my new MIG cells!
How about combining water-wicking pads into the MIG trays? That would be perfect. 💚
Thank you so much for this video!! Super informative, and not overwhelming. Fantastic videos!
Can’t wait to start.
Wow! Very good tutorial about onions!
I always wondered what would happen if you planted the wrong type in your area - thanks!
I bought all of my seeds from you this year and many supplies. Very much appreciate you and your channel! I’m in Mi as well, it makes it so much easier to get gardening advice from my zone, as a very new gardener. Thank you for all you do!!
I'm grateful for this channel and the new ideas and guidance I've found here. This is year three of my restarted gardening. I'm loving it with new information each year, successes and failures. There's so much information available online to improve my garden fast. I've started rinsing out my protein shake bottles and watering my plants with it. I had seen UA-camrs using baby formula. It did remind me of the Little House on the Prairie books. Laura used milk to feed her prized pumpkin.
For anyone looking for other USA made cells - I LOVE the Neversink Farm Tools trays.
Hi Luke. I see you are sold out of bootstrap. Are you planning to get more in this year? Love your videos and you are my number one seed company. Thank you for what you do!
Calabrese broccoli is very productive.. If you fertilize it well. 1 .large head, then 4 heads about 5 inches each in diameter, then if you protect it from bugs. You can get a lot of 1 inch heads of broccoli 🥦
As a new gardener I really liked this helpful video. Thank you for the list of vegetable and flowers we can sow indoors this month. Looking forward to more videos like this one.
Yay seed starting
An FYI for those who like to start onions from seeds like MIGardener (and me). You will need to FEED your onion starts fairly early on, because there is little to no nutrition in store bought potting soil, unless it has added chemical fertilizers.😱 Because the onions are planted in a thick matte, any plant food in the growing medium is quickly depleted, and needs replacement fairly soon. This will give you fat, strong, robust onion starts that transplant quite easily and thrive quickly. I use a chicken manure tea (homegrown), and add a little homemade calcium acetate (from crushed eggshells and vinegar), and a bit of epsom salts (magnesium). I DO NOT look down on anyone who would choose to use something like Miracle Grow, however. It is easy to use and quite effective. For potting up my seeds, I add mushroom compost and worm castings to my coco coir, peat moss, perlite and vermiculite mixture. This gives the mix some added, slow-release nutrition (think firewood) to complement the water-borne nutrition (gasoline). Homemade potting soil is fun to make, and can be tweaked to suit your needs, by the way.
I had to check the seeds out again. I stumbled upon your peanut plant seeds. Had to give them a try this year.
same I bought peanuts and luffa from him exctied to warch them grow
Luke when will you have more boot strap trays available?? Thanks !
Very soon!
Good dates to remember for cool loving crops and flowers. 6-8 weeks before your last frost plant out seedlings. Start seeds, depending on method and crop, 4-12 week on average, before that date depending on seeding method and crop. So if your last frost is 4/30, start spinach indoors Feb. 5, transplant out 3/9 or so, when 3-5 inches tall. I used 3/4" soil blocks. So 12 weeks before last frost I started them. Hardened off for a week. There are many variables 8:17 each garden has different nances. Warm crops 2 weeks after last frost.
Have fun! Grow bigger😉
Came across your store while driving with my mom last yr and I’m super excited to see my dahlia seeds starting to grow. I never knew you could get dahlia seeds. I have many more seeds bought from your store and I have to say I love them. All tht I’ve planted are sprouting
So i live in zone 6b. I started Brussel sprouts in the early fall in my aerogarden. Then i planted them in the fall, before first frost. They were very slow growing. If the was was predicted to drop to -10, we covered with tarp and frost cloth. Now that the weather has been cooler and not cold. The plants are getting bigger and starting to put out the sprouts. The plants are still a lil small. We will see what happens. I stared my onions the same way. When i stared research , I learned from MIGardener and Epic. Just a lot to separate.
I will be seed starting next week!! So ready!!
So much info..thanks. I've learned so much in a short time
Definitely gonna try that blend Luke,
I've heard alot of greenhouse pros use the Promix HP w/ mycorrhizal fungi. Must be a good reason for it. Gotta listen to the pros.
I bought some of the trays. They are great, I'm going with those as I replace mine.
