DIY Seed Starting: Innovative Ways To Start Seeds This Year

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Becoming a packrat may be the ticket to starting
your seeds indoors
early. DIY seed starting saves money, is fun and educational
for kids, and satisfies that need to grow well before spring. There are lots of
household items that can be used to start seeds. Even things you might have
thrown out are useful. Keep reading for some of the best seed starting hacks I’ve
come to admire with my own gardening.

DIY Seed Starting Has Never Been Easier!

You can grow seeds inside at any time if you are going to
grow the plant
in a greenhouse
or in the home over winter, but just after New Year’s is
when the yearning really starts to come out in me. After all, we have endured
several months of icky weather and not been able to play in our gardens most of
that time. Watching little plants sprout is just what the doctor ordered.

Reusing items for seed planting

When you consider ways to start seeds, your idea may be one
of those jiffy flats with expandable peat discs. While this works great,
you have to re-purchase the peat discs annually, and usually, the flat and its
lid will break in just a couple of seasons. I know because I have to buy one for
almost every year.

Using reusable items that can be planted directly in the
ground that would have gone to the compost
pile
anyway is part of a winning cycle, however. Stop! Don’t throw out that
old egg carton! Why? It can be a very useful item during seed starting time. So
can a host of other potential “garbage” items. Reusable items for
seed planting can include:

Cartons and containers that would have gone into your refuse
can also be used as seed starting containers. If you purchase a sandwich for
lunch, don’t throw away that plastic container. It has a second life as a
little greenhouse. Milk jugs cut mostly in half make a hinged container
greenhouse. Even items you can pick up at the dollar store, such as ice cube
trays, are ideal little planters that are both reusable and cheap.

Homemade seed starting hacks

If you want to expend a little effort while getting rid of
your junk mail at the same time, make paper pulp seed starters. This is
actually really fun!

Shred paper and place it in a food processor or blender. Add
a little bit of hot water, not too much or you will have a soggy mess. Pulse
the water and paper for 30 seconds and push down any paper into the moist bulk
of the mess.

At this point, you may need to add water if the mixture is
too dry. You want it to be the consistency of cream cheese. If it’s too wet,
place in an old rag and squeeze it drier. Next, put the pulp in muffin cups and
press it out to cover all sides thinly.

Allow the paper cups to dry for a few days and, voila, you
have neat little individual planters!

there is a very good article about composting here, please take a look at what Nikki put together.

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