Me too! I even tried see-through food-grade buckets last year for a container experiment, but the plastic couldn’t take the sun and heat and broke before the season was out
One way I toughen up my plant sets is to set up a fan set on low that will blow across the plants and then rotate the trays of plants once a day. The movement that the fanned air causes seems to make the plants stronger, but you have to watch the dryness of the soil.
Great tip. I mention fans in one of my videos on seedlings, and you’re right, it helps strengthen the plant and get them ready for the real-world conditions of the garden. I’ve seen that wind can be a big killer for transplanted seedlings if they’re not prepped beforehand.
That’s really smart, and I’m glad you’ve found a way to reuse the paper. I never have newspaper around anymore, so it’s not an option for me unfortunately.
Thank you! Just subbed. I also believe in reusing and repurposing. Your tips here and in your other vids have been a great help in understanding why my beginner veggie garden -- and trying to start seeds indoors -- was a flop last season. You get to the point without needless rambling, and have a most articulate way of speaking.
Thank you for your comment and for subbing. I hope this will be your year for getting a garden started. Once you have a few successes, you’ll love it. Our first attempt here years ago was a disaster, but we changed a few things and it’s been great since. Good luck and thanks again!
This is all exactly what I do. The first few months of the year, I save all the plastic clamshell containers and dairy product packaging. I run most of it through the dishwasher to sterilize it and the lids make excellent “coasters” for their repurposed container to catch any water that drains out. Eggs come in clear plastic clamshells at Costco. I cut off the lid and stack it with the bottom to reinforce it as one layer is not super sturdy. You could use another layer from a different clamshell to be the “coaster” as they come with no holes and the other half as a “humidity dome” for itty bitty stuff like lobelia or stuff you start a lot of like brassicas & greens.
Smart ideas and creative too. I love it. Ive used the lids too, first as a cover to help seeds germinate and then as a coaster like you do. We don’t have plastic egg cartons over here, but the double stacking idea is a good one for some cheap trays I have that are too flimsy to use on their own.
I have those issues with those biodegradable seed starting pots! I love recycling containers! I really believe that gardening should not cost too much to enjoy!
Hey Val, I am getting some started in cut up plastic water bottles at the moment. I didn't start anything indoors last year, because the year before did better when sowed straight outdoors. However, last year was not as successful, go figure lol. Every year is a new adventure 🤠
Definitely each year is its own adventure. Maybe your plants will have better luck since you’re giving them a solid start indoors before they meet up with the many outdoor challenges you have there. Fingers crossed for you! 💚
Hi from the UK I tried so any plants last Yr all started good but thr slugs got them all only thing that grew well was tomatos I have cats and a dog so don't liketo use slug pellets but I think I found a solution I sprinked sand around my plant my friend brought me it's not been touched so I'm hoping it will work next time I try to grow some thing x
Hi Marie. I hope you’ve found your solution with the sand. We have slugs here that can be quite bad at times. What helps me is that my raised beds are slug proof (I’ve only found 2 snails ever!) The other thing that I’ve picked up from UK friends is that they use covers to protect their crops from slugs, sometimes even just putting the cover on at night when the slugs are active. I haven’t had to use this for slugs since I have my raised beds, but I’ve taken this approach to keep other nighttime insects away and it’s been a huge success. Best wishes for your garden this year.
I like to use red solo cups; they are cheap, reusable, and deep so they give the roots more room and hold more moisture, meaning I don’t have to up pot before transplanting into their final homes. I start multiple seeds in red solo cups and then divide the seedlings out so that they each have their own cup, or remove the extra seedlings from the cups so that there is one plant per cup, and it works well for me.
Yes, they work great too. You reminded me that I tried to do this when I first started growing indoors here in France. The only thing available at that time was tiny plastic cups that we would serve preschoolers with in the US lol I think Solo cups might be available on Amazon nowadays but haven’t checked since I have all my supplies now.
@@NowGardening ahh, I see, totally makes sense. Use what you can get your hands on! Here in Canada you can buy a big pack of red solo cups for cheap and you can find them easily around here, so it makes a lot of sense for me to use them in my situation.
Solo cups are generally good and less expensive than some alternatives. I wish Solo made them in more sizes. I've seen the 12 oz, (360 ml) and 1 oz. (30 ml) sizes, but still, one need not use the whole cup, eh?
Thanks for asking. You can add perlite to soil to make it easier for seeds to germinate. Also, when I say garden soil that’s what we call bagged soil from the garden store here. You can technically use soil from the garden and people worldwide do it, but it can bring variables like pollution, etc into seed starting.
Thank you! Yes, and I definitely recommend using grow lights for your seedlings to keep them from getting leggy. I use a cheap one I bought on Amazon with 4 lighted arms that has a timer.
This is a great video because it’s simple, it’s not too long and it’s right to the point. And it makes me feel much better about not spending a lot on expensive seed starting containers.
I use solo cups as well, but I cut the bottom out of one and set it in another solo cup. When its time to go to the garden, I prepare a hole that will fit the solo cup, then set the one with the bottom cut out into the hole. Not disturbing the roots at all and my transplants do really well.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Janice. I just saw this on another UA-cam channel last week and absolutely love this idea! I’ve added solo cups to my list to buy when I go the US next month, so I can try it. I can’t get them over here in France.
Just recently found you. I love your channel. I love how short, but very informative your videos are. I'm an intermediate skill level gardener. You're concise, but provide important details. I feel confident after I watch a video that I'll be able to do the things you show and have an idea what I'm doing.
Hi Salem, your message made my day. Thanks for taking the time to send it, and I’m happy to hear my videos are helpful to you. I hope you have an amazing gardening year ahead!
Totally agree re: the "biodegradable" pots - they might be biodegradable over years, but they limit seedling growth for sure - sometimes I'll even find them still clinging on at the end of the season when I'm cleaning things up or even in the ground still hanging on the following year!
I’m stunned that they sell them as something to plant directly. I went back and looked at the package to see if perhaps they just meant biodegradable in the big scheme of things, but right on the packaging was a picture of someone transplanting them into their garden.
I think the degrading pots/cups are a poor execution of a good idea. Too often they are either too weak for the seedling stage or too strong/lasting for the grow-out stage (as you say). I would like to see some R&D here, especially with trials of wheat paste or corn paste-based papier-mâché. Still, the problem is that delicate balance of strong enough for the seedling stage while dissolving quickly in the ground at the grow-out stage. Thanks for adding your comment.
@@jwstanley2645agree! Go for it R&D folks! We need something just right! Not too weak, but something that will degrade soon enough to avoid inhibiting growth! And go!
how deep do you plant seeds? easy rule is, you plant them at the same depth than their size. peas are around 1cm and carrot or cilantro 1mm. easy rule.
Hi Diane. I've always heard twice as deep as their diameter, but in practice I do what you do. It's easier to follow and remember, so thanks for sharing.
I notice you quickly passed over egg crates without comment. I find they really good but require good moisturising. This also applies to the small carry trays from coffee shops for milti cup purchases. Really good for melon family...zucchini, cucumbers etc. Another hint for germinating. We have small bricks of coir fibre in Australian stores, which expands when watered. This medium is absolutely brilliant and encourages great root growth. Can be used neat or with a seed growing mix.