I live in South E Michigan. I planted Green & purple brocolli from seed 2 weeks ago in 2 liter soda bottles. They germinated yesterday! 🥳😀. Get those cold weather crops going!!!! 💚🌿
I've grown almost all the tomatoes you're growing this year - it's fun to watch and be like oh I know them! Like old friends 😂😂 Love the German Johnson, you're gonna be so happy to have it back in your garden. Similar ones to that are Delicious and Rose. My fave is still Abe Lincoln though! It's weird though your picture of it looks different from the tomatoes I get which have a slight oxheart-y point at the tip.. but also mine are HUGE like 2 pounders, and the pics always look almost slicer-size.. not sure why that is!
Luke, the self blanching Cauli last year was delicious! Grew into a soccer ball size! And fast! 💜 I used rubber bands once I saw that little ball starting.
Fellow Michigander here and I'm totally feeling the same as you and thinking I might be able to get some things out earlier this year than I did last year. Spring fever is in full gear! Thanks for this video. I'm starting more things this year than I ever have and it's nice to see I'm on track starting the right things at the right times.
I love this time of year gardening is my thing
Bootstrap gardener trays are the best. Nice and sturdy! Easier to carry without risking dumping your seedlings on the floor.
I have been salivating to get my already sprouting dahlias going in our little greenhouse. Now you have me jonesing to do the veggies too. One point of advice I learned last year with peas: the harvest window is pretty small. If you harvest them even slightly too late they are tough and taste gross. If you harvest them right as they plump up though, the taste is amazing.
This was an excellent very informational video
I’d love a list of what size cell to start all of the seeds in!
Which can go 128 and 72 sizes.
Great knowledge. Thanks Luke
Thank you!
I'm growing German Johnson this year too (seeds from MI Gardner). Looking forward to seeing your progress!
I make my own soil mix but I’ll have to see what all the hype is about with promix and happy frog.
I add mycorrhizae powder when I pot up and transplant. I should consider doing that for starts too. 🤔
Dear luke, if your bowling with those fingers you may want to try the middle, ring and thumb instead! 😉 also thank you for all the knowledge youve given me over the years! Ive been a follower long before you started your seed business and ive always enjoyed how comprehensive your videos are. If i wasnt in California i would have already applied to work for you! If theres any seeds you need more grown of, id be honored to help! Tomatoes are my jam, but im open to anything!
-Danielle
Luke I have some organic seed starter mix. Do I need to add trifecta in it? I saw that you moistened the mix first. I really appreciate your help through these videos
I'm taking your advice with the large amount of seeds planted and then divided once they get started. I know of people that buy plants from stores with multiple plants in one pot to separate at home. They count how many individual sprouted plants are in a pot and buy the one with the most. I've bought herbs with 12 sprouts in a $3 starter pot.
The big thing I messed up this year was not noticing plants that did not germinate. I had 16 trays of 10 by 12 growing in 2 inch pots...so over 500 2 inch pots to keep an eye on. Amongst all the growth, I failed to see about 3 dozen pots that failed to germinate...even with 2 or 3 seeds per pot. This means I am now playing catchup with some plants that are now at the limit of their viability.
Sorry 10 by 20.
Just love your vids and tips..When do we start melons and watermelon?
Why do you remind me of Clark Kent 🎉
Probably because, like Clark, Luke is a good guy 😊
Doesn't it take like almost 2 years or so to actually get edible asparagus
👍🏻 yes.
Yes
If you plant from crown. Seeds can take longer
yes from seeds and even from crowns you should wait a year
Yes. Even then it's recommended you don't eat it the first year you have spears
I did the onion thing and planted out two days ago.. they looked great ! I watched you former video on onions.🎉
I’m confused. I’m in the same zone as you and was going to buy the red onions you show, but the website says they’re short-day onions. But aren’t we in the long-day zone?
I bought some of the bootstrap farmer trays and I have to say they are the best of the best!!! Can't believe how good they're made. Wow!!! Will be buying loads more for my grow stations for next year
Glad you like them!
Use hot water to start out with and the mix will absorb the water very easily
I plant spinach early once it bolts I then plant Red Malabar spinach that will vine and produce through till the first hard Frost.
Great information on March seed starting, thanks Luke!
