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Cheap Way to Start Seeds?
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Posted by everythingirl1 9 (My Page) on Mon, Aug 3, 09 at 12:34
| Hi Y'all. I am getting ready for my fall veggie garden and I'm on a serious budget ($20). I have my seeds, etc. but I usually start the cukes, flowers, tomatoes and herbs inside in jiffy peat pots/pellets. I need to start around 60 plants. Well, this time, I just can't afford the peat pots. Can anyone suggest very cheap or free ways to start seeds indoors that still aviods damping off issues?
THANKS! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Cheap Way to Start Seeds?
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| I grew 48 tomato plants in 4 egg cartons. I poked 3-4 holes in the bottom of each cell with a toothpick. Then I cut off the top and used it as a tray. You'll still need to buy planting mix. Outside soil is full of damping off fungi. Styrofoam worked far better than cardboard cartons. If you look at every plastic food container that you throw away, you will begin to see potential planters everywhere. |
RE: Cheap Way to Start Seeds?
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| Plastic baggies and paper towels work for me every time. Once the produce leaves etc. I plant in its permanent home. I do baby them a bit if it is cold to avoid hardening off. I also spray the plants with chamomile tea to avoid amping off etc. There are all kinds of websites regarding this method. Some use coffee filters but this did not work for me at all. However, a paper towel always works. Also, I find where I place my baggies aids in the rapid germination of the seeds. Those baggies that I keep in a basket near my laptop seem to germinate faster due to the warmth of my laptop. - Best wishes |
RE: Cheap Way to Start Seeds?
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| Cardboard cores from t-paper and paper towels make nice starter pots. Cut t-paper cores into two pots, paper towel cores into 3 or 4. I use dirt from container plants that have "played out" or died, or compost from my compost pile as starter soil. You can sterilize it in your oven if you are worried about pathogens it may harbor. Even if you buy potting soil, for less than $10 you should be able to get more than enough to fill 60 starter pots. For about $3 I buy disposal casserole pans...2 in a pack. These come with clear plastic lids that are as tall as the casserole so can be used to create a little greenhouse for your seedlings. I would guess a tray would hold about 15 pots each. The tray can be moved out into the shade and gradually into the sunnier areas of the garden to harden them up for transplanting. This time of year I have to worry about them wilting in the mid day sun, so have milk jugs with the bottom cut off and the caps removed to place over the transplants for a few days after being put in the ground. Buckets and plastic baskets can be used for the same purpose. That also keeps them safe from roaming bunnies who just LOVE those young, tender leaves. Good luck!
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RE: Cheap Way to Start Seeds?
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| I usually use really CHEAP or used paper or plastic cups with a hole punched in the bottom and potting soil, or whatever food containers have accumulated. The plastic boxes that salad greens come in are marvelous small greenhouses for seed starting. The problem with using egg cartons for many plants is that the plants get rootbound before they are very big and you end up damaging |
RE: Cheap Way to Start Seeds?
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| I also use paper and plastic cups, just poke holes in the bottom and you can write on them. Just take the bottom off the paper cups and plant the rest out just like with peat pots, Much Cheaper. I also use the plastic containers that I get strawberries, blueberries and grape tomatoes in, they have holes in the bottom and the cover works like a mini greenhouse, keeping moisture in until the seeds germiinate, works really well for lettuce and other greens. Good gardening, Mary |
RE: Cheap Way to Start Seeds?
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A little late for this? Why not use newspaper pots, then you could afford starting soil.
Check out youtube
dave's garden; video making paper pots.
Easy to do price is right.
Curt. |
RE: Cheap Way to Start Seeds?
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| Cinnamon sprinkled on top of the soil will help a lot with damping off. Good air circulation will help too. |
RE: Cheap Way to Start Seeds?
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| You can also check out the winter sowing forum. They have a lot of ways to sow seeds and pictures too. |
RE: Cheap Way to Start Seeds?
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I am not "cheap" but very conservative. If you are too cheap, and don't use enough soil, when transplanting, you will have "bare-root", very small plants, which will suffer from shock and your chance of success greatly diminished.
On your way to work look for garage sale..quite often there are dead plants and planters with soil on the side of the house...you may find very good bargains...also carry old buckets if you see some construction sites..you may get some soil...Good luck |
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