Hi Frank. I accidentally edited out my speech on egg cartons. I personally don’t care for them, but I do have another video specifically on egg cartons and toilet paper rolls that goes into detail. I like that you’re using the carry trays, and it’s working for you. We have bags of coir instead of bricks here, and I’ve been experimenting with it a lot this year. It seems to be great for some really hard to start seeds. Some seedlings seem to like it while others not so much. Do you see that too?
I agree about the peat pots. I've dug them up the following season and they look pretty much like when I planted them. Even after throwing them in the compost bin they take a while to break down. I wouldn't recommend them, but if you have some lying around that you want to use try this. When you up pot, gently tear the bottoms out, then tear one side down all the way. Make sure that they are good and wet when you do this. Then you can plant the whole thing with minimal shock to the root system. I love the reduce, recycle, reuse! Most of us already have these things in our homes.
Thanks for the tip, Jason. I just discovered an unused 10-pack of them yesterday and was trying to thing of how I could use them instead of throwing them away.
@@NowGardening I've seen, and done this, years ago - making my own small, square seed starting pots (up to 4 inches size), with nothing but newspaper folded into the correct shape. You can directly plop these biodegradable containers in the ground and the roots will push through the thin paper as needed. I'll try to find the link, brb..
@@NowGardeningHere is the first one that pulled up on youtube - there are others under this topic, as well. Cheers! ua-cam.com/video/7dlGQP81yfo/v-deo.html
Super helpful and one of the only videos that is doing what I want to do. I have been collecting blueberry containers and my take out and random trays and that’s what I want to use. So many other videos have fancy this and that but I just know I can do it this way. Thanks for sharing and I will be following you advice on setting them on top of the fridge. I was pondering about where to put the little seeds to be warm, the fridge is the perfect idea. Thank you
Thanks for your comment. I’m so glad to hear this video was helpful. Simple is best from what I’ve found over the years. I wish you a wonderful growing season ahead.
Hi Bryan. Thanks for sharing your experience. I can’t believe how many people have responded likewise. I hope your seedlings get off to a great start this year.
Great tips, Rick. In France those aren’t available, but you’re right that they work great. My brother uses them in the US. As for sand in place of perlite, I’ve used it before. Don’t know why I don’t use it more to be honest. It’s cheaper I’m sure
Totally agree with you about using all our plastic tubs from recycling - reuse is even better than recycling. Good video and presentation - only thing I would add is that I had a lot of seedlings not germinate this year because I planted them outdoors too early - April - usually OK but in the UK was very cold thn early spring this year ( less than 6 Centigrade). Warmer now so playing catch up.
Hi, thanks for your comment. I agree with you about the weather affecting this year’s seedlings. We had delays in outdoor seeds germinating too. Also, here in France we had barely any rain since January and then it all came over the last 3 weeks (and chilly temperatures to go with it). Everything is hanging on but not looking their best. Good luck with your garden and catching up!
Well, I have watched various videos, followed instructions, but my rate of success is very, very , but very low. Oh Gosh! Weather here is mild, somehow a little bit humid. Thus I do not know the reasons.
Here’s what I would recommend since you’re having trouble. Take a spinach or lentil seed and a tomato seed. These germinated fairly easily and within 5 days, so you’ll know if they worked or not. Sow them with no more than 1/8 in (1/4 cm) of soil on top. Water using a spray bottle . Cover. Check to make sure soil is damp on top each day and you should see green by no later than day 6. If nothing, start over. By experimenting with the same seeds but different soils, warmth, etc. you’ll hit on what is causing your seeds not to germinate. I hope this helps
Getting a pin mic will greatly improve your sound quality. Im sorry for sounding like im complaining but i appreciate your information and it would be alot better experience for us. Thank you
I appreciate your constructive feedback. I just bought a new mic only to find out it sounds worse. I am working actively to fix this, so thanks for bearing with me.
One of the problems I have with heat mats it dries out the soil so fast. So for me that was a waste of money. I had the same problem with the biodegradable containers. I am with you the clear containers are the best and I have used trays from frozen dinner's to put my pots in. .
Cut down "clear" distilled water gallon containers work great, also :) I started HAYWARD KIWI vines from the tiny black seeds in a grocery store kiwi (indoors) and when got larger planted outside - and about 3 years later got fruit (325 kiwi fruit). Fortunately I ended up with both male and female plants this way. WHO KNEW that Kiwi vines would successfully grow and produce fruit every year in the state of Virginia !!! They lose leaves each fall and gain them back with flowers and fruit in the Spring. Thank You for this video !!!
Nice and clear but why have a guitar playing at the same time, even though quietly. Let us have a good instructional talk OR a guitar recital, not both at the same time please.
Hi Rachel. To clarify, I spray with the water bottle until the seeds germinate. Once the seedlings are up, I start to water from the bottom to encourage the roots to develop. This can be done different ways, but I have a tray that I pour water in about 1cm (1/2 in) deep. Then I let the seedlings soak up the water through the holes in the bottom of their containers. I think my “seedling mistake” video goes into this in more depth, but essentially watering from below helps prevent root rot and bug infestations and helps grow a strong root system for your plants.
Hi Paul, sorry that was an oversight on my part. I hope to have a short video out this week on egg cartons and toilet paper rolls to answer all the questions I’ve gotten. But here’s the short answer for you! I don’t like them because they dry out too quickly and the seedlings have to be potted up almost immediately because the cartons are too shallow (at least ours here in France are). I prefer other containers over these. Hope this helps! 🪴 Val
Easiest way to germinate seeds - soak a bunch of seeds in water for 1/2 to 1 day, then fish the seeds out and put them into an empty disposable water bottle, add a few drops of water if necessary, put the cap back on and put it in a warm place. The water would condense near the top and drop back down to keep the seeds moist. After a week or so, rinse out the seedlings and replant in soil.
I take a few sheets of newspaper, wrap it around a can from the pantry and hold the folds at the bottom and sides with some tape. I pop the can out and it leaves a little container. They can get a bit flimsy so I put them in a tray or those small nursery pots. The upside is that when it's time to transplant, I can just cut and peel the newspaper off which disturbs the roots less than getting them out of a plastic pot.
This is great information! Just found you today and learning lots. I was about to start my garden but felt a bit lost/anxious. Thanks for the info, and a big thanks for keeping it economical. I watched a lot of videos by other UA-camrs and cost is rarely a consideration for a lot of them. Thanks again
Thanks for your comment. Don’t get discouraged. Gardeners make growing seem much harder than it really is. After seed starting, I have several videos that might help you with starting economical garden beds once you’re ready for that. Let me know if I can help 😊
Hi John. I use grow lights to supplement the sunlight my seedlings get in my south-facing front room. Usually that means at least 12 hours under a grow light, though, because spring is often rainy. I could simply put them under a programmed grow light for 16 hours/ day (ideal amount for most seedlings), but I like saving energy whenever possible. Hope this helps!
That’s frustrating. Although all gardeners have seeds that fail, I’ve never had so many. I would check that the seeds weren’t old and that the soil didn’t dry out before they germinated. Those are the 2 biggest culprits. Also, if eggplant or peppers seeds, the soil should stay warm until they germinate.