Plants to start in March:
-beets
-asparagus
-swiss chard
-cauliflower
-broccoli
-lettuce
-spinach
-cabbage
-collards
-kale
-Brussel sprouts
-tomatoes
-onion
-shallots
-bunching onion
-peas
-some herbs
-some flowers
Thank you.
I literally just planted the Brussels an hour ago lol
I planted carrots, parsnips, and peas out in the garden the other day during that warm spell.
In my winter sowing containers I have most of my brassicas and alliums popping up. And a couple flowers.
I have a grape and raspberry plant coming soon. And my seed potatoes just shipped.
VERY excited for this coming growing season!
let my tokyo long whites go for most of last year and by december they ended up being about as big as a leek. amazingly sweet flavor
Awesome video. What an exciting time of year in Michigan!
I want ALL your onion tips! I have to start onions in January and I still struggle to get bulbs bigger than 1 inch! I'm in zone 6b/7a acidic soil. Supplement with gardentone. What am I doing wrong!?
Are those Brussels for a Fall harvest? I've read that they don't do well for spring, but the date I've looked up to start for Fall is May. Thanks!
Can you start seed in hydroponic and transfer to dirt?
“Have to, have to, have to pre-moisten your seed starting mix.”
I have & do pre-moisten, but there is another avid gardening UA-camr with lots of followers, who is almost as adamant about not pre-moistening it, and I could not get him to explain to me why he does not believe seed starter mix should be pre-moistened.🤷♂️
He filled the insert trays, level-full, then watered it with a small watering can such that the seed mix level dropped to a little more than a quarter inch, placed his seed(s), then level filled the cells again & watered again with the small watering can such that the mix was just below the top of the tray cells.
After placing the seed(s), and adding some additional moistened seed mix, I spritz it until it is a little more than just moist. I then put a dome or plastic wrap over my tray or small container, checking it daily until the seeds have started to appear through the mix. The cover comes off & the container is put under grow lights.
I just struggle with the idea of putting dry seed mix in the insert tray cells & then watering them, afraid of getting the seeds too wet…but it seems to work for this other UA-camr.🤷♂️
I watch several channels, epic garden next level. Garden and Michigan garden and even Laura answers garden questions. And I have never seen anybody. Oh and gardner scott and I have never seen Anybody say that dry is better because everyone else says that a gonna lose volume when you water and your seeds could spill out or move from where you put them. Sounds like you're doing it the right way.
@@lyndelgado6138 The majority of gardening UA-camrs I watch suggest pre-moistening the seeding mixture, but a couple of them, now, have not pre-moistened. I would be concerned about shrinkage in the planting cell and ensuring that you don’t water too much would seem to me to be a challenge.🤷♂️
I am definitely for pre-moistening.
I'm not a UA-camr, but I do start a lot of seeds every year. I find it really difficult to get the dry seed starting mix to actually get damp all the way through if I start it dry. It really never gets wet no matter how much you water, and your seedlings suffer from it. So 100% pre-moisten your mix.
@@ninahannum1894 It would seem to me that, if you start out with dry seeding mix whatever you are starting seeds in, the mix is either too dry or too wet. I like to moisten it in an amount you will be using for a tray or multiple trays I am planting at the same time. This way I can mix the water in, by hand, and get a better idea of the desired moisture by adding a little more water or more mix before putting in the tray cells or seeding pots.
please try the Portuguese Kale, aka Tronchuda Kale, it is sweet unlike most kales...more like a cabbage, but with open leaves, goes all summer in my Z4b (or maybe they changed it to 5?) garden, we set out seedlings in late May and can harvest leaves early July thru late Oct, a wonderful kale, we don't grow any other kale, even the Lacinato is bitter compared to Portuguese/aka Tronchuda.
When can I plant my watermelon and cucumbers zucchini’s and beans?
FarmTek has some really sturdy cell trays and packs for a great price for the quantity! If anyone plans on growing mass quantity’s of vegetables. That’s where I purchased last year and will again.😊
Thank you for this tip!
@@joannmcculley8253your welcome, have a great and abundant growing season❤
@@joannmcculley8253you are totally welcome 😊
I am a bit worried about starting my Brussels sprouts in March. I have some that are germinating now but in central NC, I'm worried that they (Catskill) will bolt in the heat before they produce anything. I guess I'll experiment but I'll definitely try them again in the fall.
