Strike a pose ….. I mean seed
There is something to be said for the sheer satisfaction of growing your own produce. Whether it be sowing tomato or rocket seeds or having success growing on plants from cuttings taken from our garden, there is a definite sense of pride we feel when gazing out the kitchen window at the vegies flourishing and growing somewhat chaotically………..yep we grew them!
We used to buy seedlings from the local shops or markets until we thought it would be a fun little project to undertake with the kids and soon found that it was something that we really enjoyed. Sowing the seed, watering, watching the first green sprout pop all the way through to harvesting 52 cucumbers in one day (we will talk about pickling later) and putting a meal on the table for our family where everything in the salad is homegrown.
Our process of growing produce from seed is an inexpensive and bonding experience for us all. For you, it may a good therapy session for the green thumb in your family. We use egg cartons with the lid removed and plastic boxes with lids to create a mini hothouse. Friends and family generously collect egg cartons so we can keep up with our 17 happy hens which we then exchange for a dozen eggs or two. Bring back the barter!! You may be able to ask the same of those near and dear or just accumulate your own over the winter months ready to strick come early spring.
A single egg carton will do one to two different vegetables depending on your own needs. Masking tape and a permanent marker does the trick for labeling if you have one plastic container holding the same product otherwise icy pole sticks work a treat for individual cartons. We fill the carton with seed raising mix, sow the seed according to instructions and water in. We have also drilled out two or three holes either end of the plastic containers for air circulation. Lids on, sunny spot, water every few days and within a week or two the first signs of life appear.
We leave our young additions to grow on for a further 2-4 weeks, giving them a chance to really establish. A sunflower or a snowpea tend to be an inch or two taller than a tomato or a leafy green at the same age, however, we still pot up and harden off all of our produce on the same day, at around 3-4 weeks after sowing. The process of hardening off involves reusing pots that we have purchased plants in previously, seed raising mix, water, and sunshine. This is the stage where we exclude any hothouse or controlled environment, still providing water and sun but we move the pots outside for periods of time during the day. We do this consistently over a week or two before leaving them out permanently in a protected space to allow them to adjust to life on the outside. We grow our plants on for a further 4-6weeks, depending on the size and strength of the seedlings. Before long it is time to let your babies spread their wings and grow their guts out in the vegie patch!!
We had an abundance of egg cartons with perfect little seed holding compartments, first lightbulb. We had plastic containers with lids for future storage in the shed, hmmm hothouse, the second light bulb. Icy pole sticks in the kid’s craft box, you don’t mind do you sweetheart, perfect label. Paint drawer, masking tape. Everyone has a permanent marker lying around. For us, aside from the seed raising mix, we already had everything we needed. And you could too. It just takes an idea mixed with a little creativity and we all have the ability to reuse, upcycle and repurpose just about anything.
Seed you soon!