I've been known to lift up some soil from mole hills. It's super dark loam that will contain no wild seeds and is full of minerals. As good as any garden centre seed compost.
I thought I was the only one that got the moles to work for me! I don’t use the mole hills for seed starting because ours is clay and still too heavy for seeds, but I do add it to my raised beds.
I love that you pushed reusing old containers :D I saw you showing your egg cartons, but you didn't comment on them. Have you used those en lieu of kord cups? (though I agree with you - I always tell customers to rips those kord cups off as best as possible or rip them well before planting)
Hi Alex. I made a mistake when editing and left out my bit on egg cartons and toilet paper rolls. So many viewers pointed it out and had the same question as you that I made an separate video about it. Check it out if you’re interested. Quick answer to your question though, I’ve used egg cartons and am not a big fan. Great tip on the cups. Thank you :)
Hi Lisa, yes I use a small drill bit and make drainage holes on the bottom (you can use a knife or box cutter too). I only spray them with water while they’re on the radiator germinating, but the holes are for after they germinate when I start watering the seedlings. Hope this helps!
I had the same experience with biodegradable pots, now I put 4-5 long slits from top to bottom using a craft knife, half an inch down from the top all the way to the bottom, the roots form a lateral growth and provide a stable platform 🌱. Great instructional keep them coming 😊
Hi Marie. I don’t like egg cartons because they dry out too fast. Ours here are shallow too, which means that I have to pot up my seedlings within days after they germinate or the seedlings get stunted or the roots stick to the carton. That’s been my experience.
finally!!! a vid that is real. too many times i see vids that really get too intricate for a beginner like soil testing stuff that some ole bag like me wont bother to mess with, if it grows great. if it dont i can go to the pantry. but i think containers is important and i have friends saving water bottles so i should have 36 of them soon. i just want 4 plants of 5 veggies and some flowers to puts around with this summer. well done video. ps, luvd the brn pots falling, just like home, lol
Thanks so much for your kind comment. You sounds a lot like me, a keep it simple kind of gardener. To that point, the fact you’re starting with only a handful of plants and flowers is super smart and exactly what I recommend for new growers. It makes me sad that so many people bite off more than they can chew and end up hating gardening when they could have easily loved it instead.
When I started selling plants I started using small foam cups and then transplanting them into 24 oz or 28 oz foam cups. I found that if I use a pen to mark them with it fades then I can't read it so I started to mark them with different colors of acrylic paint or I write on them with black acrylic using a paintbrush. Painting is easy I just pour it on and spread it with a bush I can mark 100 cups in the same time it takes to write on one cup. I used Solo cups before but my plants get too big for them before it was time to sell them but they do a good job. I found that clear transparent cups are the worst because green algae will start growing in the cups, if you start plants in clear cups you got to keep turning them, algae grows on the sunny side. Foam cups are fragile but they last a long time, to see how long they last I've used one exposed to the weather for 3 years now, and they can be repaired easily with clear packing tape.
Hi Troy. I love hearing about your experience and how you’ve adapted your methods over time. Thanks for the tips and best wishes for your plant business
2:50 those biodegradable containers do not restrict the plant growth if you slice a few openings into them before planting or even open the bottom like a can. the roots will grow out trough them. it takes some time for the material to degrade so you will help your plant out by adding a few doors and windows. I have made a similar experience with using the cardboard from an empty toilet paper roll. you can either fold the bottom shut or just leave them open and densely line them up on a tray or in a box. works with watering from the bottom too. keep them sitting in a shallow puddle. they wick up moisture. you do not get a lot of soil volume out of them though so they dry out quite quickly if you do not cover them or provide enough water. you can raise a lot of single plants in those rolls and evaluate the germination rate of your seeds.
I agree clays...an egg tray will also dissolve eventually--i cut the bottome off first, and once in ground take my ling scissors and cut all the way down 2 sides. Rarely talked about extra advantage: earth worms arrive, surviving almost entirely on cardboard when there.. they eat up disentegrating containers,b obliterating it.
Awesomeness Val!! You know, we're big fans of frugality!! We got almost all our Trays, pots and mats last June. Everyone around here buys their starts from a garden center, 1 week later, all those items are in their recycling bin on the curb, waiting for a good home 😁😁😁 I wanna plant some more stuff now !! Cheers J&C 🌱😁🌱
That’s so cool and I appreciate that about you guys. I enjoy seeing the second life you give to things. I picked up canning jars off the recycling corner today. Figured I can use them for organizing if not for actual canning. I hate seeing things just thrown away for no reason.
Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom! I tried the peat pots- found it’s not my favorite but tried it again because it’s suppose to be convenient. I will try more plastic- I was even thinking if deli lunch meat containers would work. I’ll have to try some of your plastic ideas! Thank you again!
Screw UA-cam,.....and help your neighbors with fresh food. Show me a post about how you are doing that, and how you and your family are trying to help people in need.... good people.... hungry people. People in your own state or province are going hungry, mainly because they don't know how to grow food, or they don't have the money for farming, or even growing a few things in a small space, or maybe they live in an apartment that is 14 stories in the air, and they don't have access to soil or any way to help themselves.... you do. YOU DO! Just suck it up and do it. Look beyond yourself. Your grandparents would be so very proud of you. Let the internet go away... help the people that need help. Please ask your contacts to help as well ... we are in sick times. I can't help much, but you can Reply
Those sound beautiful. I haven’t tried rose seeds before, but I understand that they need a lot of babysitting and take at least 2 weeks or more to germinate. Good luck! 🍀🍀🍀
Personally, I think about it, but gardening uses plastic for almost everything right now (including seed trays at stores and potting soil). I hope the options get better over time. In the meantime, I’m just trying to reduce my carbon footprint by reusing food grade plastic.
I, too am trying to recycling everything I can. The Pandemic reminded me of the Great Depression of which my parents both grew up in. They had to do without and used what they had. I am going to follow their wisdom. Thank you and you have a new subscriber.
Thanks for telling us about those so called brown bio degradable pots . I was thinking of buying them but now forget it I will just use any food grade plastic containers like yogurt containers or large see thru plastic containers we get organic lettuce in . Thank you for the great advice
Hi Valerie. Happy New Year! Been a minute since I've been on your channel, but things have been hectic here. Anyway, super awesome seeing you. You look fantastic as usual & this is a great video...very informative. Thanks for sharing.
Happy new year, Monique 💛 I was off for the most part of 2 months I think, so I haven’t been in touch. I hope you’re doing well and wish you a 2023 filled with beautiful days spent outdoors and lots of inspiration and success in growing your channel when you have to be indoors!
1-Buy the expensive soil, but only use it on the top layer where you seeds are, 1" is good. The rest of the container. I use drinking plastic cups can be good but cheaper soil peat moss. I had super success by pre-soaking the cups with soil in a pam from the bottom up days ahead, then once seeded put them in a larger clear plastic bin with a lid. Holds 7-ten cups, sprouted in window or on a heating pad... I agree those molded cups are the worse. plastic wrap works but a hassle and bad. my 84 year old mother is old school. Also depth of seed is rule o thumb based on the width of seed, up presoaking some seeds or gemination them in a covered dish on toilet paper works. We use sushi containers with a clear lid and colour base that vents nicely.. Peas, bean, Kohrabi, beet etc work best, Carrot are best under a board, or burlap, to keep moist till germinated an kept moist.
