Continuing with our blog posts on starting seeds in your home garden, today we are discussing the two main types of sowing for your edible home garden. Direct Sow This is a system of sowing your seeds directly into the soil in your outdoor beds or containers. While this may seem like the easiest way to go, it is not always the best way to get your seeds to germinate well and eventually have a strong healthy plant. For direct sowing, you need to consider various things; the temperature, proper soil drainage, and specific seed requirements. For many shallow-rooted crops like carrots and radishes, it is best to sow them directly outdoors in your beds or containers as their roots do not like being disturbed. Depending on the temperatures in your area, the soil and air may be too cold or too hot to start your seeds outdoors. You therefore need to consider what is for your local area. Plants that reach maturity in 70 days or less may do better with direct sowing, e.g. lettuc...
As I prepare to start seeds for 2024, I am excited to share with you two unique yet readily available items in your house that can serve as containers for starting your seeds! In upcoming posts, we will delve deeper into the process of starting seeds and provide you with some tips on different techniques. First off, let's talk about egg cartons! With eggs being a staple in most households, you probably have some egg cartons lying around. These cartons are perfect for starting your seeds as they provide deep individual spots for each seedling to grow until they are ready to be transferred to bigger containers. But what's even better about egg cartons is their degrading quality. You can simply transfer them directly into the soil without transplanting, and the carton will break down naturally. So, the next time you buy some eggs, opt for the carton crates, and you'll be doing your plants and the environment a favor! The second item is the cardboard tube found in the center of...
I fail to remember when I first encountered the word "Weed". I am sure it was somewhere in my science class in primary school when we were first introduced to plants. I remember that through my years in primary and secondary school, weeds were the problem farmers did their best to eliminate. They were not something desired or wanted. Fast forward to November 2022. I had started a great job as a garden educator. This job gave me the opportunity to meet with children of different backgrounds and teach them about gardening. On this day of classes, I had a second-grade class come to the garden for their lessons. The topic of the day was, you guessed it, weeds! This is a moment I will never forget. Pardon me as I tell this portion with as many details as I can remember. About 10 kids sat around the garden bed on their knee pads. Some were excited to be outdoors, but some were distracted by a bug or a butterfly. I began to ask them who had heard of the word weed or wee...
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