Yah I was going to plant some Waltham broccoli until I saw that it took so long to mature. I’m in E TN and just planted the 45-50 day broccolis instead. I’ll save the Waltham for fall.
I plant Brussels in the Fall and they will grow all winter in western NC. It will get way to hot for them with 120 days to harvest.
Great info.
To store onions longer, store in pantyhose. Drop onion into the leg of the pantyhose tie off just above the onion and drop another onion in repeat till the hose is full in both legs and hang from a hook or nail in a cool place. I did make me last fall and all are still good.
Onion and garlic had a baby 😂😂😂😂 I love what you explained about onions and daylight. I’m assuming that’s the same with garlic? I haven’t had too much luck with garlic but I’m all in this season and I read that hard neck and soft neck grow better in warm or cold climates and that confused me but if it’s about the daylight that makes more sense to me.
Cold weather crops won’t germinate in cold soil so I’d start them in summer, right?
I’m in zone 9b central Florida. March is too late for cold weather. 😢
Love your videos, I started gardening last year and you've been one of a handful of people I follow for tips. Do you have a video on techniques for improving surface sown seed germination?
I started growing flowers as well this year and I've noticed my worst germination rates are surface sown seeds. Maybe because Colorado has such dry air I am not keeping proper moisture close enough to the surface.
Ok Luke. Normally your videos are pretty clear (maybe I’m thinking too hard). Are you multi sowing all of your brassicas? And are you direct sowing the herbs and flowers you mentioned-you weren’t super clear on that.
so.... I'm in CT. We are in what seems to be similar growing areas. I'd venture your warm weather starts a tad later than mine but not by much, my in-laws live in VT what would be right about your latitude so I'm fairly confident in that lol. My question is: You are growing mostly long day but the burgundy is a short day. Since we are right on that "division" of long vs short, could we conceivably have luck with both types? I've never done onions before. I'm assuming it's kind of like a horoscope sign... if you were born near the end or beginning of a sign, they call you a cusp and you're supposed to have some traits from the sign that you are close to! lol
Trays made in USA! Yay!
Every time I started peas in the ground the slugs snails and night crawlers had a feast as they sprouted. I began starting them in a 10ft rain gutter. When they were about 3in tall, slide them into a shallow trence. Problem solved.
where do you get your coco coir? I have not found any in big box stores also so glad you partnered with bootstrap, 2 of my favorite companies right here. Now you just need to somehow partner with jess from roots and refuge and it be heaven!
Our coco coir is our own brand. It is called loco coco coir. It is amazing stuff.
I can hear spring too!
Hey Luke! Great video man! Loved it, very informative great info, even jotted down a few notes about long day and short days great stuff to know!
What kind of soil do you prefer for filling small fabric raised beds?
I need to know that as well. I’ve just been using regular ProMix and compost. 🤷🏼♀️. Had great success with tomatoes last year, peppers were good but beans not so much. 😢. I did invest in a soil tester. Since it’s too early to plant outside yet, I’m getting containers ready to get my hands good and dirty, lol. Supposed to rain the next two days so an easy way to get watered in. 🎉
This video is so helpful! Literally exactly what I needed. How do you keep track of all this stuff in terms of dates and when to do things? Do you have a specific way of organizing your thoughts onto paper in any way or is it labeled on the plants or something else?
Where are you located. I’m zone 6b. Is my March the same as yours. Having a video of someone starting live is helping me the new gardener who is getting confused.
Hey Luke how far do I put my t5 florescent growing light above my newly planted seed . These are peppers and tomatoes that will have a heat matt thanks
Luke, I love your common sense approach to seed-starting. However, sometimes the directions on the back of a seed pack are contradictory to your advice. What’s the best action to take? Thanks, love the channel and your store
Question: if you're living in a long day zone could you grow a short day onion in partial shade?
please show us the results of your Brussels Sprouts....I've tried for years to get any, no luck, am thinking these need a very long season without high heat, we have short season and with some heat. In 2023 I had a huge bed of B.S. (LOL) and they had beautiful leaves, but itsy bitsy sprouts. Meanwhile, huge heads of 3 varieties of cauliflower, bushels of broccoli, and Portuguese Kale, plus plus plus, but no Brussels Sprouts. I give up.
when do you fertilize your onion starts