She left out a lot of important information. You’re supposed to use sterilized soil and that’s why she’s getting gnats because she didn’t sterilize her soil before putting the seeds in. Since you don’t need much to start your seeds I will spend the money and specifically buy sterilized seed starting mix. Or if you want to use existing soil then you need to thoroughly soak it in boiling hot water to kill off any potential fungus and then of course you let it cool completely before you plant your seed She also didn’t talk about lighting which is extremely important. If the light isn’t close enough the grow light that is, then the plants are going to grow too fast and they will be leggy and they won’t be as strong If you want to follow a true professional who has a ton of videos check out the UA-cam channel called “ the Rusted Garden”
Yes, thanks for your constructive feedback and I agree by the way. I’ve been experimenting with other locations in my newer videos. Still working out some bugs but thanks for sticking with me!
What do you think about germinating seeds in paper towels first and only using the viable seeds? Or do you plant 3 or 4 seeds in each container to take care of that?
Good question. I plant 3 seeds in each container. Germinating in paper towels works for a lot of seeds, but you have to be on top of them to pot them when they sprout or they'll get leggy fast. I don't like to babysit my seeds any more than I have to.
I started using soda bottles to plant my carrots and works so well. I just have a balcony, 60 cm deep and 3 m wide so super small space but I could eat from my garden last year
I wouldn't use garden soil for tomato seedlings. Too much chance of bugs and disease. Use sterile compost. You're not going to use much of it so it's not going to cost much.
It would have been helpful to have seen her repot the seedlings.this seems the hardest part. The trouble with gardening is that nobody really explains the basics.
This video WAS very helpful...so THANK YOU! The growing season where I am is such that planting cannot be done until 3rd week in May, but when you were mentioning starting tomatoes 8-10 weeks before taking outside...mmmm...that is coming up SOON!😊😊
Hi Lilly. Thanks for your comment. I’m glad it was helpful. You are exactly right-it’s coming up quickly. I plant tomatoes out on the first day of May, so I start them inside by the first of March! I hope you have lots of great harvests this year!
On the instructions of some peat pots that I used was if planting in the ground, trim or carefully tear the excess material from the top of the pot and pinch the bottom out. I never had a problem with peat pots.
So interesting, I wonder if our brands here in Europe are different. They are super thick and would have to be cut for sure. I have a few extras I found and am going to try it
What are the benefits of starting your seeds indoors.and it may be a dumb question,but i dont see them needing sunshine before germinating or sprouting
I transplant several times before planting outside. This year: Seeds-K-Cup pod cups. Holes in the bottom. I also cut 1/2 way around the bottom to push the seedlings up to transplant. I can write on the sides with a marker so they fit under the dome cover. The tags don't fit under the dome and the marker wears dull. Seedlings-5.3 oz, 2.5 x 2 x 2.5" yogurt cups. These are deeper than the more common round yogurt cups. Holes in the bottom, of course. Can write names on these too. Small plants-In small flower pots I've collected thru the years. Now I use the tags to label the plants.
We love to use yogurt cottage cheese and sour cream containers. Keeps plants better for indoors vs constantly up potting. We start our tomatoes and peppers in February for planting out end of May in greenhouses. Better to be mature in our short season. Reusable is great for sanitizing also and drilling drain holes. Vs peat pots that are useless. They end up drying out and or molding. Great info!
Wonderful and very helpful information. I too keep all the plastic trays from berries and from the 4 litre “distilled” water jugs. Just cut off the tops, add holes on the bottom and you have nice sized pots for free🙏🏼💜🇨🇦
That’s awesome! I’ve enjoyed learning other gardeners favorite reused materials from the comments and seeing how many other people are committed to saving money and plastic!
"We're not burying treasure here." LOL!! Nice channel - like learning basic gardening from a friendly neighbor, with great bone structure.
Ha, your comment made me laugh. I’m glad you’re enjoying the videos
Hi Valerie!
I love the clear see-through containers. I’m nosy and like to see what’s happening under the soil. 😂
Thanks for the tips and tricks!
Me too! I even tried see-through food-grade buckets last year for a container experiment, but the plastic couldn’t take the sun and heat and broke before the season was out
One way I toughen up my plant sets is to set up a fan set on low that will blow across the plants and then rotate the trays of plants once a day. The movement that the fanned air causes seems to make the plants stronger, but you have to watch the dryness of the soil.
Great tip. I mention fans in one of my videos on seedlings, and you’re right, it helps strengthen the plant and get them ready for the real-world conditions of the garden. I’ve seen that wind can be a big killer for transplanted seedlings if they’re not prepped beforehand.
I use newspaper and fold it up to form little pots. It's easy, doesn't cost anything and it degrades faster then the biodegradable ones you can buy.
That’s really smart, and I’m glad you’ve found a way to reuse the paper. I never have newspaper around anymore, so it’s not an option for me unfortunately.
Thank you! Just subbed. I also believe in reusing and repurposing. Your tips here and in your other vids have been a great help in understanding why my beginner veggie garden -- and trying to start seeds indoors -- was a flop last season. You get to the point without needless rambling, and have a most articulate way of speaking.
Thank you for your comment and for subbing. I hope this will be your year for getting a garden started. Once you have a few successes, you’ll love it. Our first attempt here years ago was a disaster, but we changed a few things and it’s been great since. Good luck and thanks again!
Paper pots. Easy to make, and holds moisture
This is all exactly what I do. The first few months of the year, I save all the plastic clamshell containers and dairy product packaging. I run most of it through the dishwasher to sterilize it and the lids make excellent “coasters” for their repurposed container to catch any water that drains out. Eggs come in clear plastic clamshells at Costco. I cut off the lid and stack it with the bottom to reinforce it as one layer is not super sturdy. You could use another layer from a different clamshell to be the “coaster” as they come with no holes and the other half as a “humidity dome” for itty bitty stuff like lobelia or stuff you start a lot of like brassicas & greens.
Smart ideas and creative too. I love it. Ive used the lids too, first as a cover to help seeds germinate and then as a coaster like you do. We don’t have plastic egg cartons over here, but the double stacking idea is a good one for some cheap trays I have that are too flimsy to use on their own.
I have those issues with those biodegradable seed starting pots! I love recycling containers! I really believe that gardening should not cost too much to enjoy!
Agree 100% Gardening should be fun and relaxing, not a headache.
Hey Val, I am getting some started in cut up plastic water bottles at the moment. I didn't start anything indoors last year, because the year before did better when sowed straight outdoors. However, last year was not as successful, go figure lol. Every year is a new adventure 🤠
Definitely each year is its own adventure. Maybe your plants will have better luck since you’re giving them a solid start indoors before they meet up with the many outdoor challenges you have there. Fingers crossed for you! 💚
@@NowGardening Thanks
I’m using Mott’s/Dole applesauce/fruits cups to start seeds this year. It’s a 2-for-1! 💜💜💜
Smart idea !
Very informative. Thank you~
I hope it helps 😊
Hi. Saw your comment on Andrea's channel. Appreciate the tips, I need all the help I can get in gardening.😊 Have a wonderful day!
I love Andrea and her channel and am glad you found me! Take care and good luck with your garden 😊
Hi from the UK I tried so any plants last Yr all started good but thr slugs got them all only thing that grew well was tomatos I have cats and a dog so don't liketo use slug pellets but I think I found a solution I sprinked sand around my plant my friend brought me it's not been touched so I'm hoping it will work next time I try to grow some thing x
Hi Marie. I hope you’ve found your solution with the sand. We have slugs here that can be quite bad at times. What helps me is that my raised beds are slug proof (I’ve only found 2 snails ever!) The other thing that I’ve picked up from UK friends is that they use covers to protect their crops from slugs, sometimes even just putting the cover on at night when the slugs are active. I haven’t had to use this for slugs since I have my raised beds, but I’ve taken this approach to keep other nighttime insects away and it’s been a huge success. Best wishes for your garden this year.
Use beer for the slugs. Poor a little in small empty yogurt cups. Slugs luv the taste and drown
I like to use red solo cups; they are cheap, reusable, and deep so they give the roots more room and hold more moisture, meaning I don’t have to up pot before transplanting into their final homes. I start multiple seeds in red solo cups and then divide the seedlings out so that they each have their own cup, or remove the extra seedlings from the cups so that there is one plant per cup, and it works well for me.
I do the same. 😊
My exact method! It's so perfect!
Yes, they work great too. You reminded me that I tried to do this when I first started growing indoors here in France. The only thing available at that time was tiny plastic cups that we would serve preschoolers with in the US lol I think Solo cups might be available on Amazon nowadays but haven’t checked since I have all my supplies now.
@@NowGardening ahh, I see, totally makes sense. Use what you can get your hands on! Here in Canada you can buy a big pack of red solo cups for cheap and you can find them easily around here, so it makes a lot of sense for me to use them in my situation.
Solo cups are generally good and less expensive than some alternatives. I wish Solo made them in more sizes. I've seen the 12 oz, (360 ml) and 1 oz. (30 ml) sizes, but still, one need not use the whole cup, eh?
Great video.
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you so much it was very helpful
You're welcome. I’m so happy it helped
so great🖤
Thank you
Nice video thanks for sharing
Thanks for visiting 😊
What are you saying at the end you should mix in with the garden soil to save money? It sounds like "I mix in a little bit of pro lied"
Thanks for asking. You can add perlite to soil to make it easier for seeds to germinate. Also, when I say garden soil that’s what we call bagged soil from the garden store here. You can technically use soil from the garden and people worldwide do it, but it can bring variables like pollution, etc into seed starting.
Soak seeds in Clorox for 45 minutes to eliminate fungus.
Thanks for the tips! Do you use any grow lights?
Thank you! Yes, and I definitely recommend using grow lights for your seedlings to keep them from getting leggy. I use a cheap one I bought on Amazon with 4 lighted arms that has a timer.
What about the egg thingie. She holds it up once but then never specifies if it works or not.
Great useful information. Thank you.
Thank you. Good luck with your seed starting
This is a great video because it’s simple, it’s not too long and it’s right to the point. And it makes me feel much better about not spending a lot on expensive seed starting containers.
That’s great to hear. Thank you and here’s to lots of great harvests this year.
I use solo cups as well, but I cut the bottom out of one and set it in another solo cup. When its time to go to the garden, I prepare a hole that will fit the solo cup, then set the one with the bottom cut out into the hole. Not disturbing the roots at all and my transplants do really well.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Janice. I just saw this on another UA-cam channel last week and absolutely love this idea! I’ve added solo cups to my list to buy when I go the US next month, so I can try it. I can’t get them over here in France.
Love this!
Just recently found you. I love your channel. I love how short, but very informative your videos are. I'm an intermediate skill level gardener. You're concise, but provide important details. I feel confident after I watch a video that I'll be able to do the things you show and have an idea what I'm doing.
Hi Salem, your message made my day. Thanks for taking the time to send it, and I’m happy to hear my videos are helpful to you. I hope you have an amazing gardening year ahead!
Totally agree re: the "biodegradable" pots - they might be biodegradable over years, but they limit seedling growth for sure - sometimes I'll even find them still clinging on at the end of the season when I'm cleaning things up or even in the ground still hanging on the following year!
I’m stunned that they sell them as something to plant directly. I went back and looked at the package to see if perhaps they just meant biodegradable in the big scheme of things, but right on the packaging was a picture of someone transplanting them into their garden.
I think the degrading pots/cups are a poor execution of a good idea. Too often they are either too weak for the seedling stage or too strong/lasting for the grow-out stage (as you say). I would like to see some R&D here, especially with trials of wheat paste or corn paste-based papier-mâché. Still, the problem is that delicate balance of strong enough for the seedling stage while dissolving quickly in the ground at the grow-out stage. Thanks for adding your comment.
@@jwstanley2645agree! Go for it R&D folks! We need something just right! Not too weak, but something that will degrade soon enough to avoid inhibiting growth! And go!
I like the aesthetic of clay but I have used several of your suggestions. I started my seeds in 2.5" clay pots.
how deep do you plant seeds?
easy rule is, you plant them at the same depth than their size. peas are around 1cm and carrot or cilantro 1mm. easy rule.
Hi Diane. I've always heard twice as deep as their diameter, but in practice I do what you do. It's easier to follow and remember, so thanks for sharing.
I notice you quickly passed over egg crates without comment. I find they really good but require good moisturising. This also applies to the small carry trays from coffee shops for milti cup purchases. Really good for melon family...zucchini, cucumbers etc. Another hint for germinating. We have small bricks of coir fibre in Australian stores, which expands when watered. This medium is absolutely brilliant and encourages great root growth. Can be used neat or with a seed growing mix.
Hi Frank. I accidentally edited out my speech on egg cartons. I personally don’t care for them, but I do have another video specifically on egg cartons and toilet paper rolls that goes into detail. I like that you’re using the carry trays, and it’s working for you. We have bags of coir instead of bricks here, and I’ve been experimenting with it a lot this year. It seems to be great for some really hard to start seeds. Some seedlings seem to like it while others not so much. Do you see that too?
I agree about the peat pots. I've dug them up the following season and they look pretty much like when I planted them. Even after throwing them in the compost bin they take a while to break down. I wouldn't recommend them, but if you have some lying around that you want to use try this. When you up pot, gently tear the bottoms out, then tear one side down all the way. Make sure that they are good and wet when you do this. Then you can plant the whole thing with minimal shock to the root system.
I love the reduce, recycle, reuse! Most of us already have these things in our homes.
Thanks for the tip, Jason. I just discovered an unused 10-pack of them yesterday and was trying to thing of how I could use them instead of throwing them away.
@@NowGardening I've seen, and done this, years ago - making my own small, square seed starting pots (up to 4 inches size), with nothing but newspaper folded into the correct shape. You can directly plop these biodegradable containers in the ground and the roots will push through the thin paper as needed. I'll try to find the link, brb..
@@NowGardeningHere is the first one that pulled up on youtube - there are others under this topic, as well. Cheers! ua-cam.com/video/7dlGQP81yfo/v-deo.html
Super helpful and one of the only videos that is doing what I want to do. I have been collecting blueberry containers and my take out and random trays and that’s what I want to use. So many other videos have fancy this and that but I just know I can do it this way. Thanks for sharing and I will be following you advice on setting them on top of the fridge. I was pondering about where to put the little seeds to be warm, the fridge is the perfect idea. Thank you
Thanks for your comment. I’m so glad to hear this video was helpful. Simple is best from what I’ve found over the years. I wish you a wonderful growing season ahead.
Egg cartons are useless. Too little volume and they dry ou
That’s been my experience too
I have a proper heat mat and 4 USB heat mats for pet beds off ebay. I lay down thick plastic I got from my last job and put the cups on top
That sounds like a smart way to do it. Thanks for sharing your tip
I'm glad you mentioned the issues with biodegradable pots. I've had the same issues. I no longer buy them.
Hi Bryan. Thanks for sharing your experience. I can’t believe how many people have responded likewise. I hope your seedlings get off to a great start this year.
@@NowGardening Thanks. Same to you! 👍
Nice. You can use course sand instead of perlite. Equal by volume. Also, clear solo cups are great.
Great tips, Rick. In France those aren’t available, but you’re right that they work great. My brother uses them in the US. As for sand in place of perlite, I’ve used it before. Don’t know why I don’t use it more to be honest. It’s cheaper I’m sure
Totally agree with you about using all our plastic tubs from recycling - reuse is even better than recycling. Good video and presentation - only thing I would add is that I had a lot of seedlings not germinate this year because I planted them outdoors too early - April - usually OK but in the UK was very cold thn early spring this year ( less than 6 Centigrade). Warmer now so playing catch up.
Hi, thanks for your comment. I agree with you about the weather affecting this year’s seedlings. We had delays in outdoor seeds germinating too. Also, here in France we had barely any rain since January and then it all came over the last 3 weeks (and chilly temperatures to go with it). Everything is hanging on but not looking their best. Good luck with your garden and catching up!
Well, I have watched various videos, followed instructions, but my rate of success is very, very , but very low. Oh Gosh! Weather here is mild, somehow a little bit humid. Thus I do not know the reasons.
Here’s what I would recommend since you’re having trouble. Take a spinach or lentil seed and a tomato seed. These germinated fairly easily and within 5 days, so you’ll know if they worked or not. Sow them with no more than 1/8 in (1/4 cm) of soil on top. Water using a spray bottle . Cover. Check to make sure soil is damp on top each day and you should see green by no later than day 6. If nothing, start over. By experimenting with the same seeds but different soils, warmth, etc. you’ll hit on what is causing your seeds not to germinate. I hope this helps
Getting a pin mic will greatly improve your sound quality. Im sorry for sounding like im complaining but i appreciate your information and it would be alot better experience for us. Thank you
I appreciate your constructive feedback. I just bought a new mic only to find out it sounds worse. I am working actively to fix this, so thanks for bearing with me.
One of the problems I have with heat mats it dries out the soil so fast. So for me that was a waste of money. I had the same problem with the biodegradable containers. I am with you the clear containers are the best and I have used trays from frozen dinner's to put my pots in.
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Thanks for sharing your experiences. It's always good to hear what's working (and not) for other growers.
The biodegradable pots is def a joke
they have always stunted to growth of anything ive put in them.
Yes, thank you! I really don’t know what it is because they sell like crazy at the garden stores. Still trying to understand the hype
Cut down "clear" distilled water gallon containers work great, also :) I started HAYWARD KIWI vines from the tiny black seeds in a grocery store kiwi (indoors) and when got larger planted outside - and about 3 years later got fruit (325 kiwi fruit). Fortunately I ended up with both male and female plants this way. WHO KNEW that Kiwi vines would successfully grow and produce fruit every year in the state of Virginia !!! They lose leaves each fall and gain them back with flowers and fruit in the Spring. Thank You for this video !!!
That’s an incredible story! Thanks for sharing and for your water jug tip.
Nice and clear but why have a guitar playing at the same time, even though quietly. Let us have a good instructional talk OR a guitar recital, not both at the same time please.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’m getting rid of music in my future videos after a recent survey of my viewers.
I use any container, bottom half of a gallon of milk, packaging for screws, or anything that looks practical.
Smart, I love reusing these things we’d otherwise throw away
Biodegradable ones .. put holes , in them , rips when you put in the ground , help roots grow and speed degradation of container
Thanks, Carlo. Good tip
How often do you spray seedlings with spray bottle everyday?
Hi Rachel. To clarify, I spray with the water bottle until the seeds germinate. Once the seedlings are up, I start to water from the bottom to encourage the roots to develop. This can be done different ways, but I have a tray that I pour water in about 1cm (1/2 in) deep. Then I let the seedlings soak up the water through the holes in the bottom of their containers. I think my “seedling mistake” video goes into this in more depth, but essentially watering from below helps prevent root rot and bug infestations and helps grow a strong root system for your plants.
Good info but the graphics popping up ruined it blew my concentration on what you were saying .
Thanks for your feedback, David.
I agree with your experience on the biodegradable containers. Crap!
100% and they’re expensive too!
totally off topic but youre beautiful!
That’s sweet of you. Thank you
Val you showed an egg carton.But you didn’t comment. Are they ok or not?
Hi Paul, sorry that was an oversight on my part. I hope to have a short video out this week on egg cartons and toilet paper rolls to answer all the questions I’ve gotten. But here’s the short answer for you! I don’t like them because they dry out too quickly and the seedlings have to be potted up almost immediately because the cartons are too shallow (at least ours here in France are). I prefer other containers over these. Hope this helps! 🪴 Val
Easiest way to germinate seeds - soak a bunch of seeds in water for 1/2 to 1 day, then fish the seeds out and put them into an empty disposable water bottle, add a few drops of water if necessary, put the cap back on and put it in a warm place. The water would condense near the top and drop back down to keep the seeds moist. After a week or so, rinse out the seedlings and replant in soil.
Thanks for sharing your tip
I take a few sheets of newspaper, wrap it around a can from the pantry and hold the folds at the bottom and sides with some tape. I pop the can out and it leaves a little container. They can get a bit flimsy so I put them in a tray or those small nursery pots. The upside is that when it's time to transplant, I can just cut and peel the newspaper off which disturbs the roots less than getting them out of a plastic pot.
I love that! I don’t have extra newspapers anymore, but this is a great way to use them. Thanks for sharing your tips 😊
You can find free newspaper at your local recycling center.
yeah every time i use biodegradable pots, they never decompose fast enough.
Amen to that.
Thank you for great tip! - You need to tell witch part of the world you live in..
Thank you! I live in Toulouse, France 😊
This is great information! Just found you today and learning lots. I was about to start my garden but felt a bit lost/anxious. Thanks for the info, and a big thanks for keeping it economical. I watched a lot of videos by other UA-camrs and cost is rarely a consideration for a lot of them. Thanks again
Thanks for your comment. Don’t get discouraged. Gardeners make growing seem much harder than it really is. After seed starting, I have several videos that might help you with starting economical garden beds once you’re ready for that. Let me know if I can help 😊
loved the video! Just a question about lighting. What, if anything do you do about it?
Hi John. I use grow lights to supplement the sunlight my seedlings get in my south-facing front room. Usually that means at least 12 hours under a grow light, though, because spring is often rainy. I could simply put them under a programmed grow light for 16 hours/ day (ideal amount for most seedlings), but I like saving energy whenever possible. Hope this helps!
I bought some seedling trays, 3 x 12 seeds per tray and not one came up.
That’s frustrating. Although all gardeners have seeds that fail, I’ve never had so many. I would check that the seeds weren’t old and that the soil didn’t dry out before they germinated. Those are the 2 biggest culprits. Also, if eggplant or peppers seeds, the soil should stay warm until they germinate.
Thank you, your video was very helpful.
Glad it was helpful!
I've been known to lift up some soil from mole hills. It's super dark loam that will contain no wild seeds and is full of minerals. As good as any garden centre seed compost.
I thought I was the only one that got the moles to work for me! I don’t use the mole hills for seed starting because ours is clay and still too heavy for seeds, but I do add it to my raised beds.
I love that you pushed reusing old containers :D I saw you showing your egg cartons, but you didn't comment on them. Have you used those en lieu of kord cups? (though I agree with you - I always tell customers to rips those kord cups off as best as possible or rip them well before planting)
Hi Alex. I made a mistake when editing and left out my bit on egg cartons and toilet paper rolls. So many viewers pointed it out and had the same question as you that I made an separate video about it. Check it out if you’re interested. Quick answer to your question though, I’ve used egg cartons and am not a big fan. Great tip on the cups. Thank you :)
Did you have holes in the yogurt containers you put on the radiator?
Hi Lisa, yes I use a small drill bit and make drainage holes on the bottom (you can use a knife or box cutter too). I only spray them with water while they’re on the radiator germinating, but the holes are for after they germinate when I start watering the seedlings. Hope this helps!
Great tips Valerie.. I use old carry out containers too! 🌱
Love that, Barb. I like my reused stuff better than any trays or kits I’ve bought through the years.
I'm starting a month and a half long project with a Girl Scouts troop. The seed starter needs to be mobile and easy to grow. Any suggestions?
I had the same experience with biodegradable pots, now I put 4-5 long slits from top to bottom using a craft knife, half an inch down from the top all the way to the bottom, the roots form a lateral growth and provide a stable platform 🌱.
Great instructional keep them coming 😊
Hi Jimbo. That’s smart. I found a leftover pack in my garden shed and will try that out 😊 Thanks for the tip
You didn't mention EGG CARTONS.
Hi Marie. I don’t like egg cartons because they dry out too fast. Ours here are shallow too, which means that I have to pot up my seedlings within days after they germinate or the seedlings get stunted or the roots stick to the carton. That’s been my experience.
Audio somewhat too loud & echo. Ty for great video.
Thanks Joyce. I’m still working out some production bugs, but thanks for bearing with me.
I use those big theater soda cups before I do a final transfer.
Smart. I love that you’re reusing them.
I start my seeds in used tea bags used tea leaves cost nothing but they work.
Clever idea. I’ve never heard of that before.
finally!!! a vid that is real. too many times i see vids that really get too intricate for a beginner like soil testing stuff that some ole bag like me wont bother to mess with, if it grows great. if it dont i can go to the pantry. but i think containers is important and i have friends saving water bottles so i should have 36 of them soon. i just want 4 plants of 5 veggies and some flowers to puts around with this summer.
well done video.
ps, luvd the brn pots falling, just like home, lol
Thanks so much for your kind comment. You sounds a lot like me, a keep it simple kind of gardener. To that point, the fact you’re starting with only a handful of plants and flowers is super smart and exactly what I recommend for new growers. It makes me sad that so many people bite off more than they can chew and end up hating gardening when they could have easily loved it instead.
When I started selling plants I started using small foam cups and then transplanting them into 24 oz or 28 oz foam cups. I found that if I use a pen to mark them with it fades then I can't read it so I started to mark them with different colors of acrylic paint or I write on them with black acrylic using a paintbrush. Painting is easy I just pour it on and spread it with a bush I can mark 100 cups in the same time it takes to write on one cup. I used Solo cups before but my plants get too big for them before it was time to sell them but they do a good job. I found that clear transparent cups are the worst because green algae will start growing in the cups, if you start plants in clear cups you got to keep turning them, algae grows on the sunny side. Foam cups are fragile but they last a long time, to see how long they last I've used one exposed to the weather for 3 years now, and they can be repaired easily with clear packing tape.
I think the monster 28 oz foam cups are meant for soups. I get them at a restaurant supply store.
Hi Troy. I love hearing about your experience and how you’ve adapted your methods over time. Thanks for the tips and best wishes for your plant business
2:50 those biodegradable containers do not restrict the plant growth if you slice a few openings into them before planting or even open the bottom like a can. the roots will grow out trough them. it takes some time for the material to degrade so you will help your plant out by adding a few doors and windows.
I have made a similar experience with using the cardboard from an empty toilet paper roll.
you can either fold the bottom shut or just leave them open and densely line them up on a tray or in a box.
works with watering from the bottom too. keep them sitting in a shallow puddle. they wick up moisture. you do not get a lot of soil volume out of them though so they dry out quite quickly if you do not cover them or provide enough water.
you can raise a lot of single plants in those rolls and evaluate the germination rate of your seeds.
Thanks for the tips 👍🏻
I agree clays...an egg tray will also dissolve eventually--i cut the bottome off first, and once in ground take my ling scissors and cut all the way down 2 sides. Rarely talked about extra advantage: earth worms arrive, surviving almost entirely on cardboard when there.. they eat up disentegrating containers,b obliterating it.
Thank you for this video! Right now I have seedlings growing in the biodegradable cups but i will transfer them out of the cups when they are ready.
Best of luck to you. I hope you have a great harvest this year.
@@NowGardening Thank you so much!
Awesomeness Val!! You know, we're big fans of frugality!!
We got almost all our Trays, pots and mats last June. Everyone around here buys their starts from a garden center, 1 week later, all those items are in their recycling bin on the curb, waiting for a good home 😁😁😁
I wanna plant some more stuff now !!
Cheers J&C 🌱😁🌱
That’s so cool and I appreciate that about you guys. I enjoy seeing the second life you give to things. I picked up canning jars off the recycling corner today. Figured I can use them for organizing if not for actual canning. I hate seeing things just thrown away for no reason.
Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom! I tried the peat pots- found it’s not my favorite but tried it again because it’s suppose to be convenient. I will try more plastic- I was even thinking if deli lunch meat containers would work. I’ll have to try some of your plastic ideas! Thank you again!
Screw UA-cam,.....and help your neighbors with fresh food. Show me a post about how you are doing that, and how you and your family are trying to help people in need.... good people.... hungry people. People in your own state or province are going hungry, mainly because they don't know how to grow food, or they don't have the money for farming, or even growing a few things in a small space, or maybe they live in an apartment that is 14 stories in the air, and they don't have access to soil or any way to help themselves.... you do. YOU DO! Just suck it up and do it. Look beyond yourself. Your grandparents would be so very proud of you. Let the internet go away... help the people that need help. Please ask your contacts to help as well ... we are in sick times. I can't help much, but you can
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Would this work with hybrid rose seeds? I paid 8 dollars for these beautiful purple and blue roses
Those sound beautiful. I haven’t tried rose seeds before, but I understand that they need a lot of babysitting and take at least 2 weeks or more to germinate. Good luck! 🍀🍀🍀
@@NowGardening Thank you, I will let you know. I'm in Michigan ,so can't plant them outside till after Mother's day, that's the safe date from frost.
Anyone worried about the use of plastic cups, containers and baggies? Just because the cups are food grade doesn’t mean they are safe.
Personally, I think about it, but gardening uses plastic for almost everything right now (including seed trays at stores and potting soil). I hope the options get better over time. In the meantime, I’m just trying to reduce my carbon footprint by reusing food grade plastic.
I, too am trying to recycling everything I can. The Pandemic reminded me of the Great Depression of which my parents both grew up in. They had to do without and used what they had. I am going to follow their wisdom. Thank you and you have a new subscriber.
Hello 🖐Love your videos ❤💕❤look forward for your next video! 💪💯 Thanks for sharing! 🌹☝👍
Thank you for your kind message 😊
Wonderful Content. Thank You For Sharing. Have a Nice Day!❤👍
Thank you! You too
Thanks for telling us about those so called brown bio degradable pots . I was thinking of buying them but now forget it I will just use any food grade plastic containers like yogurt containers or large see thru plastic containers we get organic lettuce in .
Thank you for the great advice
You are so welcome! You won’t regret it. Just don’t forget to make drainage holes 😊
Hi Valerie. Happy New Year! Been a minute since I've been on your channel, but things have been hectic here. Anyway, super awesome seeing you. You look fantastic as usual & this is a great video...very informative. Thanks for sharing.
Happy new year, Monique 💛 I was off for the most part of 2 months I think, so I haven’t been in touch. I hope you’re doing well and wish you a 2023 filled with beautiful days spent outdoors and lots of inspiration and success in growing your channel when you have to be indoors!
1-Buy the expensive soil, but only use it on the top layer where you seeds are, 1" is good. The rest of the container. I use drinking plastic cups can be good but cheaper soil peat moss. I had super success by pre-soaking the cups with soil in a pam from the bottom up days ahead, then once seeded put them in a larger clear plastic bin with a lid. Holds 7-ten cups, sprouted in window or on a heating pad... I agree those molded cups are the worse. plastic wrap works but a hassle and bad. my 84 year old mother is old school. Also depth of seed is rule o thumb based on the width of seed, up presoaking some seeds or gemination them in a covered dish on toilet paper works. We use sushi containers with a clear lid and colour base that vents nicely.. Peas, bean, Kohrabi, beet etc work best, Carrot are best under a board, or burlap, to keep moist till germinated an kept moist.
She left out a lot of important information. You’re supposed to use sterilized soil and that’s why she’s getting gnats because she didn’t sterilize her soil before putting the seeds in. Since you don’t need much to start your seeds I will spend the money and specifically buy sterilized seed starting mix.
Or if you want to use existing soil then you need to thoroughly soak it in boiling hot water to kill off any potential fungus and then of course you let it cool completely before you plant your seed
She also didn’t talk about lighting which is extremely important. If the light isn’t close enough the grow light that is, then the plants are going to grow too fast and they will be leggy and they won’t be as strong
If you want to follow a true professional who has a ton of videos check out the UA-cam channel called “ the Rusted Garden”
Sadly Solo cups release plastic particles. Use high quality plastic, Solo cups are low grade and should not be used for anything that will be consumed
What do y'all think/have you used cardboard egg containers for seed starting?
Great content! May I suggest that you try recording in a less reverberatant room so we can hear you better?
Yes, thanks for your constructive feedback and I agree by the way. I’ve been experimenting with other locations in my newer videos. Still working out some bugs but thanks for sticking with me!
@@NowGardening You are doing a great job teaching people how to grow food! It is a skill we will need in the future
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
😊 thanks
Best wishes
New friend from Pakistan
Always be connected bell 🔔
Thanks for visiting 😊
What do you think about germinating seeds in paper towels first and only using the viable seeds? Or do you plant 3 or 4 seeds in each container to take care of that?
Good question. I plant 3 seeds in each container. Germinating in paper towels works for a lot of seeds, but you have to be on top of them to pot them when they sprout or they'll get leggy fast. I don't like to babysit my seeds any more than I have to.
I started using soda bottles to plant my carrots and works so well. I just have a balcony, 60 cm deep and 3 m wide so super small space but I could eat from my garden last year
One carrot per soda bottle? I love that idea. It’s such a creative way to garden in a small space! I want to try this now 😄
You really harvested carrots grown in a pop bottle? What a rock star!
I found that the roots could never really make it out of the biodegradable type seedling pots
I wouldn't use garden soil for tomato seedlings. Too much chance of bugs and disease. Use sterile compost. You're not going to use much of it so it's not going to cost much.
It would have been helpful to have seen her repot the seedlings.this seems the hardest part. The trouble with gardening is that nobody really explains the basics.
This video WAS very helpful...so THANK YOU! The growing season where I am is such that planting cannot be done until 3rd week in May, but when you were mentioning starting tomatoes 8-10 weeks before taking outside...mmmm...that is coming up SOON!😊😊
Hi Lilly. Thanks for your comment. I’m glad it was helpful. You are exactly right-it’s coming up quickly. I plant tomatoes out on the first day of May, so I start them inside by the first of March! I hope you have lots of great harvests this year!
On the instructions of some peat pots that I used was if planting in the ground, trim or carefully tear the excess material from the top of the pot and pinch the bottom out. I never had a problem with peat pots.
So interesting, I wonder if our brands here in Europe are different. They are super thick and would have to be cut for sure. I have a few extras I found and am going to try it
What are the benefits of starting your seeds indoors.and it may be a dumb question,but i dont see them needing sunshine before germinating or sprouting
Clear container is not good roots don't like sunlight. Using clear is a step backwards.
I transplant several times before planting outside. This year:
Seeds-K-Cup pod cups. Holes in the bottom. I also cut 1/2 way around the bottom to push the seedlings up to transplant. I can write on the sides with a marker so they fit under the dome cover. The tags don't fit under the dome and the marker wears dull.
Seedlings-5.3 oz, 2.5 x 2 x 2.5" yogurt cups. These are deeper than the more common round yogurt cups. Holes in the bottom, of course. Can write names on these too.
Small plants-In small flower pots I've collected thru the years. Now I use the tags to label the plants.
Nice. It sounds like you're all set for the season. I love that you reuse so much!
We love to use yogurt cottage cheese and sour cream containers. Keeps plants better for indoors vs constantly up potting. We start our tomatoes and peppers in February for planting out end of May in greenhouses. Better to be mature in our short season. Reusable is great for sanitizing also and drilling drain holes. Vs peat pots that are useless. They end up drying out and or molding. Great info!
Great idea!! Thanks for sharing your tips!
Wonderful and very helpful information. I too keep all the plastic trays from berries and from the 4 litre “distilled” water jugs. Just cut off the tops, add holes on the bottom and you have nice sized pots for free🙏🏼💜🇨🇦
That’s awesome! I’ve enjoyed learning other gardeners favorite reused materials from the comments and seeing how many other people are committed to saving money and plastic!